This is cross posted from the list that is covering Amateur Radio
Operators (HAMS) work with 802.11. This case describes the use of
an 802.11b network during the Shuttle recover operations in Texas.
Tim
----- Forwarded message from Douglas Kilgore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -----
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 23:59:20 -0600
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Douglas Kilgore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [ARRL-80211B] 802.11b Used in Ham's Shuttle Recovery Efforts
Comments: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Editor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
NTMS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tim Lewallen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
An 802.11b high speed Internet link was used by hams in Nacogdoches, TX during
the Shuttle Recovery efforts. The equipment for the link was provided by
Michael Willett, KD5MFM from McKinney, Texas, to link Net Control in
Nacagdoches with the Internet. The system was installed by Michael and several
local Nacogdoches hams, including Robert Judy KD5FEE, James McLaughlin KD5POY,
and Tim Lewallen KD5ING on Saturday, one week after the shuttle disaster.
The link utilized a mix of directional antennas to provide a robust link
through the intense radio traffic in the area. Spanning a highway, and
approximately a quarter-mile distance, the link was comprised of Aironet
devices (now Cisco Systems). The equipment used included a BR-500 stand-alone
bridge-router connected into the LAN / Internet cloud at the Budweiser
Distribution Center, and a PCI card in a tower-style PC in the ForeTravel
recreational vehicle located on the Expo Center grounds. The PC in the RV ran
Windows 2000. Along with the radio card, the PC also included a standard
Ethernet card, and was configured by James to run as a DHCP host and router,
allowing several PCs to connect to the Internet via a local hub in the
ForeTravel RV.
The radio cards were set to produce 100mw of power and utilize the Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum encoding / modulation technique with a center
frequency of 2437 MHz (US channel 6). At the Budweiser Distribution center, a
24 inch parabolic dish made by David Clingerman (W6OAL), at Old Antenna Labs
in Parker, Colorado, was connected to approximately 50 feet of LMR-400 coax
terminated on-site with N connectors. The dish was mounted on a wooden 2x2,
cross-braced by two more wood 2x2s held to a plywood pallet by lag screws.
The pallet was placed on the roof by the local fire department that arrived at
the Budweiser Distribution Center with a hook & ladder fire truck to help with
access to the roof. On the Expo Center side, an 11 element shrouded Cushcraft
antenna was mounted on a temporary mast held secure to the RV with a radiator
hose style pipe clamp.
Net Control utilized the link for looking up call signs, communicating quickly
with email, and monitoring weather radar, as rain tracked across the area
often during the week after the shuttle event.
This application and installation of the 802.11b link was one of many examples
demonstrating the extensive capabilities of Volunteer Ham Operators,
government authorities and local businesses teaming together to help during a
crisis event.
Pictures of the link as well as other operations may be seen at
http://www.k5rwk.org/Shuttle/index.html.
Many thanks to the Budweiser Distribution Center for their network and open
facility generosity and support, the Nacogdoches fire department for the lift,
Tim Lewallen for materials, support and the volunteer fire department truck
and ladder, Robert for running wires and planning, James for the hub and his
configuration assistance!
Submitted by:
Doug Kilgore KD5OUG
Richardson Wireless Klub Webmaster
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Richardson, TX
----- End forwarded message -----
--
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