Amateur Radio Operator
A few days ago, I was contacted by Jay W7SDA about getting a tunnel to N3FUD-Main. I set up a tunnel for him to start exploring the AREDN mesh. 24 hours later, I created a Supernode tunnel for him as he set up a base network in Highland, Maryland, just west of Washington D.C and just east of Nick, KC3VNC.
Together with Ray, N3HYM, I’m hoping that they can get western Maryland set up with an AREDN RF network and possibly expand the packet network.
THe W3ND BPQ32 Node is coming along nicely. The next steps are to get the radios programmed, connect them, and make sure they work. Once that’s done, I need to talk to the site manager to get the node installed on Blue Mountain north of Harrisburg. It should have good coverage there.
Nick lives in the Silver Spring, MD, area and is working to set up AREDN nodes in Montgomery County, MD. His first node, KC3VNC-AC3, has been connected to N3FUD-Main. Once he connected, he started exploring the mesh right away.
Welcome aboard Nick!!
I updated the file server to include copies of some of the software used / needed for use with the AREDN servers, including the TeamTalk clients under Windows and Linux.
I also added the NWS National Water Prediction Service website as an accessible link. This provides access to all of the National Weather Service river and stream gauges in the United States.
The connection to Ray N3HYM’s AREDN node has been reestablished on the N3FUD-MAIN AREDN node. With the restoration, access into Maryland and DC nodes is avaiable.
After some trial and error with setting up tunnels on the new AREDN interface, I finally have W3ICK-home linked to N3FUD-NCPA (the PA node tunnel server). It took me a while to realize that the switch showing red meant the switch, and therefore the tunnel, was off. Turning it on (switch to the right) shows up white until the link is completed and the switch shows green.
Miles lives in the southern part of York County, PA, and plans to work with clubs in the area to set up AREDN nodes in York County. He is also the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania State Government Liaison.
Welcome aboard Miles!!
So much to share, so little time….
About two weeks ago, my main server and weather bots server were hit with a ransomware attack. The main server was cleaned and reimaged, and the hard drive array was scrubbed. The weather bot server was left offline, as the social media server it fed was taken offline.
The packet BBS was reimaged eight weeks ago, so it is in good shape, with new connections through the AREDN and AMPR networks. The main server was reattached to the AREDN network but isn’t offering much in the way of services other than the N3FUD webpage and the fileserver. I’ll get the DAPnet app back online as soon as I rewrite it.
Which brings me to the next topic: backups. I’d been a bit sloppy in backing up hard drives and websites and didn’t have good copies for the main server. That will be fixed this week when I build out the backup application and find a place to store it offsite.
And on the hitlist…. one hurricane that wrecked the hell out of five states, and three more running around the Atlantic Ocean like it’s a playground. Damage from Helene is really bringing out the need for ham radio, as most, if not all, of the infrastructure in the areas she hit got shredded.
It’s not over. Hurricane Milton is spooling up in the Caribbean and is expecting to become a Category 3 hurricane before coming ashore in central Florida, running through Orlando, and clipping Tampa Bay again.