[FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:11:54 -0500

Rick,

What radios are you talking about -- just using wireless hubs?   about 5
years ago i helped buit a system (for Harris) with a stock 802.11b wirelss
access node with a 1 watt amp -- we put it on a NOAA buouy 6 miles off the
coast of key largo -- let it LAN with a submurged research capsule and the
landside science station -- works well to this day.
We did a few experiements before that to see about link closures with
various power levels/antennas etc -- we could easily go from eau gaulie
causeway to 192 causeway with 100millwatts and small db antennas ---  the
1 watt amp was really overkill for the 6 mile link -- we were concerned
about salt spray and rain degrading the path.

I have some left over junk -- wouldn't mind adding a 2.4  node ant on the
roof -- how far apart are we?  we could try some link tests.

i have 4 lans at home --- DSL service, cable modem, and cat-5 running across
the street to another lan segment, so tying in a wireless shouldn't be more
crazy.

rick w4rp

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Muething" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 3:01 PM
Subject: RE: [FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

> 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
> > [email protected]
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fadca
>
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