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--- howto:aredn:va7fi:home [2021/11/09 19:49] – [Oct 31, 2021] va7fi
+++ howto:aredn:va7fi:home [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== VA7FI's AREDN Setup  ======
-The goal is for my <fc #A6000B>computers</fc> to connect to <fc #A6000B>other AREDN nodes</fc>.  Currently, I achieve this via two different paths:
-  - via an internet tunnel to VE7RBE in Gibsons (which is not really ham radio), and
-  - via the 5.8 GHz band to one of the Mount Benson nodes on Vancouver Island.
-I also have my system running off of 12 V batteries so it (and my internet connection) continues to work during power outages.
-{{  va7fi_aredn_diagram.png?600  }}
-===== July 1, 2021 =====
-I installed a [[https://www.amazon.com/MikroTik-Wireless-Satellite-Antennas-RBLDF-5nD-US/dp/B072LQMD7N|Mikrotik LDF-5]] (the ''n'' model, <fc #ff0000>not</fc> the ''ac'' model) on a used TELUS satellite TV dish.
-  * The first task was to mount the LDF-5 to the dish roughly where the old receiver was.  Unfortunately, the arm and the LDF-5 mounting bracket were both a bit too short so the LDF-5 was too close to the dish, and it was too low: \\ {{tooshort.gif}} \\ {{1original.png?400}} {{2tooshort.png?400}}
-  * So I bolted a second arm on top of the first to raise the LDF-5 and move it a bit further away: \\ {{good.gif}} \\ {{1original.png?400}} {{3good.png?400}}
-  * Initially, the dish was mounted on a post with a 45° angle, but after field testing it, it was found to be a bit much (an angle of 20° would be ideal, but I used a vertical post later). \\ {{ready1.png?410|}} {{ready2.png?400|}} \\ {{ready3.png?810}}
-===== July 4, 2021 Test  =====
-A few days later, Chris (VE7TOP) and I made a successful connection on 5.860 GHz (Ch. 172) between Nanaimo (49.227263, -123.975836) and Roberts Creek (49.45465, -123.64199): a distance of 35 km.
-{{  googlemap.png  }}
-{{  path.jpg  }}
-  * Here's my setup and the view from the dish.  The red circle marks the spot where Chris is.  The [[https://elkantennas.com/product/dual-band-2m440l5-log-periodic-antenna/ |log periodic]] was so Chris and I could talk on VHF to perform the adjustments. \\ {{setup.png?800}} \\ {{view.png?800}}
-  * Here are my settings: \\ {{screenshot01.png?800|}}
-  * For the first test, Chris used a dish (FIXME: add details).  After adjusting the dish's directions and elevations, the best signal strength I received was above -60dBm (which is pretty impressive!) with an SNR of over 35dB: \\ {{screenshot02.png?800|}} \\ {{screenshot03.png?800|}} \\ {{screenshot04.png?800|}}
-  * For the second test, Chris switched to a 120° sector antenna (FIXME: add details).  Here, the best signal strength I received was a bit above 80dBm with with an SNR of about 17dB: \\ {{screenshot05.png?800|}} \\ {{screenshot06.png?800|}} \\ {{screenshot07.png?800|}}
-These two tests show that it is possible to establish a connection between Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast.  The 120° sector antenna might be pushing it a little bit, but a 60° sector antenna would be enough to cover Gibsons through Halfmoon Bay and would offer an additional 4dB of gain over the 120° sector antenna.
-{{  model01.png  }}
-===== Aug 1, 2021 =====
-Today, I managed to install my AREDN dish up the tree, run the CAT5 to the house, and connect it to the hAP.  I started working at 7:45 this morning and finished around 5pm (after climbing up and down three times).
-I aimed the dish roughly towards Mount Benson (222°), but unfortunately, I didn't manage to make a connection to the node there.
-{{img_20210802_100836.png?265}}
-{{img_20210801_151553.png?265}}
-{{img_20210801_163935.png?265}}
-===== Oct 31, 2021 =====
-Yesterday, the folks on the Island went back to Mount Benson and adjusted the tilt on their antennas.  After the adjustment, I started getting an intermittent signal.  So today, I went back up the tree and used that signal to fine-tune the adjustment of my dish and managed to squeeze an extra 5-10 dB!  Here's a graph of the signal before, during, and after the adjustment:
-{{ va7fi.png?800 }}
-Unfortunately, it looks like I can hear the Mount Benson node 6-7 dB more strongly than it can hear me.  I'm transmitting at 25 dBm.  The equipment on mount Benson can transmit at 27 dBm.((25 dBm = 10<sup>2.5</sup> mW ≈ 320 mW \\ 27 dBm = 10<sup>2.7</sup> mW ≈ 500 mW))
-{{ VAYFI-VE7NA-8.png?800 }}
-Here's the status report pages for both nodes.  It looks like I might be able to reach 1.6 Mbps, which is pretty impressive compared to VHF packet, but still pretty slow compared to the other stations.
-{{ VAYFI-VE7NA-8b.png?800 }}