[HamWAN PSDR] Newbie

Mon Mar 15 17:44:48 PDT 2021

Phil, an example of the ham band traffic that Kenny mentioned is not permitted by the FCC is encrypted communications traffic…this means the majority of websites your visit today and many email hosters, since websites commonly use TLS/SSL encryption (indicated by “https” in front of the URL in your browser address bar) or encrypted settings in your email hoster & client.  Winlink does NOT use encryption, thus is legal, and is the primary application for my ARES team using HamWAN.  As Kenny points out, certain routers (not inexpensive home models) can be used to split that traffic appropriately, but it is not an easy setup unless you have a background in data networks or cybersecurity…so it’s far easier to either use HamWAN just for your dedicated ARES laptop use or switch a cable back and forth using one pipe at a time.

FWIW, Stephen W9SK

From: PSDR <psdr-bounces at hamwan.org> On Behalf Of Kenny Richards
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 12:49 PM
To: Puget Sound Data Ring <psdr at hamwan.org>
Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Newbie

Just want to add two things to what Carl said already.

1) Line of sight means you can actually 'see' the HamWAN node, or at least you can with something like a pair of binoculars. 

2) Remember that HamWAN is not meant to be a replacement for your home internet. Be very conscious of what traffic you are putting over HamWAN. I don't recommend connecting it to your home network unless you are familiar enough with routing rules to limit what traffic goes out the HamWAN link.

Good luck,

Kenny, KU7M

On Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 12:40 PM <carl at n7kuw.com <mailto:carl at n7kuw.com> > wrote:

Hi Phil,

You can do all of the configuration while on the ground, but obviously you won’t have any signal. You don’t indicate what specific equipment you have, but if you have the mAnt30 dish and separate router/modem, make sure you have the antenna connected before powering it up.

As to trees, they are an absolute show stopper. You must have clear, visual, line of sight to the HamWAN site you are shooting to. Hopefully you will have that, or can achieve that, from where you plan to mount the dish.  As to “just over them”, a microwave shot consists of the direct, pure line of sight, but also what is referred to as the Fresnel zone – a cigar shaped “balloon” around the pure line of sight.  Items in the Fresnel zone (including trees) can reduce the amount of signal you have, so you may not get optimum performance, but some.

In your initial post you commented about how to balance between your regular internet and HamWAN for a Winlink node.  My suggestion would be to just leave it on one (whichever one) as the norm, and only switch to the other if the one goes down.  You can also acquire routers that include failover capability to automatically make that switch.  You can go more advanced with load sharing and such between multiple connections, but that requires much better understanding of internet routing, and for a winlink node basic failover will serve your purpose.

Good luck, let us know how things turn out.

Carl, N7KUW

From: PSDR <psdr-bounces at hamwan.org <mailto:psdr-bounces at hamwan.org> > On Behalf Of Phil Cornell via PSDR
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 12:11 PM
To: psdr at hamwan.org <mailto:psdr at hamwan.org> 
Subject: [HamWAN PSDR] Newbie

OK, I figured out my problem and I now have Winbox talking to the radio and reporting status.  I's not linking to anything since the antenna is still on the ground.  How much configuration can I do before mounting it on my roof.  The only question in my sight path may be some trees but I think I can aim just over them and get a signal.  My friend Bruce/WA7BAM will be helping with the antenna installation on Wed afternoon.  Making progress...

Phil Cornell  

W7PLC 

SHARES NCS590

Hybrid Gateway W7PLC

TCARES  VP

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