[HamWAN PSDR] Intercept a HamWAN Station

[Rob Salsgiver]

Jerry,

 

I’ll start you off and if anyone else has more they can chime in.

 

The best starting point is the Client Node Configuration information on the HamWAN.org website at http://www.hamwan.org/Standards/Network%20Engineering/Client%20Node%20Configuration.html

 

In truth, the fact that you’re mobile really isn’t any different than setting up a fixed station, other than you have remote aiming capability.  There are two pieces of software that can be used depending on your computer and preferences.

 

WinBox is a windows application that allows you to work with the configuration and monitoring functions of your dish radio.  You can used it to monitor received SSIDs, signal strength, and once associated with a sector, data throughput and other info.

 

The other option is SSH, or secure shell.  It is a command-line interface to the radio that gives you the same functions as WinBox, but through the command-line. 

 

Which one you use really comes down to personal preference.  

 

The signal put out from a HamWAN “cell” site is essentially normal WiFi, only the frequencies are in the Ham band.  Once your dish can pick up a signal, it should show a HamWAN SSID and connect automatically.  There’s no pre-setup or account needed to connect.  

 

The biggest challenge for aiming your dish is the same as setting up a fixed station – the aiming itself.  Depending on how fine you aiming is in the X, Y, and Z directions, it’s a matter of “dialing” it in.  If your motorized aiming steps are too “coarse”, you may “jump” right over your ideal bearing.   A broad example of this is if you have 120 steps to cover 360 degrees, then you are moving 3 degrees per step.  A rotator that has 360 steps for a full circle would do better than one with only 120 steps.  Beyond that the challenges are the same.

 

HamWAN signals are on full time, so there’s no “waiting” for a site to “ping”.

 

At the moment we have a significant outage that folks are working to resolve.   You should still be able to see and connect to any given site, but traffic isn’t getting out to the greater Internet at the moment.

 

Good luck with your testing!

 

Cheers,

Rob

 

From: PSDR [mailto:psdr-bounces at hamwan.org] On Behalf Of Jerry N7YGE
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 1:24 PM
To: 'Puget Sound Data Ring'
Subject: [HamWAN PSDR] Intercept a HamWAN Station

 

Hello,

I have a concept I want to try to see if I can intercept a Hamwan signal using my Hamwan dish connected to my notebook in my truck.  I built a Hamwan dish system that attaches to the trailer hitch of my truck that can remotely scan the sky in a xyz position searching for a Hamwan signal (Yes line of sight).  I planned on trying this before the Hamwan was removed from Green/Gold Mountain and I never got to try it.

 

Since I am driving in the dark to try this with zero experience, I would like to see if someone would be kind enough to answer the below questions?

 

1.       What software do I need to install on my notebook for doing the search for a Hamwan station and to receive a Hamwan transmission?

2.       Can you provide a screen shot of what I would see when I receive a Hamwan transmission?

3.       For me to transmit to a Hamwan station do I need to use some code or special transmission script?

4.       How often does a Hamwan station transmit or can I ping the Hamwan station as the dish moves to get aligned?

 

Thank you for any help.

 

Jerry N7YGE

 

 

 

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