[HamWAN PSDR] Compatibility of AC hardware with HamWAN

David Bliss dbliss at gmail.com
Sat Apr 22 15:28:39 PDT 2023


For what it's worth, I tried the RB-LHG5nD a couple of years ago and
couldn't make it work (YMMV).  I'm excited about the possibility of an AC
radio that works with HamWAN though!

73 -de- N8QG


On Sat, Apr 22, 2023, 22:41 Christopher Munz-Michielin <
christopher at ve7alb.ca> wrote:

> Thanks for the data point Alan,
>
> So the QRT 5AC is an AC device confirmed to work with HamWAN.  Thanks a
> lot, this gives me hope that some of the other newer AC devices might also
> be compatible.
>
> 73,
> Chris
> On 4/22/23 10:04, Alan Dieringer [WX7L] wrote:
>
> Back in Sept. 2021, I decided to connect with HamWAN's Puget Sound Data
> Ring (PSDR) in order to have Winlink capability in an emergency.  Based on HamWAN's
> PDF comparing various devices that shows the QRT 5 ac along with many
> others
> http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware/antenas_mantbox.pdf
>  <
> http://hamwan.org/Standards/Component%20Engineering/Client%20Hardware/antenas_mantbox.pdf I
> decided to investigate if the QRT 5ac would work on the PSDR.  Flytec
> Computers had it in stock and the salesperson assured me it would work or
> they would take it back and refund my money.
>
> So I purchased a MikroTik QRT 5ac flat panel antenna and had it
> operational on HamWAN's Puget Sound Data Ring (PSDR)  using the guidance on
> http://hamwan.org/Standards/Network%20Engineering/Client%20Node%20Configuration.html and
> Dan K7MM Ransom's Feb. 2016 video
> http://hamwan.org/Standards/Network%20Engineering/Client%20Node%20Configuration/Configure%20Radio%20Modem_1080%20dlr%20.mp4 demonstrating how
> to use the guidance.
>
> When I first turned it on, I found that within about 48 degrees of bearing
> the antenna was picking up three HamWAN sites: Gold (19 miles); Buck (30
> miles) and Blyn (42 miles).  Cloud cover on the Buck Mt. site Line of Sight
> (LOS) frequently reduces the signal strength to such a degree that it is
> dropped from the "scan" list.  Depending on the weather and clouds, the QRT
> 5ac picks the best signal at any particular moment which was generally
> Gold.  So Gold was the site which I kept  the QRT 5ac pointed at.  After
> Gold and Blyn were decommissioned, I pointed the QRT 5ac at Buck and
> Winlink messages would transmit within a few seconds even in bad weather.
> I did not keep the QRT 5ac on continuously as my primary interest was
> having emergency communications.
>
> Be sure to order the "International" version and not the "US" version.
>
> 73
> Alan WX7L
>
> P.S.  Below is an email to Nigel K7NVH on my Sept. 26, 2021 PSDR
> experience.  My thanks to Nigel for generously volunteering to Elmer me.
>  The email contains information from the QRT 5ac via the WinBox operating
> software utilizing the "/interface wireless scan 0" and  "/interface
> wireless monitor 0" commands.
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: <WX7L at winlink.org>
> Date: Sun, Sep 26, 2021 at 1:05 PM
> Subject: QRT 5ac Signal Reports for radio-name: S2.Blyn/K7WAN;
> Buck-S2/K7WAN; and, Gold-
> To: <nigel at nigelvh.com>
> Cc: <wx7l at westseattlearc.org>
>
> Nigel,
> The clouds rolled in over Gold Mt., so I thought I would see what sort of
> connection I could get with Buck.  While swinging the QRT 5ac further north
> I found another signal and locked onto it.  I then checked the signal in
> WinBox and found I was connected to S2.Blyn/K7WAN and getting a much better
> tx/rx rate than with Gold.  Below is the information for  Blyn, Buck, and
> Gold.  These were taken within the past half hour.  If you have the
> location and radio information for the Blyn site I would appreciate it.
> 73
> Alan
>
>
>
> admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless scan 0
> Flags: A - active, P - privacy, R - routeros-network, N - nstreme, T -
> tdma, W - wds, B - bridge
>        ADDRESS           SSID                            CHANNEL
>              SIG   NF SNR  RADIO-NAME
> ROUTEROS-VERSION
> A RT B E4:8D:8C:F1:6D:22 HamWAN            5900/5/an
>   -82  -109  27   Gold-S2/K7WAN
> A RT B C4:AD:34:D3:8D:8C HamWAN           5900/10/an
