I found some great videos at the Ubiquiti site that cover a lot of interesting topics about using AirMax equipment. Our Nanostations and Rockets are “AirMax” products. Although these videos are not specifically about devices using the AREDN firmware, they still explain a lot of concepts we share with the factory firmware equipped nodes. https://www.ubnt.com/videos/#airmax-videos
Our three nodes at Gibralter Peak are working extremely well. We have members linking up from Goleta to Carpinteria and several points in-between. There are about 5 nodes online now and another 5 or so coming up soon! The node for the club station is programmed and ready to go, but installation on the mast was delayed because of rain. We still need to raise funds to build out the La Vigia site on the Mesa. We need 2 or 3 Ubiquiti Nanostation nodes there and a ToughSwitch network switch. All the equipment will cost us about $400 and any help our members can offer will be greatly appreciated. If you can help with a donation please click here. Our next step will be to connect over the mountain to the Santa Ynez Valley. We’re very lucky to have access to all the great repeater sites that Bill W1UUQ has spent many years cultuivating. This enables is to to some great things with emergency and general communications of all kinds and we hope to utilize these assets wisely to enhance our communications abilities.
We are encouraging users to use a common naming convention when naming devices on the local mesh network. This will help others identify your node and pass along some useful information about your installation. Here is an example for my node at my office downtown is: K6BPM-DLV-NSM2–N60 This breaks down to: K6BPM -> my callsign. Always comes first. DLV -> something to ID this node. In this case DLV stands for De La Vina NSM2 -> the type of equipment, a Nanostation M2 N60 -> the direction it is pointing North and the radiation pattern is 60° (standard for a NSM2) So my link will show up as http://K6BPM-DLV-NSM2-N60.local.mesh on the node status page.
Baltic Networks is a good source for Ubiquiti node and accessories. They have a very nice mounting bracket for Nanostations that can be used as a mast mount or a wall mount. The ball arm allows for easy aiming It is only $6.50!!! http://www.balticnetworks.com/nanobracket-universal.html
If you don’t want to run a wire to your computer, you can get one of these. The part on the right is the POE injector that comes with your Nanostation or Rocket M2. The part on the left is called an Airgateway. It snaps right onto the POE injector and provides WiFi connectivity so you can connect to the mesh network with any WiFi device like a laptop, smartphone or tablet! They are only $18.10 from Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Networks-Airgateway-Indoor-AIRGATEWAY/dp/B00HXT84DG?ie=UTF8
Rod Fritz WB9KMO, rod@sbatv.org These guidelines were prepared for the Superstition Amateur Radio Club in Mesa AZ. I hope you find them informative and useful. The guidelines are intended to maximize mesh network success while minimizing interference. It may be appropriate to modify the guidelines as we accumulate input and experience. WEBSITES – Use the www.aredn.org and www.bbhn.org websites to supplement these guidelines and learn more about installing and using a Broadband Hamnet mesh network FIRMWARE – Install the most current supported (not beta test) firmware for your devices; AREDN is preferred, BBHN is compatible; use BroadbandHamnet as the SSID prefix and Callsign-DeviceAbbrev-DirectionPointedAbbrev as the Hostname, like WB9KMO-NSM2-S60; use directions like OMNI, N, S, E, W, NE, SSW, E60 (east, 60 degrees wide), 150TO210 (from 150 degrees to 210 degrees), ROTATABLE, etc. DISTANCE BETWEEN NODES – Ensure that your node’s “DISTANCE” value is set optimally; too low will timeout before connection; too high will cause unnecessary delays; this is critical to performance. DHCP ADDRESS RESERVATIONS – On the Port Forwarding, DHCP screen, ensure that you name your local devices and assign IP Addresses as DHCP reservations on nodes beginning with your callsign to reduce name collisions. (is. K5DLQ-RASPBX) INTERNET OR NOT – Generally, use apps that do not require an Internet connection so they function if the Internet is down (during a disaster); optionally, connect to the Internet to allow additional functionality; you DON’T need to enable “Mesh Gateway” if you just want to use local devices that don’t require an Internet connection 2.4 GHZ OUTDOOR NODES – Only use Channel -2 with a bandwidth that stays in the band (5 or 10 MHz); limit transmitter power to the minimum required for acceptable quality; limit the antenna beam-width to the minimum required for the desired nodes and users; select antenna direction and polarity to minimize interference with unintended services and users 2.4 GHZ INDOOR NODES- Use any channel and bandwidth that is legal and minimize interference outside of your building; limit transmitter power to the minimum required for acceptable quality 2.4 GHZ ON-PROPERTY NODES – Only if necessary, use any channel bandwidth that is legal for connections on your property (indoors or outdoors) and minimize interference outside of your property; limit transmitter power to the minimum required for acceptable quality INTERFERENCE REGULATIONS – Amateur Radio spread spectrum (SS) emissions are regulated by the FCC (Part 97). (NOTE: I have been… Continue reading
