Intro to Relatively Cheap High Speed Multimedia Applications

1
Intro to Relatively Cheap High Speed Multimedia
Applications

• Racine Amateur
• Television Society RCARES Digital Group
• http//www.kb9mma.com/HSMM-RACINE

2
Goals

• The goal of this presentation is to get you
  thinking. How you can use HSMM for emergency
  communications and for public service events.
• It is up to you to decide the options whether
  running HSMM is worth it.

3
Why should we care?

• This is NOT hard, just takes patients
• OLD and New hams can work together on these
  projects!
• Some of this can be non-line of sight.
• HSMM can provide a very cost effective failure
  resistant wireless backbone for area ham digital
  systems
• It integrates into anything TCP/IP compatible

• Digital radio is ham radios future!
• Commercial and other entities are already there
• Ham radio is behind in this development.
• Open protocols- TCP/IP, off the shelf software
  and hardware.
• Lastly, and not most importantly it is FUN!

4
What is HSMM?
HSMM, or High Speed Multimedia, is the name of an
ARRL sponsored technical project to introduce
high speed data radio to amateur radio. HSMM
generally uses standard internet protocols , so
that regular applications such as web, ftp, email
and other applications can run over it without
modification. The popular license free
802.11a/b/g services operate on bands that
overlap amateur frequency allocations, giving us
cheap hardware that can be used in in part 97
operation when used with care
5
Immediate EMCOMM Applications

• Echolink
• Winlink 2k
• APRS
• Telpac nodes
• Document Storage Access
• Printer Sharing
• IRLP Repeater Links
• APRS Internet Feed
• Weather Web Sites
• Regular Internet Service

• Repeater control
• Video
• Audio
• Hospital / EOC interconnects
• Event Management
• Custom web applications
• Work flow software
• And more!

6
Major Differences between WI-FI and HSMM

• PART 15 Devices, users, business.
• Limted to 6 Db antennas
• Usually have 50-200mW Trancievers
• Are NOT FCC Licenced
• Have built a businesss based on a very shaky
  wild west type frequency allocation

• Part 97 Devices, Users, applications
• Are Limited to 100 watts with APC
• (automatic power control) into the antenna.
• Can use any antenna we can dream up!
• Limited to Part 97 Regulations
• Make best effort to keep Part 15
• off of network
• Can use Authentication Methods to
• Ensure this, as long as it is publicly posted

7
Basic Network Elements

• Client Access device
• AP Access Point
• Amplifiers / Antennas many, many!!!!

8
Amplifiers

• Picture of the RF Linx amplifier.
• Specifications can be found at
  http//www.rflinx.com/Amplifiers/2.4GHz-Amplifiers
  /2400_C_Series.htm
• We purchased them from Fab-corp.com. Make sure
  to purchase the MMCX to whatever connectors!
• Others can be found on EBAY for BI-Directional
  AMPS!

9
Typical setup
10
Path surveys are critical in network design!!!!
11
Signal alignment
We are using net stumbler as a signal level and
antenna alignment tool. http//www.netstumbler.com
We modified DWL-120 USB devices to plug into
the antenna / amplifier array.  This eliminates
the need for expensive alignment tools.
12
Fixed Location Installation
graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
13
Emergency Deployment Access Point
Access Point for Local Distribution
Equipment in weatherproof boxes
Bridge to an internet connection
Power run up the Ethernet cable
DSL Router
Computer configured as an EMCOMM Server

• Net Controls
• Served Agency Liasons
• Weather Liasons
• Health Welfare Liasons

graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
14
One Possible Digital Network
graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
15
Radio Metropolitan Area Network(RMAN)
Emcomm Access Point
Satellite Uplink
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
D-star 1.2 GHz
900MHz
graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
16
World Wide example using 44.X.X.X. networking
routing and VPN.
17
Demo Time!

• I will now show you some Live HSMMing!
• Also Appendix has some more technical information
  on Vendors and Freq allocations.

18
Vendors

• Fleeman, Anderson Bird
• http//www.fab-corp.com/
• Owned by hams in Florida
• Pacific Wireless
• http//www.pacwireless.com/
• RF Cables, Inc.
• http//allrfcables.com/
• HyperLink Technologies
• http//www.hyperlinktech.com/

19
2.4 GHZ(802.11b/g)

• 11 overlapping 802.11b/g channels
• 11 MHz wide each, 5 MHz spacing

• 802.11b channels 1-6 overlap amateur allocations
• AMSAT requests not to use ch 1 due to sat
  interference
• CH2 center sits right in the middle of high speed
  data rate subband,
• and does NOT leave the ham bands!!!! Note there
  are really only 3 nonoverlapping
• channels in 2.4 GHZ

graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
20
5 GHz (802.11a)

• 12 non-overlapping 802.11a channels
• 20 MHz wide each
• 3 sets of 4 channels
• 4x40mw ch for indoor
• 4x200mw ch for indoor, outdoor
• 4x800mw ch for outdoor
• Power specified at the IR
• More bandwidth requested

graphic John Beadles N5OOM Intro to HSMM
Hamcom 05
21
Projects for your organization

• http//www.n5oom.org/hsmm/rootenna_project.htm
• Client HSMM AP and Bridge setups.
• Cantennas
• Installing and testing field applicaitions for
  your local and state plans.