[Fourlanders] Internet at Mile High

[Paul Yeager]

For almost as long as I have been with the Fourlanders, folks have been 
scheming to get Internet access at Mile High.  In an earlier message that 
may or may not have been posted to the reflector, Robin explained that one 
of his buddies over that way has a boatload of stuff that would be usable 
for setting up a link to Mile High.  Another friend of Robin's has access 
to the software to do path analysis for the effort.  We can argue about the 
applications for this till the cows come home, but the bottom line is that 
enough of us are interested in this to make na effort at making it happen.

I'm glad you're having fun with WiFi, Jim... I am too.  I have a 
router/access point here, and recently purchased a different modem to 
replace the awful thing that BellSouth supplied.  Finally, my internet 
connection is not dependent on any single computer here being up and 
running to manage the connection.  My laptop, running Linux or Win98, and 
two tablet PCs running Linux are working just fine as WiFi network nodes, 
with 128 bit WEP.  My network includes a local caching DNS server, and will 
soon also include a DHCP server (supplanting the one in the router) to 
support static IP assignment via DHCP.

The bottom line here is that there IS quite a bit of interest in having 
internet access at the mountain, and some of us have already done some of 
the work to make it happen.   I am not yet sure I'll be able to make it to 
Kennehoochee, and will not likely know until just a few days before the 
hamfest.  Whether I'm there or not, this topic can be well be discussed 
right here on the reflector, saving valuable time at the meeting for things 
we have to do at the meeting.

73,

Paul W4SKI

At 02:53 AM 3/9/04 -0500, Jim Worsham wrote:
>Lets talk about this at Kennehoochee.  I guess I am not sure what internet
>access buys us except being able to stay in touch with folks better before
>and after the contest.  Being able to see spots is valuable on 6 but I am
>not sure it does much for you on the other bands.  Anyone ever see a 2.3 GHz
>spot?  Also, what technology are we talking about here?  802.11?  Amateur
>radio packet?  This actually ties into something else I was going to bring
>up in the meeting.  wireless computer networking  As some of you may know I
>was given a new job at BellSouth at the beginning of 2004.  I am technical
>manager for wireless networking which means I am the 802.11/WiFi technical
>guru at BellSouth now.  As such I now have access to more 802.11/WiFi stuff
>than you can even imagine.  If we wnated to try it I could easily come up
>with a router and cards for the laptops.  As far as interference is
>concerned I have done some testing here.  I have a wireless network here at
>the house and have run big power on 6 and 2 with no noticable degradation in
>network performance.  Now when you get to 1296, 2304 and 3456 things might
>be different but I have no way of testing that here.  Anyway, something to
>think about.
>
>73
>Jim W4KXY
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Paul Yeager" <w4ski at arrl.net>
>To: <fourlanders at contesting.com>
>Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 8:33 PM
>Subject: [Fourlanders] Internet at Mile High
>
>
> > Guys:
> >
> > I finally made the site visit... and it's a long drive up there....
> > fortunately, the road is paved.
> >
> > The coordinates are a bit rough...  my GPS that works reliably only
> > displays whole seconds.  Here are the coordinates (WGS84)
> >
> > N4KEG Eagle's Nest (possible relay site):
> > 35 29' 59" N
> > 83 02' 32" W
> >
> > W4SKI Home (one link terminal)
> > 35 29' 25" N
> > 82 58' 35" W
> >
> > I did not climb the tower (Rohn 25), which is roughly 36 feet tall, and
>has
> > an 8-bay UHF dipole array mounted atop it.  The top of the tower is likely
> > just a bit higher (10-20 ft) than the highest point on Eagle's nest, which
> > would be at or near the end of the road that passes the first location
> > above.  From a spot a little bit down the hill on the Waynesville side, I
> > was able to identify some landmarks near my house, but was not able to
> > identify my house.  It would appear that any shot from Eagle's Nest to my
> > house will have to pass through some trees.
> >
> > Unfortunately, DSL service is not available at the N4KEG location.  Not
> > sure about cable.
> >
> > By the way, N4KEG is  going to be in town Thursday through Sunday, which
> > would be a GREAT time to hang antennas on the tower, if we thought that
> > might work.
> >
> > Keep in touch!
> >
> > Paul W4SKI
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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