[KokomoHams] KARC - IEEE 802.12 Networking for Field Day

[Jeff Burns]

Testing an IEEE 802.12 Networking at the KARC Field Day site has been
discussed. If this is going to happen some pre-planning must happen.
There is not much time left, but it may be possible to conduct a minimal
test this year.

The computer I am using for the 20, 80 m CW station has an 802.12g card in
it. I have an unused 802.12b card, a USB wireless adapter, and a "b" level
router. I think Charlie Sponaugle has a laptop with built in wireless
networking.

Here is what I think is possible in order of increasing difficulty.

1. Test for signal strength around the site. This could be as simple as
moving my router to different places and seeing if my desktop computer can
still pick up a signal. 

2. The next step in complexity is to actually get two computers talking to
each other. This may be really easy, but likely will require pre-planning. 

3. Run a network logging program. It is probably too late to get this
figured out, but here is how it might be done. I am planning on using the
N1MM logging program at the 20, 80m CW station. This program has what
appears to be a good arrangement for network logging. One master computer is
required, but all the stations have a local log file. If communication is
lost they function independently. One complication is that N1MM requires the
IP address of each computer. Dynamic addresses will work, but if an address
gets reassigned all the computers must be updated. We could set up two of
our stations with this program and see how it works. A better strategy may
be to set up an extra computer as the master. Then have only one station
actually log with N1MM. This would let us see how the system works under FD
conditions with minimal risk. 

Level one and two above are probably pretty easy to achieve, but level three
is a stretch. If we are going to do level three we need another computer,
network savvy help, and a meeting to work out the bugs.

Is there any way to get bonus points for a demonstration mode out of this?

If anyone wants to make this happen let me know.

Jeff Burns
AD9T