Thinking out loud

AllStarLink
1

Thinking out loud
I’ve been wanting to build a mobile node. On the surface, this seems pretty easy… What makes it complicated is the internet or network connections.

I’m a tmobile subscriber for cell and mobile data. I decided recently to start building my mobile data carry alongs based upon a cradlepoint router, so far so good. So my Tmobile mobile device is comprised of a cradlepoint, and their 4G usb FOB. This works great for what I need it for…. Recently I found myself in an area where I didn’t have very good tmo coverage so I grabbed a Verizon 4G lte FOB. I haven’t thought about incoming data until working on my linking projects.

This is where my mobile plan fell apart.

It appears that most all of these 4G/LTE providers are going to a Natted private network on the 4G/LTE side. This isn’t true of their 3G network, but is of their 4G side. Well as you might imagine if you don’t have control of the NAT ad port forwarding, you can’t put a server on user side of a 4G device :(.

BUT then I had an epiphany (probably late because everyone else is already there)…

The RTCM works so well for remoting my repeater…. Why not just use it as the mobile controller and instead of running a server remotely, just run an RTCM remotely back to a server. I think this will solve my problem. And perhaps make this even simpler to deal with along with a 4G type data connection.

Anyone already wandered this path and what are you using?

Thanks,

Alan

2

well, yes, that was exactly one of the things it was designed for…

On the way to Dayton recently, we (Mark K7IZA, Hans AE6TV and I) had exactly that… An RTCM
connected to a cradlepoint router with a T-mobile USB datacard and a Motorola HT on a 440
channel. It worked very well.

And for this type of an application, if you REALLY want a “no brainer” setup, Micro-Node
offers a subscription-based hosting platform for Allstar Nodes using an RTCM in this manner.
In other words, for people who just want a simple, hassle-free mobile/portable node without
having to “hassle” with a Linux host, etc, they can also buy the service through Mark’s company.

Regardless of how you host the node, having the RTCM in a mobile/portable environment is
a GREAT way to go. Its low power consumption (72ma @ 12VDC), small size, and general
ruggedness, not to mention its very simple requirements for Internet connectivity (including
its ability to be behind any number of NATs, etc) make it the optimum solution for this type
of operation.

I highly recommend you giving this a try. You will definitely like it.

BTW, I am in the process of getting access to a picture of the device we took with us to
Dayton, and will post it once I get it.

JIM WB6NIL

···

From: adamson_alan@hotmail.com
To: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2012 10:02:31 -0400
Subject: [App_rpt-users] Thinking out loud

Thinking out loud
I’ve been wanting to build a mobile node. On the surface, this seems pretty easy… What makes it complicated is the internet or network connections.

I’m a tmobile subscriber for cell and mobile data. I decided recently to start building my mobile data carry alongs based upon a cradlepoint router, so far so good. So my Tmobile mobile device is comprised of a cradlepoint, and their 4G usb FOB. This works great for what I need it for…. Recently I found myself in an area where I didn’t have very good tmo coverage so I grabbed a Verizon 4G lte FOB. I haven’t thought about incoming data until working on my linking projects.

This is where my mobile plan fell apart.

It appears that most all of these 4G/LTE providers are going to a Natted private network on the 4G/LTE side. This isn’t true of their 3G network, but is of their 4G side. Well as you might imagine if you don’t have control of the NAT ad port forwarding, you can’t put a server on user side of a 4G device :(.

BUT then I had an epiphany (probably late because everyone else is already there)…

The RTCM works so well for remoting my repeater…. Why not just use it as the mobile controller and instead of running a server remotely, just run an RTCM remotely back to a server. I think this will solve my problem. And perhaps make this even simpler to deal with along with a 4G type data connection.

Anyone already wandered this path and what are you using?

Thanks,

Alan

App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

3

Will the RTCM work with a mobile WIFI hotspot?

Matt Roberts

n9gmr@me.com

···

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2012, at 12:13 PM, Jim Duuuude telesistant@hotmail.com wrote:

well, yes, that was exactly one of the things it was designed for…

On the way to Dayton recently, we (Mark K7IZA, Hans AE6TV and I) had exactly that… An RTCM
connected to a cradlepoint router with a T-mobile USB datacard and a Motorola HT on a 440
channel. It worked very well.

