[MVMA] WVMN An Introduction to Our AREDN Mesh Network

[Chuck Gelm]

On 8/7/25 22:24, John Simpson via groups.io wrote:
>
> *An Introduction to Our AREDN Mesh Network*
>
> Good evening, everyone. It's a real pleasure to be here with you all 
> tonight. As amateur radio operators, we share a deep appreciation for 
> communication and a foundational understanding of its importance. 
> We’ve built stations, chased DX, and perhaps even participated in 
> emergency drills, all of which contribute to our readiness and our 
> love for the hobby. Today, I want to introduce you to a particularly 
> exciting evolution within amateur radio, one that combines our passion 
> for the airwaves with the immense power of modern computer networking. 
> I’m here to talk about our the*Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network*, 
> or*AREDN*mesh network.
>
> AREDN is truly an amazing*fusion of two worlds*: radio and computer 
> technology. It’s an aspect of the hobby that is perfect for those of 
> us who have a foot in both camps and want to explore the possibilities 
> of bringing them together in a meaningful way. The core concept is 
> both elegant and powerful: we take readily available, commercial 
> off-the-shelf Wi-Fi hardware—the kind of routers and access points you 
> might find at any electronics store—and*we "reflash" them with 
> specialized, open-source firmware*. This process completely changes 
> the device's function, allowing it to operate on authorized amateur 
> radio frequencies, such as those in the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. The 
> result is a*high-speed data network*that is similar to, but 
> independent of the commercial internet and public utility 
> infrastructure. This independence is not just a technical detail; it’s 
> a strategic advantage, especially in situations where traditional 
> communication fails. This ability to*move significant amounts of 
> data*—from simple text messages and documents to high-resolution 
> images and even live video streams—quickly and reliably over the air 
> is perhaps its*single greatest selling point*and a game-changer for 
> our community.
>
> One of the most important principles of our local AREDN network is its 
> design as a persistent, always-on*infrastructure system*, not 
> necessarily a collection of ad-hoc nodes. While individual, portable 
> and base station nodes have their place in tactical situations, our 
> community's main effort is to build a robust and*resilient network 
> that exists/before/a crisis*. This is our backbone, a network of 
> strategically placed relays, endpoints, and high-gain antennas that 
> provide broad, reliable coverage across the community. You can think 
> of it less like a handheld radio and more like a permanent network of 
> high-speed data cell towers. This persistent infrastructure ensures 
> that when we need it most—whether for a large-scale event, an 
> emergency, or simply a weekend of experimentation—the*network is 
> already in place and ready to be used*by any operator within range. 
> It’s a proactive approach to readiness that maximizes our collective 
> capability.
>
> For our local AREDN network, we have made the important and collective 
> decision to standardize on the*5 GHz band*. This wasn't an arbitrary 
> choice. The 5 GHz spectrum offers several key advantages. Most 
> importantly, it provides a*significantly wider channel bandwidth*than 
> the more common 2.4 GHz band. This translates directly to higher data 
> throughput and better performance. Furthermore, the 2.4 GHz band is 
> incredibly congested with consumer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices, cordless 
> phones, and even microwave ovens, all of which contribute to a high 
> level of interference. By using 5 GHz, we are operating in a 
> much*cleaner and quieter part of the spectrum*, which allows for 
> clearer and more reliable links. While the signals at 5 GHz don’t 
> propagate as far as those on 2.4 GHz, we've found that for our needs, 
> the trade-off in range is more than compensated for by the dramatic 
> improvement in network performance and stability.
