| Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision |
| howto:aredn:va7fi [2021/11/03 16:38] – va7fi | howto:aredn:va7fi [2021/11/09 07:29] (current) – removed va7fi |
|---|
| ====== VA7FI's AREDN Setup ====== | |
| |
| Patrick 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 too low: \\ {{:howto:aredn:tooshort.gif}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:1original.png?400}} {{:howto:aredn:2tooshort.png?400}} | |
| |
| * So a second arm was bolted on top of the first to raise the LDF-5 and move it a bit further away: \\ {{:howto:aredn:good.gif}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:1original.png?400}} {{:howto:aredn: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 unnecessary and a vertical post will be used next time. \\ {{:howto:aredn:ready1.png?410|}} {{:howto:aredn:ready2.png?400|}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:ready3.png?810}} | |
| |
| |
| ====== July 4, 2021 Test ====== | |
| |
| On July 4, 2021, Chris (VE7TOP) and Patrick (VA7FI) 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. | |
| {{ :howto:aredn:googlemap.png }} | |
| {{ :howto:aredn:path.jpg }} | |
| |
| * Here's Patrick's 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 for VHF communications between Chris and Patrick to perform the adjustments. \\ {{:howto:aredn:setup.png?800}} \\ {{:howto:aredn:view.png?800}} | |
| |
| * Here are Patrick's settings: \\ {{:howto: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 received by Patrick was above -60dBm (which is pretty impressive!) with an SNR of over 35dB: \\ {{:howto:screenshot02.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot03.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot04.png?800|}} | |
| |
| * For the second test, Chris switched to a 120° sector antenna (FIXME: add details). Here, the best signal strength received by Patrick was a bit above 80dBm with with an SNR of about 17dB: \\ {{:howto:screenshot05.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto:screenshot06.png?800|}} \\ {{:howto: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 45° sector antenna would be enough to cover Gibsons through Sechelt and would offer an additional 6dB of gain over the 120° sector antenna. | |
| {{ :howto:aredn: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. I'll try and go back up tomorrow to see if I can find the correct bearing now that the node is powered up, but I'm done for today. | |
| |
| {{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 (≈315 mW). I don't know what their node's power is, but I'm guessing it's a little more than mine. | |
| {{ 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 }} | |
| |
| |
