[FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:01:25 -0500

Russ, All,

A good place to start on WiFi (802.11b/g) is http://www.arrl.org/hsmm/

There are some good links there as well.  There is also a good book out by
O'Reilly titled Building Wireless Community Networks.

There is also a simple easy to use on-line link calculator at
http://www.ecommwireless.com/cgi-local/wireless.main.cgi

>From what I have read and after playing with the link calculator the
following looks  doable and with modest cost:

Backbone links on 3.3 or 5.5Ghz can be built with 24db Parabolic dishes,
transverters (with 1 watt output and LNA) from 2.4 GHz 802.11 radios. Cost
something like about $300-400 per transceiver (two required per each site
for forward and backward links). These with 50+ ft antennas could have a
range of 30 Mi or more if no significant obstructions.

At the backbone sites could be a 2M LAN and a 2.4 GHz 802.11 local node.
The 802.11 node would need a 1 watt amp and a 15 db omni gain antenna (e.g.
slotted waveguide) at 50 ft.  This could make a useable link for local
access using a standard 802.11 radio (no Amp and LNA) with a 24 DB dish at
25 ft up to about 10 mi perhaps further.

Bottom line it looks like the total cost for a backbone node with local 2.4
GHz WiFi is about the same as 440 links with TNCs and radios.  The backbone
could also be tied (where possible) to the wired internet for redundancy.
This would be a high speed 54 Mb max link....a long way from 1200 baud
packet.

I have ordered a couple of the 802.11 radios for experimenting. Save your 1
lb (2.4 GHz) coffee cans!

73,

Rick KN6KB

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 1254 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

Paul, thank you for your note.

I agree. We need to be ready to support ALL communications methods, Amateur
Radio or other wise.  It has been our strong point, the diversity of systems
and bands and ranges we can offer in addition to the manpower.
We need to be ready to use the systems that are in place as operators or
support personnel in addition to what we can bring uniquely to the table.

I want to hear more about the WiFi possiblities. I had explored this in a
few notes about a year ago and there was some interest but no action that I
could see,

Chuck Hast had mentioned a vendor on the Fla West Coast that builds 2.4 G
equipment that is in the US Ham Band but not in the Part 15 frequencies used
by US 802.11b devices.  Bud mentioned that to me and that Chuck had brought
up that possibility at the West Florida conference earlier this year.

Folks, can we add that to the discussion again, even if it is a separate
stream?

Russ
N4KOX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul J. Toth-NA4AR" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 10:24 AM
Subject: [FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

> Doug and all....
>
> While there is a great deal of worth to having a 'pure' Amateur Radio
> Digital Network for EComm traffic in Florida, we need to take a pragmatic
> approach to this subject.  The "Last Mile" (or depending on your point of
> view, the "First Mile") is going to be paved with pothole, speed humps and
a
> number of other barriers to success.  Getting the message through quickly
> and accurately is what is important.  If part of the digital network
> patchwork has a piece of ESATCOM, the Internet, FDEM's toll-free 800
number,
> so be it.  IMHO, we have to get passed this notion that Amateur Radio
> operators can only use Amateur Radio to communicate.  Besides, it that was
> really the case, why do so many Radio Amateurs have cell phones and
Nextel?
>
> In addition to each county being ESATCOM equipped, the National Weather
> Service offices in Florida are also on the ESATCOM network.
>
> 73 de Paul-NA4AR
> Regional Coordinator - WCF SKYWARN Group
>
> _______________________________________________
> FADCA mailing list
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