Mesh Network for 70cm A Project in Canada
/An ambitious project in Canada hopes to develop a mesh network to link repeaters and accommodate several digital modes. Hoping to combine the best features of such digital networks as HamWAN, AREDN and New Packet Radio, developers in Canada are starting development of a mesh network that will operate on the 70cm band.
“The first step is to get a simple chat and beaconing application running to experiment with the technology. From there we can layer on other features and frame types, and then consider moving into the repeater world.”
Writing in the newsletter, Zero Retries, Martin Alcock, VE6VH, said the project is being designed to link repeaters using RF and will include digital voice modes, data transfers, messaging and a data networking layer. The project is called IP400, short for Intelligent Protocol 400. It has the support of the Alberta Digital Radio Communications Society and is looking for contributors familiar with the C and C++ languages. Free open source code is being used for the development. IP400 is intended to operate on amateur frequencies between 420 and 450 MHz. Martin said that unlike conventional analogue links, a digital mesh platform will be capable of carrying compressed digital video as well as compressed audio and telemetry.
