1. BroadBand-HamNet Todd Smith N7TMS 4/25/2018 10:22 AM
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2. What is HamNet (HSMM-MESH)
A high speed, self discovering, self configuring, fault tolerant network. (MESH)
A wireless, private mini-Internet running at 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz

3. Focus of HamNet is Emergency Communications
Since the beginning of the BroadBand-HamNet project, the focus has been on emergency communications
HamNet is one more tool in our emergency communication tool belt
More emergency communicators with HamNet knowledge and experience are needed

4. Versions of WiFi
There are many flavors of WiFi: speed = Mega bits per second
Ghz Band 1 Mbs speed
801.11a 5 Ghz Band up to 54 Mbs speed
802.11b 2.4 Ghz 1 t0 11 Mbs speed
802.11g 2.4 Ghz 6 to 54 Mbs speed
802.11n 2.4 Ghz 54 to 300 Mbs
802.11ac 5 Ghz up to 867 Mbs (Giga-WiFi!)
802.11ad 5 Ghz up to 7 Gbs! (Planned)

5. Which version of HamNet?
HamNet typically uses channel 1 of The 2.4 Ghz WiFi radio spectrum and a protocol of b or g.
VERY IMPORTANT! There are only Three mostly non-overlapping channels – 1, 6, 11!
2GHz Ham band is MHz
Wifi is 2412 – 2484 MHz
Hams are primary in 2.4 GHz, secondary in 5.8 GHz

6. A Mesh Network
No central control, and many paths to link to another point (fault tolerant - if one site goes down – the network does not break!)
If you connect something (video camera, Internet feed, etc.) to any node and all nodes have access to it also.

7. How much power is allowed?
WiFi gear is typically around 35 mw to 300 mw. FCC part 15 limits transmitter power to 1 watt ERP (Effective Radiated Power with antenna gain) (Point to point directional can be a bit higher).
Part 97 (Ham) users have no such ERP antenna restrictions, and transmitter power is limited to the usual 1500 watts PEP for a and g on both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz

8. How fast is it? – Real Fast!
10 to 100 Mbps (Mega Bits per Second) both directions - up and down links!
Lets compare it with things you may be familiar with
Other Amateur Radio Options
Packet Radio Mbps
Pactor3 HF High Speed HF Mbps
D-Star Digital DD (as fast as Mbps)
Typical Home digital Service
Dial up used to be: Mbps
T Mbps
DSL 1.5 to 20 Mbps download, (usually much slower on upload)
Cable varies 5 to 30 Mbs download, ½ to 5 Mbs upload

9. How Far Will It Go?
What is the range of your home WiFi? 50 to 300 feet? Usually just inside your own home. Sometimes it is hard to get it to the next room!
Utah operators have gone across the valley, a distance of 18.7 miles, with equipment purchased mostly at Deseret Industries! One side had 1 watt output into a 15 dB gain omni antenna to a 100 mw mobile unit with a 24 dB gain dish antenna!
Reasonably expect 1 to 5 miles with the proper equipment, and clear line of sight.

10. Italian Hams set World Record
A new world record has been set for 5GHz Wi-Fi transmission distance. One group was based in Italy, and one in Sardinia; at a distance of miles.

11. What equipment do Hams need?
A Router
What Routers work with Mesh:
Linksys WRT54G (v1-4)
Linksys WRT54GL (all) still being sold!
WRT54GS (v1-4)
Some Ubiquiti version M Models such as the Nanobridge, Bullet, AirGrid and Rocket.
(Pay close attention to versions - not just the model!)

12. Linksys WRT54G/GS/GL

13. These do not work!
The model number may be similar, or the same looking case used, but they will not work!

14. Ubiquiti Bullet Only the M versions support BBHN!
But nothing stops you from using the non-M versions with Ubiquiti OS!
Male N connector – direct to antenna!

15. Bullet Direct connection to antenna
Cat 5 cable connects directly to Bullet with VDC Power over Ethernet (POE)

16. Ubiquiti Rocket Uses MIMO (Dual antennas)
Best for Long range Point to multi-point

17. What equipment do Hams need?
The antenna is most important - period!
Watch out for Chinese antennas – almost never up to the standards of good Commercial antennas!
You may want to replace the antennas that come with the WRT54G routers with a gain antenna(s).
8-15 db gain sector or panel for 1-5 miles range.
19-24 db gain antenna is needed past about 5 miles, and a small bi-directional amp if you are using a Linksys WRT54G (only 60 mw output), of 100 mw to 1 watt will help noticeably

18. Antennas (continued)
Remember effective radiated power (ERP) roughly doubles with each 3 db gain! 1 watt with 15dBi antenna gain becomes more than 30 watts ERP and 100 mw becomes over 3 watts!
If you use an amp, keep the feed line short, under 3 feet, 15 inches is better still! Feed lines eat power at 2.4 and more at 5Ghz!
Ubiquiti Bullet HP- no feed line, 600mw output (no bi-directional amplifier Needed!) add a gain antenna, and things start happening!

19. Antennas (continued)
A parabolic or a gain panel antenna is best for a Go-Kit
An omni- or a sector-antenna is best for a hub node.
Use a sector antenna if you can.

20. Parabolic best for Go Kit
Best overall choice is a parabolic for a Go Kit
There are many types
Some Ubiquiti’s have the radio built in!
You can also use circularly polarized antennas, but they ALL have to have the same polarity…left or right hand.

21. Inexpensive Good Antenna Choice for Go-Kit
L-Com HG2412P 12bi gain “Cube” Panel
Only 4 inches by 4 inches –very compact
N-female connection (Ubiquiti Bullet attaches right to it), comes with mount bracket shown.
$15 plus shipping from L-Com Clearance section (

22. The right antenna up high enough, will do amazing things!

23. Ubiquiti Advantages – A big step up from the Linksys WRT54G!
Home equipment to commercial grade!
(High Power) 600 milliwatt models
No feed line loss or problems with the Bullet – connects directly to any antenna with a N female connector!
Some units have the radio and antenna as one unit! No line loss at all. Very compact.
Good MIMO capability on some units.
Weather resistant

24. Bullet Direct connection to antenna
Cat 5 computer cable connects directly to it and provides Power over Ethernet (POE)

25. Many hams like the Ubiquiti OS better than HamNet
Advantages – Is tried and bug free and has diagnostic tools built in. Allows LED’s on side of Bullet to be used for easy alignment of antennas.
Much more powerful and flexible on network setup.
Variable channel bandwidth and you can even slide the channel frequency!
Disadvantages – Will not talk directly to HamNet units. Requires more network know-how, as it is more complex.

26. What equipment do Hams need?
Applications
TeamTalk
WebCam
And MUCH more
TeamTalk
. Text, voice, live video feed, file transfer and desktop sharing ability for more than 40 hams at one time in a “ham familiar” environment multiple “channels” for repeaters, simplex “channels”, net control ability, you can assign “channels” for police, fire, hospitals, government - all in an easy to use interface!
You can do anything on HamNet that you can do on any other network.