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Goals of this Presentation
• Obtain an understanding of Mesh Networking• Understand basic setup and configuration of a
mesh node• Understand various uses of a mesh network
What is Mesh Networking?
• Method for creating a computer network• Mesh nodes are self discovering, self
configuring, self advertising and fault tolerant• Mesh network can act as a Local Area Network
(LAN) or be connected to other networks, like the Internet
• Purpose built as an EMCOM tool
How can we do this?
• Consumer based hardware overlaps Amateur frequencies!
• 2.4Ghz• 5.7Ghz• 900Mhz• 3.4Ghz (coming soon)• As Amateurs, we can add high gain antennas
and increase power beyond Part 15.
Software
• Broadband HamNet (formally HSMM) firmware– First released 8/24/2006– Based off of OpenWRT open source software– Utilizes OLSR – this is the software that does the “meshing.”
• Primary Developers – Glenn KD5MFW – David AD5OO– Bob WB5AOH – Rick NG5V
• Ham priced – FREE!
Hardware - Linksys
• Linksys WRT54 routers– Inexpensive $20-$35 on eBay– Nice port layout, particularly for interfacing to the
Internet– Run on 12VDC– Options for additional antennas– No longer manufactured– Not all WRT54G models are compatible, only
specific “versions” – know what you need
Hardware - Ubiquiti
• Ubiquiti Devices– Costs $60-$130– More durable than Linksys for outdoor use– Products are still being manufactured– Larger internal memory, allowing larger firmware images (more
features)– Requires power injectors to power the devices– Single RJ45 port
• Additional ports require a switch.• Interfacing into Internet is more complex and requires switch that
supports VLANs.
– Make sure the model you want to purchase is on compatibility list.
Hardware – Raspberry Pi
• Raspberry Pi– Cost $35-$50– Product is still being manufactured– Larger internal memory, allowing larger firmware images (more
features)– Allows customized application development– Single RJ45 port
• Additional ports require a switch.
– Need to purchase USB WiFi adapter– Mesh interface is not “standard” – Not all features are implemented in the RPi interface.– More complex to install
Terminology• Nodes – A “node” is a mesh device in the
network. This would be a Linksys, Ubiquiti, or RPi.
• Devices – Devices are any IP based hardware that is plugged into the Mesh network. This include devices like Laptops, IP Cameras, and IP Printers.
What can we do with it?• We have a local TCP/IP Network!
– IP Cameras/Webcams– VoIP
• PBX• Magic Jack
– Email (SMTP)– Web Traffic (HTTP)– FTP (File Transfer Protocol)– Instant Messaging– Cloud Storage
• Dropbox• SugarSync
– NAS devices (Network Storage)– Any program or device that uses TCP/IP for connectivity
Show me the flash• Download the latest firmware from http://www.broadband-hamnet.org
– Be sure you get the correct firmware for your hardware and hardware version!• Factory reset the device, particularly if you’ve bought it used.• Plug in the device directly to your computer• Run the following commands from a Command window
– ipconfig /release – This command releases the current IP address on your computer– ipconfig /renew – This command obtains a new IP address for your computer
• You can check the IP addresses assigned to your computer by running the following command– ipconfig
• The IPv4 address listed is the address assigned to your computer• The Default Gateway address is the IP address of your router.• If there is no Default Gateway address and/or your assigned address is 169.x.x.x the router is not operating correctly.
• Login to the device by going to http://router_ip_address– Linksys
• Devices typically use a local IP address of 192.168.1.1• Default login/password: (blank)/admin
– Ubiquiti • Devices typically use a local IP address of 192.168.1.20• Default login/password: ubnt/ubnt
Update Flash - Linksys
• Navigate to the screen to upload/update firmware in the Administration Menu
Flashed! Log into your node.
• Once router reboots, refresh your IP address– ipconfig /release– ipconfig /renew
• You can access the node 2 ways:– http://localnode:8080– http://node_ip_address:8080– Node ip address can be determined by issuing the ipconfig
command and node the address of the Default Gateway. That is the node’s IP address
• Login to the node– Default login/password: root/hsmm
Basic Configuration• Node Name: CallSign-x
– Node Name must be unique on the mesh network.– Optionally you can add a tactical call to the node
• Callsign-x/Tactical• Note that tactical callsigns must be unique on the mesh network
• Password– Enter a password to access the node.
• Recommend you write the node name and password on the node.
• Save the configuration and reboot the router– After the device is rebooted, you will need to release/renew the IP address
on your computer.– The IP addresses assigned by nodes is based off of the Node Name. Any
time the Node Name is changed, the IP addresses provided by the node will change.
• Your Mesh node is online!
Notes on Mesh Networks• You cannot connect a computer via WiFi to a Mesh
Network• The Mesh firmware version must be the same for
nodes to mesh together. A version 1.0.0 mesh node will not connect with a 3.1.0 node
• Changing the mesh node name will change the IP scheme the node provides, ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew are your friend!
• Nodes will be accessible by name and/or tactical call. i.e. http://k8srr-14:8080 can access a given node
• Do not forget your password!