The Mossel Bay AREDN 5.8 and 2.4 Ghz Mesh Network is once again active, but this time not only as an emergency data network.
Before you run away, read on, you might be surprised about the new use for this Mesh Network. To those that might not know, Mossel Bay "had" its own AREDN Mesh Network running from 2016 to 2020.
What is AREDN all about?
By loading the AREDN®1 firmware in a outdoor wireless access point, you can join a ham radio network. It’s like the Internet but runs on ham radio frequencies, mostly in the 2.4, 3.4, and 5.8 GHz bands. By joining this network you can find and use all sorts of applications (known as “services”). Anything running on a server, like weather stations, web sites showing site conditions, email servers, etc can be provided as a service. There are also services that don’t rely on a browser: video streams, chat servers, VOIP PBXes, etc. The network can also be used to connect Winlink stations, Dstar and DMR repeaters, and Allstar devices. Pretty much any kind of service you can put on the Internet you can put on the AREDN hamnet, subject to the restrictions of the ham radio regulations.
Why would one run an AREDN Network in you local community, town or city?
I can provide you with an abundance of reasons but this is not the aim of this topic. However here is a few links how AREDN was used during the 2017 Knysna Wildfires.
- Radio Amateurs gives wireless support behind the scenes.
- South African Radio Amateurs Poised to Support Communication as Wildfires Rage
- AREDN Group in South Africa Responds to Fire Disaster
From the above links it is quite clear that AREDN is a very useful "tool" during disasters and emergencies. In 2018 AREDN was again used during the Haarlem Fire in the George area. Since 2019 to date the extent of disasters and emergencies were of such a nature that there was no need to use AREDN. Thankfully this area is currently not a disaster prone area but one can never say that disasters or large emergencies cannot happen.
Now what is the purpose of this article then?
Another "disaster" reared it's ugly head when the country was plunged into darkness as a result of Phase 6 Eskom Loadshedding. Without going into great detail I deem it necessary to explain in short what Phase 6 entails for our overseas readers.
Stage 6 load shedding is the highest ever experienced in South Africa. This stage means that 5000 MW to 6000 MW of power must be shed in order to prevent the national grid from collapsing. If the power grid were to collapse, it would leave Eskom having to begin additional, unscheduled power cuts whenever needed, and outside of existing schedules. However, stage 6 load shedding means power cuts are scheduled over a 4-day window to take place twice a day at 4 hours a time.
Apart from not having electricity other services like Broadband Internet, cellphone, landline etc. services experienced outages as generators run empty and batteries cannot charge to capacity, while systems just crashed etc. A real big mess! Amateur Radio also experienced its share of "outages" as many hams do not have a power backup system.
In the Garden Route Area we have several VHF/UHF Repeaters, Simplex Radio Links, Networks that utilize Echolink, Zello and AllStar to connect to other worldwide networks via the Internet. If there is an Internet outage then this means that Echolink and Zello cannot be used and we as radio amateurs need to rely on HF Radio and local "stand alone" repeaters and simplex communications. Not an ideal situation but in the event of a disaster this means of communication will have to suffice.
How do we solve this lack of Internet during power outages, disasters or emergencies?
This set me thinking and I dug out the AREDN Main Mesh Node from the dust and cobwebs today. It has been in storage since 2019. Reason for storage: For you know - "We might one day need old faithful again". I am going to use the mesh node network as a second Internet backup service when there is an Internet/Cellphone outage for whatever reason. The Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network will run from 12v DC Battery Power which is then converted to 5v DC for the Raspberry Pi and Netgear Switch.
Yes, as mentioned before you can run any kind of service you run on the Internet, you can also run it on the Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network. This would mean that local Mossel Bay VHF/UHF Repeaters, Simplex Links can be linked via AllStar with all the bells and whistles needed but not only that. You can use your cellphone, laptop, desktop, I-pad, VHF/UHF Radio, repeaters and simplex radios to currently connect tot the following active running services:
- Amateur Radio Emergency Comms Room
- Amateur Radio News Bulletin Relays
- Citadel Email Server and Client
- Digital Radio Room
- Echolink Relay/Listen Room (TX to be installed later)
- Emergency JOC Room
- FTP File Server and Storage Facility
- General Voice Chat Room
- Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network Web Page
- Zello Relay / Listen Room (TX to be installed later)
In Part 2 we will be looking at adding further services as can be seen in one of the images. Amongst the services to be added to the Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network will be two way bridges to AllStar Repeaters, DMR and Allstar Simplex Links. We are also able to link repeater backbones via 5.8 Ghz. More on this in future postings.
Finally:
I plan to install and run a fully autonomous "back-up" Internet and Amateur Radio Communications System on the Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network via the GRHub Network in Mossel Bay. The system could even be opened to the public on 2.4 Ghz during future disasters if needed. This would be a great service that the public, first responders and radio amateurs can use for various reasons and purposes. I will also use it to link repeaters and simplex links to the Mossel Bay AREDN Mesh Network via the GRHub Network in Mossel Bay. More about this in future postings
Herewith a few images: (Click on images for larger view.)
