Hello all,
I administer a very small area of the "HamNet" network in Northern Germany. I have 11 HamNet nodes here, which are connected via WiFi directional radio links on amateur radio frequencies. The routing is done via BGP and the users access this network also via directional antennas on the roof of their houses.
This only works when each user sets a a static route to the antenna on their router. This used to be 44.0.0.0/8, but due to the constant fragmentation of the network, there are now more than 4 routes, which does not make it easy for the end users and the administrators. Incidentally, this is also the reason why I only registered on this mailing list today: so far, 44.0.0.0/8 is still configured in my router, i.e. all 44-services on the internet are not accessible for me.
Could someone briefly tell me which subnets I can only reach via the internet and which only via amateur radio? I would like to update my route settings.
I keep reading the question here why we are setting up "our own separate intranet" here in europe. The answer is: Because we can.
Because our amateur radio licence allows us to experiment with radio technology on our amateur radio frequencies. Because we are not only users in this network, but can also develop and offer services ourselves. For example, we connecct digital and analogue FM repeaters via our own network. We don't depend on an internet connection or mobile phone providers. We do it ourselves. In the same way, we offer remote stations. Here, I don't have to secure access against criminal activities, because only radio amateurs have access to that network. Messages and telephone calls? They also run over our self-made network on amateur radio frequencies.
We no longer build the radios ourselves, but we do build the radio links and applications ontop of it. I can only do this as a radio amateur and of course I use the 44 network assigned to me.
But this only works as long as I can set a defined route for my antenna.
73 de Gerrit, DH8GHH