[MVMA] New local AREDNite: Steve KD8MKG

[kd8mkg]

Oh, I see what you are getting at.  Sure, that makes sense.

My tools haven't even cooled down from installing a PoE security camera
system, so one more run of Cat6 shouldn't be a problem.  I'll figure that
out and let you know.

-Steve

On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 5:41 PM Chuck Gelm <nc8q-aredn at gelm.net> wrote:

> On 6/29/23 17:14, kd8mkg wrote:
>
> Hey Chuck,
>
> *Sending a second message because the listserv didn't like my large image
> attachment.*
>
> Understood.  I found the documentation last night and have been
> reading/watching through it and I am developing a better understanding of
> the topology and equipment.
>
> And that's quite a generous offer!  It's much appreciated, but generally,
> I prefer to own and operate my own equipment.  Additionally, cost is not a
> factor for me, so I'd much prefer that loaner equipment go to potential new
> users who may have fewer resources, or be available for backup purposes.
> That being said, I'm not in a huge hurry or anything, I just enjoy learning
> and experimenting.  I suspect this isn't a unique quality among this group.
>
> In performing a 5.7GHz link analysis based on your parameters (60˚
> coverage, assuming a conservative 10dBi gain from Prestige at the slight
> offset), with an LGH 5 XL mounted to the mast at my QTH, the numbers appear
> a bit more comfortable, though still in a range I would consider marginal.
> The receive performance specifications for the LHG 5 XL are right around
> where I was estimating, and it looks like I'd be into the green with a
> small fade margin of ~12dB.  Of course, that rmonline isn't estimating a
> "forest loss" makes me wonder how accurate it might be in this case.  I
> trust it implicitly for UHF and below.  It's relatively reliable for
> 915MHz, but for 2.4GHz and up, I'm not sure.
>
> -Steve
>
> On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 7:09 AM Chuck Gelm <nc8q-aredn at gelm.net> wrote:
>
>> On 6/28/23 12:48, kd8mkg wrote:
>>
>> Hey Chuck,
>>
>> Thanks for this!  Do you have a ballpark idea of the receive threshold
>> performance for these radios?
>>
>> Online I'm reading indications that ~80dBm is the absolute floor of
>> something that's marginally reliable; but this source seems to indicate it
>> is referring to consumer devices.  Assuming antennas with a gain of 12dBi
>> at both ends, and 500mW Tx power, my link study suggests a total path loss
>> of ~140dB, and receive at about -94dBm.  Rokland sells a 2.4GHz panel with
>> a claimed 19dBi gain and a 17˚ beam width, which would hypothetically get
>> me to around -86dBm.  If I paid for dedicated hardware at both ends, and
>> had a 19dBi panel at prestige, I could get myself into the yellow at about
>> ~79.86dBm.  It is possible, though, that these commercial radios are more
>> sensitive than I'm assuming.
>>
>> I have field experience with the 915MHz LoRa hardware, but I'm sort of
>> guessing with this stuff.  And perhaps more importantly, as my brother
>> says; *in theory, practice matches theory; in practice, it does not.  *Considering
>> the low cost of entry, the best course of action might just be to put up
>> an antenna and see what happens.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Steve
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 5:38 AM Chuck Gelm <nc8q-aredn at gelm.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On 6/28/23 04:39, Chuck Gelm wrote:
>>>
>>> Here is Steve's profile toward Prestige Plaza:
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi, Steve:
>>
>> Your theory looks fine, but don't buy anything, yet.
>> 1. We have equipment to loan.
>> 2. Since 2018 we have been discouraging grid access via 2.4 GHz.
>> 3. Rokland does not make devices compatible with AREDN firmware. See:
>> http://downloads.arednmesh.org/firmware/html/SUPPORTED_DEVICES.md
>> Note that most of the compatible devices are packaged with a radio and
>> its antenna in one enclosure.
>> There may be one radio used with 3 different antenna. Mikrotik RB SXTsq,
>> LHG, LHG-XL.
>> I have a 'panel' (SXT 16dBi) and 2 'dish' (24.5, 27 dBi) radio/antenna
>> devices to loan.
>> There already is a 60 degree beamwidth device at PP and it is aimed about
>> 285 degrees. You are about 8 degrees.
>>
>> 73, Chuck
>>
>>
>> Test the loaner equipment.
> If it works, buy your own.
>
>
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