 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
Doc.#27a
|
Table of Contents |
|
|
|
|
|
Accomplishments |
Page 1 |
|
Plans |
Page 2 |
|
Recommendations |
Page 3 |
Accomplishments:
1. Prepared an introductory article on wireless LANs for publication in QST. Included are two sidebars. One describes an omni-directional horizontally polarized 2.4 GHz antenna design and the other describes using the APRSworld database to locate amateur 802.11b stations.
2. Activated the HSMM web page on the ARRL web server in December 2002. The page is updated periodically with input from HSMM Working Group members. We will continue to update the page and expand it as necessary to keep ARRL members and other amateur radio operators up to date on HSMM activities.
3. Determined the basic recommended operating parameters for an amateur 802.11b station. No specific protocol changes have been identified at this time.
3. Recommended to ARRL Board to raise APC power limit to 10 watts (see attachment 1).
4. Recommended to the ARRL board regarding HF data bandwidth requirements (see attachment 2).
5. Working with the APRS community, obtained 'ICON' to signify amateur 802.11b operation.
6. Working with Jim Jefferson, KB0THN, modified APRSWORLD database to more easily display amateur 802.11b stations.
7. Reaching out to the WLAN community to encourage effective liaison, recruitment, and technical coordination.
8. Evaluated various antenna configurations for optimum HSMM objectives
9. Determined that strict use of horizontal polarization would minimize potential interference to Part 15 users.
10. Identified several potential vendors of amateur HSMM antennas and started initial communications with the companies.
11. Built three prototype Horizontally Polarized Omni-Directional Antennas. The first was a failure, the last two where a success.
12. Defined and prioritized five key areas required to implement the ARRL 802.11b Protocol within the amateur radio community. Work is underway in all five areas.
Plans:
1. Prepare a Call for Papers for publication in the May issue of QST. Identify judging criteria. Deliver a Call for Papers presentation at the Dayton Hamfest in May 2003.
2. Develop a network architecture for the Hinternet.
3. Identify new protocols and protocol enhancements that will help us accomplish the architecture.
4. Judge the submitted papers. These will help guide the direction of Hinternet development.
5. Join other groups mailing lists, identify amateurs already active on them and target them and others involved for recruiting to the ARRL effort. Coordinate efforts to get HSMM message out a nationwide basis.
6. Develop construction articles and kits emphasizing increasing performance of off the shelf 802.11b gear. Two articles in the works include a 50-75 ohm power injector for the RFLINX amp (allows lower cost RG-6 to be used) as well as a power over Ethernet (POE) design for the LinkSys WET11 using step down switching regulators.
7. Continue to interface with antenna manufacturers to encourage them to bring to market, horizontally polarized omni-directional antennas for HSMM use.
8. Develop methods to tune and evaluate HSMM equipment in a quantitative way. This would include antennas, AP, & NIC cards.
9. Develop a high profile test site for 802.11B HSMM activity.
10. Prepare a presentation for the ARRL Technology forum at Dayton 2003 and for display at the ARRL booth.
Recommendations to the ARRL Board:
1. We need to be realistic. There is no significant advantage of Part 97 802.11b compared to Part 15 802.11b. If we expect to generate high interest and large recruitment, we need to make operating under Part 97 attractive. Potential ways to do this would be to:
A. Raise the APC level in the rules to 10 watts, perhaps eliminate it.
B. Pursue Part 97 Rule change to allow encryption of passwords.
2. Release to amateur radio hardware vendors requests for information (RFI) regarding their ability to provide the needed hardware including information on the expected market.
3. The ARRL Test Lab to plan for equipment evaluations directly relating to HSMM Part 97 operation. This would include antennas, access points, and network interface cards. Parameters typically not evaluated for Part 15 operation but significant for Part 97 operation would be the focus. Receiver Sensitivity, IMD, Bit Error Rate, Power Output, etc.
4. Consider pursuing expanding the 2.4 GHz band to 2483.5 MHz.
