Anyone else with HaLow for AREDN?

[Emily Loebl]

Just ordered a couple of HaLow devices to try with AREDN that run over 900mhz. Based on my experience with Meshtastic, Meshcore, and recently reticulum, the 900mhz band has quite the reach, especially compared to 2.4ghz obviously. I am in FN42gp, and with Meshtastic and just 125mw, have hit a node pretty consistently in Greenville, 18miles away that’s on a high spot.

Curious if anyone else locally has HaLow devices or considering it?

73s, Emily W1EML

[Fred Kemmerer]

Hello Emily,

AREDN does support communication with HaLow devices. Can you tell us a little bit about the devices that you are interested in? Here are a few links with some information on AREDN HaLow support –

https://docs.arednmesh.org/en/latest/arednNetworkDesign/frequency_bands.html#mhz-characteristics

https://www.arednmesh.org/content/aredn-release-325100-80211ah-support

 

 

[Fred Kemmerer]

HaLow support for AREDN is fairly recent. It looks like a few sites in the eastern US are support HaLow applications –

[Emily Loebl]

Hi Fred!!

I ordered:

• 1x HaLowLink 1 MM-HL1-EXT
• 2x Heltec HT-HD01 devices

Looks like they are on the supported list with the Babel Nightly builds so excited to try it out.

73s, Emily

[Fred Kemmerer]

Thanks, Emily. It’s great that you are leading the way here. Do keep us up to date on how it goes and share what you’re learning about as you go.

[Fred Kemmerer]

Some more links on HaLow devices and networks that run AREDN –

https://wcaredn.ca/next_steps/halow#:~:text=other%20obstructed%20environments.-,Supported%20Devices,Heltec%20HT%2DH7608

This link is intermittently unavailable, so if you don’t get there, try again later.

https://www.arednmesh.org/content/halow-hardware

Here’s the info on the Bable nightly build support for HaLow –

https://www.arednmesh.org/content/aredn-nightly-build-update-0#:~:text=%E2%80%8BNew%20product%20support,Price%20is%20$99.

Emily, if you want, take a look at possible propagation on 900 MHz from where you are to my QTH (coordinates are available on QRZ.com). A good tool to use for this is Radio Mobile.

Dave, K1BER, has done work with this program as part of preparing for some operations on 902 MHz for Winter Field Day.

[Emily Loebl]

Lost my original post for some reason 🙁 Trying again so sorry if a bit scattered.

I have been working with NHMesh.com / NHMesh.live for a bit helping with Meshtastic and Meshcore connections, which is a similar analogue (but digital haha.) Connecting MA to NH, ME and even CT.

Obviously at 900mhz, terrain and foliage make a big difference. A lot of the Meshtastic for example we’ve had to set up a lot of routers on high hills like Bear Hill, Westford, MA, Jeremy Hill in Hudson, NH, and even Mt. Kearsarge. Over the summer I was able to go from my house, to Bear Hill, Westford, MA direct to someone on Mt. Wachusett at 120mw for Meshtastic.

I’ve been helping to build solar nodes; LTO batteries are my new favorite for safety reasons, and can charge/discharge at below 0F temperatures. I was running numbers this week about possibly getting one of those Heltec HaLow nodes offigrid solar, and I think it’s VERY possible with a couple of 45ah LTO batteries, and a 35w+ panel.

I’d love to help out with this and report back to the group.  You may be a bit far for me as a couple of good hills in the way between you and I.

73s, Emily

 

[Emily Loebl]

Here’s the elevation path between you and I

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[Fred Kemmerer]

Thanks, Emily. The coordinates I gave you are ground level. I have a 100-ft tower here and could elevate a 900 MHz antenna to about 80-90 ft above the level in your current model. Do you think that might work?

It would be an interesting project to link the AREDN and meshtastic networks via RF. Alternatively, we could look at using an inexpensive tunnel router at your location.

[Fred Kemmerer]

BTW, we also have an AREDN RF site in Westford, MA which might provide another option…

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