>
> If you look at our current network map, you’ll see our priority sector 
> targets. Right now, we have strong coverage and anchor points 
> strategically located in*Southwest Eugene, Peacehealth Riverbend,*and 
> the*Thurston Hills*area, with more to come. These are not random 
> spots; they were chosen for their elevation, clear line of sight, and 
> ability to serve a wide geographic area, including key community 
> assets like hospitals and emergency operations centers. To achieve 
> this broad coverage, we use two main types of antennas.*Sector 
> antennas*are designed to provide a wide-angle broadcast, typically 
> covering a 90 to 120-degree arc. These antennas are ideal for serving 
> a large number of clients within a specific geographic area from 
> various hilltops. In contrast, for creating long-distance, 
> point-to-point links between two high points, we use highly 
> focused*directional dish antennas*. These antennas act like a powerful 
> laser, sending a very narrow, high-gain beam of data to a specific, 
> distant location. These backbone links are the very foundation of our 
> network, connecting different coverage areas and allowing data to flow 
> seamlessly across the entire system.
>
> Once you’re connected to the network,*the possibilities are vast*. 
> AREDN offers a number of*useful services*that are all hosted locally 
> on our own servers, or hosted by various enthusiasts at their home and 
> office endpoints. These services are typically accessed through a 
> standard web browser on your computer. Some of the most common and 
> useful services include*VoIP (Voice over IP) phone systems*, allowing 
> for high-quality voice communication between nodes on the network; 
> a*mesh chat*service for instant text messaging; and custom*maps*that 
> dynamically show the topology of the network, the location of other 
> active nodes, and the services available. Beyond these, the network 
> can be configured to host almost anything you can imagine:*file 
> servers*for sharing large documents,*web pages*for sharing important 
> information, and even live*video feeds*from key locations. The truly 
> beautiful thing about these services is that they are entirely 
> self-contained within our network, meaning they function perfectly 
> even if the commercial internet goes down.
>
> A crucial piece of our infrastructure is the*LCcore data center*in 
> downtown Eugene. This is a secure, stable, and reliable location 
> that*serves as a central hub*for our AREDN community. It houses 
> several key servers and provides essential connectivity for different 
> parts of our ham network. LCcore is a point of convergence where 
> backbone links meet and where vital servers are hosted. It's 
> a*critical resource*that helps ensure the system's overall reliability 
> and availability, offering*services that benefit*every single user on 
> the network. Without LCcore, our network would be far more fragmented 
> and less reliable.
>
> You might be wondering,*"Who runs this whole thing?"*The answer is 
> that our AREDN system does not have a central governing body in the 
> traditional sense. It operates on a truly decentralized, collaborative 
> model. Instead of a top-down management structure, a group of 
> dedicated and expert*network engineers*from our community meets 
> regularly to discuss and troubleshoot technical issues, plan for 
> future expansions, and ensure the network's health and security. This 
> approach*fosters innovation*, flexibility, and a strong sense of 
> community ownership, as the network's growth and improvement are a 
> direct result of the collective efforts and contributions of its 
> users. Everyone has a voice and the opportunity to contribute.
>
> While AREDN is an excellent tool for*emergency 
> communication*—operating independently of commercial power and 
> internet—it is so much more. In a disaster scenario, its ability to 
> move data, including email via systems like*Winlink*, makes it 
> an*invaluable asset for agencies*and communities. But AREDN is also a 
> phenomenal platform for*regular hams and experimentation*. It’s an 
> entire sub-hobby in its own right, allowing us to dive into the world 
> of IP networking, server administration, routing, and scripting. It 
> provides a hands-on learning environment that complements our 
> traditional radio skills and offers a clear pathway into a new, 
> technically rich aspect of amateur radio.
>
> The history of the AREDN project is a*testament to this spirit*of 
> experimentation and collaboration. It was born out of a community 
> desire to adapt consumer Wi-Fi equipment for our purposes, and 
> the*open-source firmware*that runs it was created and is maintained by 
> a dedicated group of volunteer amateur radio operators and software 
> engineers. This collaborative, community-driven approach is what makes 
> AREDN so special and so resilient.
>
> In closing, our local AREDN network is a living, breathing project. 
> It’s a*powerful tool*for emergency communication, a*playground for 
> technical experimentation*, and a fantastic example of what can be 
> accomplished when we combine our passion for radio with the 
> possibilities of modern computer networking. Its greatest strength is 
> its ability to move data at high speeds, opening up a world of 
> possibilities for us as amateur radio operators.
>
> ###
>
> _._,_._,_
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