430mhz data transfer

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Mesh networks using 2.4 Ghz wifi are becoming popular, but are they really practical for anywhere other than extremely densely populated cities? It would be better to have something more practical which could give access to those in the countryside, as well as on vehicles and boats.

A way to get around the range limitations of 2.4GHz wifi, could be to convert it directly down to 400Mhz, which a couple of wireless mini PCI cards are able to do. Singapore based Doodle labs produce the DL435-30 and Canadian XAGYL Communications produce the XC420M . Interestingly there is an amateur band just above 400Mhz - the International Telecommunications Union allocates 430-440MHz for amateurs, and in some countries its wider. The problem is bandwidth; at microwave frequencies the 10MHz bandwith used by 802.11 wifi is not much, but at 400MHz it is a big chunk of the spectrum and likely to interfere with other things. Luckily it is possible to configure 802.11 to squeeze into 5Mhz.

70cm amateur band english wikipedia article

The advantage, compared with packet radio or other data transmission techniques is that the hardware/firmware/software for 802.11 systems is already widely used and needs only modifying slightly. The computer 'sees' the 430MHz wireless card as a normal 2.4GHz wifi device, with the usual channels etc.

The Doodle labs DL435-30 is an OFDM miniPCI transceiver on 420-450MHz, supported by MadWifi linux drivers. They also offer similar transcievers for a wide variety of frequencies. Including a configurable 150Mhz to 1Ghz 2W data transceiver. However, the company promote their radios for military use. So I would avoid buying from them.

Most reports listed here have used the cards with the Ubiquiti Routerstation or Routerstation Pro, a compact router board with three miniPCI slots. They are powered by power over ethernet, so would be easy to put somewhere high up, with a sing cable for power and data. Ubiquiti stopped making these routers in 2011, and they are difficult to find. It would be possible to use an old laptop with the unnessary components removed. Or even a desktop computer, using mini PCI to PCI converter. Having a storage disk with the router could be useful, but if its going to be in a precarious high up location, probably best to keep it minimal and have stuff like that on the ground. Its a shame the Raspberry Pi does not have a miniPCI.

Maybe it is possible to use it with other routers with a mini PCI slot. There are many listed in the compatible hardware list on DD-WRT site, for example the cisco lynksys WAP54G - it would be interesting to know if this works with the doodle labs cards.

DD-WRT List of supported devices

The doodle labs cards have tiny MMCX connectors for connecting the antenna feeder. So we would need MMCX pigtail cable to connect to a more robust connector like SMA or N-type.