And for this type of an application, if you REALLY want a “no brainer” setup, Micro-Node
offers a subscription-based hosting platform for Allstar Nodes using an RTCM in this manner.
In other words, for people who just want a simple, hassle-free mobile/portable node without
having to “hassle” with a Linux host, etc, they can also buy the service through Mark’s company.

Regardless of how you host the node, having the RTCM in a mobile/portable environment is
a GREAT way to go. Its low power consumption (72ma @ 12VDC), small size, and general
ruggedness, not to mention its very simple requirements for Internet connectivity (including
its ability to be behind any number of NATs, etc) make it the optimum solution for this type
of operation.

I highly recommend you giving this a try. You will definitely like it.

BTW, I am in the process of getting access to a picture of the device we took with us to
Dayton, and will post it once I get it.

JIM WB6NIL

From: adamson_alan@hotmail.com
To: app_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2012 10:02:31 -0400
Subject: [App_rpt-users] Thinking out loud

Thinking out loud
I’ve been wanting to build a mobile node. On the surface, this seems pretty easy… What makes it complicated is the internet or network connections.

I’m a tmobile subscriber for cell and mobile data. I decided recently to start building my mobile data carry alongs based upon a cradlepoint router, so far so good. So my Tmobile mobile device is comprised of a cradlepoint, and their 4G usb FOB. This works great for what I need it for…. Recently I found myself in an area where I didn’t have very good tmo coverage so I grabbed a Verizon 4G lte FOB. I haven’t thought about incoming data until working on my linking projects.

This is where my mobile plan fell apart.

It appears that most all of these 4G/LTE providers are going to a Natted private network on the 4G/LTE side. This isn’t true of their 3G network, but is of their 4G side. Well as you might imagine if you don’t have control of the NAT ad port forwarding, you can’t put a server on user side of a 4G device :(.

BUT then I had an epiphany (probably late because everyone else is already there)…

The RTCM works so well for remoting my repeater…. Why not just use it as the mobile controller and instead of running a server remotely, just run an RTCM remotely back to a server. I think this will solve my problem. And perhaps make this even simpler to deal with along with a 4G type data connection.

Anyone already wandered this path and what are you using?

Thanks,

Alan

App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

App_rpt-users mailing list
App_rpt-users@ohnosec.org
http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

4

If the hotspot doesn't have an ethernet port, you'll need something like
the Netgear WNCE2001 wireless bridge to get the RTCM to make the hop.

And if your hotspot is not on an unlimited dataplan (as well as being at
least capable of high 3G or pseudo-4G speeds), you will rapidly eat
through your monthly allotment as well as not being entirely pleased
with the audio quality.

I have the above netgear unit on my remoterig for my TS480 setup, and
while it is useable...it's not 100% reliable, certainly not at the same
level you've come to expect (or not, depending on where and what your
current wired service give you) from a hard link.

BB WB0YLE

···

On 6/8/2012 10:25 PM, Matt Roberts wrote:

Will the RTCM work with a mobile WIFI hotspot?

5

Hi Matt,

I use a Verizon MiFi 4510L with the RTCM plugged into a Ubiquiti
PicoNode-2 bridge (with a dummy-load antenna). I have taken it all over
the US and to Europe. Works great! I travel 30-40 weeks a year and I
always have my RTCM and PicoNode-2 (all in a small pelican box). 4G
LTE coverage helps a lot and the low bandwidth has not overrun my
5Gig/month 4G allotment.

If you want to see how it sounds try dialing 27433 (outside of business
hours) and we can have an audio-test QSO.

Pete/WI6H

···

-----Original Message-----
From: app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org
[mailto:app_rpt-users-bounces@ohnosec.org] On Behalf Of Bryan D. Boyle
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 7:39 PM
To: Matt Roberts; app_rpt mailing list
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] Thinking out loud

On 6/8/2012 10:25 PM, Matt Roberts wrote:

Will the RTCM work with a mobile WIFI hotspot?

If the hotspot doesn't have an ethernet port, you'll need something like
the Netgear WNCE2001 wireless bridge to get the RTCM to make the hop.

And if your hotspot is not on an unlimited dataplan (as well as being at
least capable of high 3G or pseudo-4G speeds), you will rapidly eat
through your monthly allotment as well as not being entirely pleased
with the audio quality.

I have the above netgear unit on my remoterig for my TS480 setup, and
while it is useable...it's not 100% reliable, certainly not at the same
level you've come to expect (or not, depending on where and what your
current wired service give you) from a hard link.

BB WB0YLE

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