> -80  -111  31   S2.Blyn/K7WAN
> A RT B 64:D1:54:98:2F:21 HamWAN              5900/10/an
>  -86   -111  25   Buck-S2/K7WAN
>
> *[admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless monitor 0
>                               radio-name: S2.Blyn/K7WAN*
>                   status: connected-to-ess
>                  channel: 5900/10/an
>        wireless-protocol: nv2
>                  tx-rate: 21.6Mbps-10MHz/2S/SGI
>                  rx-rate: 13Mbps-10MHz/2S
>                     ssid: HamWAN
>                    bssid: C4:AD:34:D3:8D:8C
>               radio-name: *S2.Blyn/K7WAN*
>          signal-strength: -81dBm
>      signal-strength-ch0: -83dBm
>      signal-strength-ch1: -84dBm
>       tx-signal-strength: -78dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch0: -82dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch1: -80dBm
>              noise-floor: -111dBm
>          signal-to-noise: 30dB
>                   tx-ccq: 48%
>                   rx-ccq: 32%
>    authenticated-clients: 1
>         current-distance: 68
>                 wds-link: no
>                   bridge: no
>         routeros-version: 6.47
>                  last-ip: 44.24.245.1
>      notify-external-fdb: no
>                                                         radio-name:
> S2.Blyn/K7WAN
>
> [admin at WX7L-Gold] >
>
> [admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless scan 0
> Flags: A - active, P - privacy, R - routeros-network, N - nstreme, T -
> tdma, W - wds, B - bridge
>        ADDRESS           SSID                            CHANNEL
>              SIG   NF SNR  RADIO-NAME
> ROUTEROS-VERSION
> A RT B E4:8D:8C:F1:6D:22 HamWAN            5900/5/an
>   -86 -107  21    Gold-S2/K7WAN
> A RT B 64:D1:54:98:2F:21 HamWAN              5900/10/an
>  -76 -112  36     Buck-S2/K7WAN
>   RT B C4:AD:34:D3:8D:8C HamWAN            5900/10/an
> -90 -112  22    S2.Blyn/K7WAN
>
> *[admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless monitor 0
>                                      radio-name: Buck-S2/K7WAN*
>                   status: connected-to-ess
>                  channel: 5900/10/an
>        wireless-protocol: nv2
>                  tx-rate: 21.6Mbps-10MHz/2S/SGI
>                  rx-rate: 14.4Mbps-10MHz/2S/SGI
>                     ssid: HamWAN
>                    bssid: 64:D1:54:98:2F:21
>               radio-name: Buck-S2/K7WAN
>          signal-strength: -78dBm
>      signal-strength-ch0: -81dBm
>      signal-strength-ch1: -81dBm
>       tx-signal-strength: -78dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch0: -80dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch1: -82dBm
>              noise-floor: -111dBm
>          signal-to-noise: 33dB
>                   tx-ccq: 38%
>                   rx-ccq: 38%
>    authenticated-clients: 1
>         current-distance: 48
>                 wds-link: no
>                   bridge: no
>         routeros-version: 6.42.6
>                  last-ip: 142.250.69.202
>
>      notify-external-fdb: no
>                                                            radio-name:
> Buck-S2/K7WAN
>
> [admin at WX7L-Gold] >
> [admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless scan 0
> Flags: A - active, P - privacy, R - routeros-network, N - nstreme, T -
> tdma, W - wds, B - bridge
>        ADDRESS           SSID                            CHANNEL
>              SIG   NF SNR   RADIO-NAME
> ROUTEROS-VERSION
> A RT B E4:8D:8C:F1:6D:22 HamWAN            5900/5/an
>   -70 -109  39     Gold-S2/K7WAN
> A RT B 64:D1:54:98:2F:21 HamWAN             5900/10/an
>    -80 -112  32     Buck-S2/K7WAN
>
> *[admin at WX7L-Gold] > /interface wireless monitor 0
>                             radio-name: Gold-S2/K7WAN*
>                   status: connected-to-ess
>                  channel: 5900/5/an
>        wireless-protocol: nv2
>                  tx-rate: 7.2Mbps-5MHz/2S/SGI
>                  rx-rate: 3.6Mbps-5MHz/1S/SGI
>                     ssid: HamWAN
>                    bssid: E4:8D:8C:F1:6D:22
>               radio-name: Gold-S2/K7WAN
>          signal-strength: -71dBm
>      signal-strength-ch0: -73dBm
>      signal-strength-ch1: -75dBm
