HSMM-MESH

[KC9AXZ]

Hello all,

I've been playing around with the idea of HSMM-MESH here. I've got most of the equipment needed to start up. I don't believe anyone in my area is doing this as of right now. I'll be the first to jump on this (I think) in the area. I have a path I'm going to start with, and expand from there. The first path is my home to the EOC just 2 miles as the crow flys. The next path is EOC to another ham that is interested about a mile as the crow flys.

Just curious to see if anyone in the forum is in an area the has a established HSMM network running.

Jon

 

[LtDoc]

And what exactly is 'HSMM-MESH'? Never heard of it.
- 'Doc

 

[N8OHU]

And what exactly is 'HSMM-MESH'? Never heard of it.
- 'Doc

It's using ordinary WRT54G wifi routers in a different way; the radios are linked and any computers plugged into the normal LAN ports go over the protected data path instead of to the Internet, if another router on the mesh has internet access. Basically, you install the HSMM-MESH firmware instead of updating the factory firmware, and it alters how the router works. For more information, see HSMM-MESH

 

[vagrant]

So, this is just a wireless PAN, or MAN? I read the phrase amateur radio, but the frequencies it uses are unlicensed, so anyone can enjoy. It seems to be a way to allow others using a router, with the specific software/firmware, to connect to a similar network via wireless. Basically, it's just bridging the two networks using WiFi routers.

Am I missing something, or is this better somehow than doing it the obvious, and perhaps easier way?

 

[N8OHU]

So, this is just a wireless PAN, or MAN? I read the phrase amateur radio, but the frequencies it uses are unlicensed, so anyone can enjoy. It seems to be a way to allow others using a router, with the specific software/firmware, to connect to a similar network via wireless. Basically, it's just bridging the two networks using WiFi routers.

Am I missing something, or is this better somehow than doing it the obvious, and perhaps easier way?

The way the firmware is set up, you are using the 2.4 GHz ham band frequencies, so you can legally use higher power and directional antennas. The nodes are also inaccessible to normal wifi clients when configured as a mesh.

 

[KC9AXZ]

So, this is just a wireless PAN, or MAN? I read the phrase amateur radio, but the frequencies it uses are unlicensed, so anyone can enjoy. It seems to be a way to allow others using a router, with the specific software/firmware, to connect to a similar network via wireless. Basically, it's just bridging the two networks using WiFi routers.

Am I missing something, or is this better somehow than doing it the obvious, and perhaps easier way?

This is done just outside the unlicensed 2.4G "channels". For this reason amateurs can run higher power and higher gain antennas. This would also be the reason for the use of callsigns. The term HSMM-MESH is trademarked to keep commercial or unlicesnsed users form joining the network.

More can be learned at HSMM-MESH

Jon