HSMM-Mesh Guide to Getting Started

Getting started with HSMM-Mesh (High Speed Multimedia-Mesh), also known as Broadband Hamnet™, can be daunting to hams that have the interest, but lack the expertise of network engineers. Indeed, perusing comments and documents on the Web can be confusing to newcomers who want to participate in setting up Amateur Radio broadband mesh networks under FCC Rules in Part 97.


This document will help you get started and up-and-running so you can see how a basic 2.4 GHz ham radio mesh network works. The notes that follow assume you’re using a PC running the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Select a Router

For starters, you’ll need a commercial off-the-shelf Cisco Linksys WiFi router (it operates under FCC Part 15 unlicensed rules).

The Broadband Hamnet Web site (http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/) has a list of suitable routers. Some hams print out this list and search for surplus Linksys routers at Goodwill and Salvation Army stores and garage sales, but you can also purchase a suitable Linux-based version of a Cisco Linksys router. You can get it brand spanking new from Amazon.

At the time of this writing the desirable Cisco Linksys WRT54-GL model can be had, brand new in the box, for less than $50, including shipping. My suggestion is to obtain at least two identical routers so you can communicate between them and verify the results of your work.