>       tx-signal-strength: -71dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch0: -74dBm
>   tx-signal-strength-ch1: -74dBm
>              noise-floor: -108dBm
>          signal-to-noise: 37dB
>                   tx-ccq: 38%
>                   rx-ccq: 21%
>    authenticated-clients: 1
>         current-distance: 31
>                 wds-link: no
>                   bridge: no
>         routeros-version: 6.43.4
>                  last-ip: 172.217.14.206
>      notify-external-fdb: no
>                                                      radio-name:
> Gold-S2/K7WAN
>
> [admin at WX7L-Gold] >
>
>
> =========================================================================================
>
> *P.P.S.  Here is some additional information on the radio sites and from
> where I purchased my QRT 5ac:*
>
> *Google Maps for Blyn Radio Site: *
> https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blyn+Radio+Site/@48.006345,-122.972436,231m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xdc9d4176b55add1a!8m2!3d48.0062919!4d-122.9729022?hl=en-US
>
> *WX7L QTH to Blyn Radio Site *
>
> Latitude: 48.00625  Longitude: -122.972917
> Locator: *CN88MA31GM
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN88MA31GM&from=CN87TM38HV>*  (map
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN88MA31GM&from=CN87TM38HV&t=n>, sat
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN88MA31GM&from=CN87TM38HV&t=s>, terrain
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN88MA31GM&from=CN87TM38HV&t=t>, hybrid
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN88MA31GM&from=CN87TM38HV&t=h>)
> Distance from *CN87TM38HV* - *68.087 km* (42.31 mi)
> Bearing ~ *320.32°* (reverse bearing ~ 140.32°)
> Midpoint - lat: 47.772071 lon: -122.679586
>
> * WX7L QTH to Gold Mt.*
>
> Latitude: 47.547743  Longitude: -122.804514
> Locator: *CN87ON31 <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN87ON31&from=CN87TM38HV>*
> (map <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN87ON31&from=CN87TM38HV&t=n>, sat
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN87ON31&from=CN87TM38HV&t=s>, terrain
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN87ON31&from=CN87TM38HV&t=t>, hybrid
> <https://k7fry.com/grid/?qth=CN87ON31&from=CN87TM38HV&t=h>)
> Distance from *CN87TM38HV* - *31.217 km* (19.4 mi)
> Bearing ~ *272.37°* (reverse bearing ~ 92.37°)
> Midpoint - lat: 47.542679 lon: -122.596593
>
>
> *Bearing Degrees from WX7L QTH to Gold Mt Less WX7L QTH to Blyn Radio
> Site   *
>                          320.3 - 272.4  = 47.9
> *Note:  *I became interested in the flat panel antennas because Ian
> KE7MAP Gallagher and Kevin KI7HRC Gow had brought in their HamWAN nodes to
> club breakfasts several years ago, which were smaller than mine and very
> portable.  I also read the test results of WA7ONY using the predecessor QRT
> model from various locations (see
> http://www.stargazing.net/david/sdr/HamWAN.html) in Oregon and southern
> Washington.  It seemed like the newer model would be a good choice for both
> portable operations and also for linking to Gold Mt. which is 19 miles from
> my QTH.  I was amazed when I linked 42 miles to Blyn.
>
> Mikrotik QRT 5 ac dual chain 5GHz outdoor flat panel 24dBi antenna with
> built in routerboard International Version
> https://mikrotik.com/product/RB911G-5HPacD-QRT
> https://flyteccomputers.com/mikrotik-rb911g-5hpacd-qrt    currently out
> of stock
>                         I purchsed from FlyTec for $167.99 + $25.04 tax =
> $193.03 and received it in about a week
>
>
> https://www.streakwave.com/mikrotik-rb911g-5hpacd-qrt-5ghz-qrt-720mhz-24dbi-11ac-1xgb-od-row
>  $164  buy International version not the US version
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PSDR mailing listPSDR at hamwan.orghttps://mail01.fmt.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
>
> _______________________________________________
> PSDR mailing list
> PSDR at hamwan.org
> https://mail01.fmt.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail01.fmt.hamwan.net/pipermail/psdr/attachments/20230422/04b9b6ee/attachment.html>


More information about the PSDR mailing list