- PSDR - mailman.hamwan.org

Network outages, maintenance, and changes
by Rob Salsgiver 23 Nov '23

23 Nov '23

FYI there is quite a bit of work that has been done today and will be continuing over the coming days or week or more. 1. IP changes were made to remove old address space from SnoDEM that have affected routing in some parts of the network 2. Repairs are needed and planned to be made to ETiger 3. There is an outage believed to be in the power subsystem at Baldi that has most of that site down. Repairs are hoped to happen before weather changes (others may have better timeline details. 4. I'll be going up to Lookout for minor troubleshooting of on-site DMR equipment (sorry, no climber for work on S2 - more likely in the spring) Be aware that there may be other ripple impacts throughout the network on some or all of this work. Please let the NetOps group know if there are problems with particular sites or gear. If possible, do NOT post to the larger PSDR group unless needed. Cheers, Rob Salsgiver - NR3O

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Point to Point Link
by Duane Braford 10 Nov '23

10 Nov '23

Hello, We are looking at replacing an old repeater link, what we are losing access to. We are looking at leveraging HamWAN to provide a path for further growth, and possibility connection to HamWAN in the further. There is a possibility of a third node being able to connect to the system. I am assuming I will have to set up static routing. Currently I have a pair of RB912UAG-5HPnD-OUT that I am trying to get to talk with each other. I have looked at you examples of Client configuration and the Point-to-Point configuration. I believe I am missing something, I still can't get them to calk to each other. Regards,DuaneWB7ROZ

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Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update
by Dale Skyllingstad 30 Oct '23

30 Oct '23

Yes, we were lucky! A few years ago we had a similar thing happen at Bawfaw. Bart and I made a winter trip to the mountain top to find at least one PoE injector had water ingress corrosion to the point of failure. We did the "strip an inch of jacket at the low point" fix, crimped on new RJ45s and replaced the injector. Still operational years later. One of these summers, we need to climb the Bawfaw tower and assess any cat cable damage that allowed the water ingress in the first place. Cable dressing at the bottom of the tower could use some work as well. I know a little while back, we talked about testing the Truecable direct burial CAT5E with water-blocking tape. If I recall, it was a little too big to fit in our standard 6mm 10-hole barrel cushions. Did we decide against it? Dale AH6ET -------- Original message -------- From: Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com> Date: 10/28/23 9:02 PM (GMT-08:00) To: 'Bart Kus' <me(a)bartk.us>, 'Puget Sound Data Ring' <psdr(a)hamwan.org> Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update I definitely agree it has benefits as a revised standard to future installs and/or retrofits. In this case we didn't have water reach and wick into the RJ45 terminations, so we were lucky this time. Might be something to put on the next visit list. Thanks for sharing. Rob From: Bart Kus <me(a)bartk.us> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2023 8:55 PM To: Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com>; 'Puget Sound Data Ring' <psdr(a)hamwan.org> Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update The key difference is the lack of RJ45 termination on the cable coming down the tower. If you don't give the water somewhere to go, it'll go right into the RJ45 fingers and with PoE on there, it'll corrode and short/open in no time. The punchdown blocks let it drip down without touching any copper. One can also remove the jacket, and shield, and plastic film from the cable to let it drip before an RJ45, but I found that to be cumbersome to do, ugly looking and fragile. --Bart On 10/28/2023 8:51 PM, Rob Salsgiver wrote: > In the case of Lookout, the incoming CAT cables went into the bottom of the lightning protection similar to your picture at Haystack. Once the jackets of the CAT cables were compromised up above, the water rode down the jackets clear inside the building. Ironically the lightning protection wasn't affected, as the excess cable looped inside and upward entry into the lightning protection served to stop/slow the path of the water. It was mostly when the cables were unplugged and left to hang that the water started dripping out. It could have been worse. The hardline that broke free up above did a pretty serious number on the CAT cables, stretching them and allowing them to abrade on the angle iron / etc. > > Cheers, > > Rob > > From: Bart Kus <me(a)bartk.us> > Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2023 8:38 PM > To: Puget Sound Data Ring <psdr(a)hamwan.org>; Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com> > Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update > > Water water everywhere! New water drainage devices have been installed @ Haystack. May be useful elsewhere. Surprised to hear SnoDEM was affected. Those cables are really well supported. > > --Bart > > On 10/28/2023 6:27 PM, Rob Salsgiver wrote: > >> The maintenance at Lookout is complete. >> >> Problems found on inspection include: >> >> * PTP link to Triangle (only one operating) had an abrasion in the CAT5E jacket up next to the dish. This link has been intermittent, causing the site to go up and down repeatedly, most notably during periods of rain. >> * PTP link to SnoDEM was found to have significant damage to the CAT5E jacket toward the upper end where it runs from the main cableway out to the dish. >> * Sector 2 is offline (more on this below) >> >> The cause of the damage to both PTP link CAT cables was due to another tenant's antenna hardline had become detached from it's mountings and fell toward the inside of the tower, stretching both CAT cables and damaging them. >> >> New CAT cables were pulled for both Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes and the site is stable once again and fed from both sources. >> >> Sector 2 is still down, as we simply could not get to it on this trip. S2 is substantially higher on the tower and after the first two antennas were corrected the call was made to stop there due to fatigue and waning daylight. It is unlikely that S2 will be fixed before winter, but it should be able to be done as soon as an opening allows in the spring. >> >> While we didn't go up to examine the cable, it was leaking water through the jacket down at the tower base just like the Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes were, so it likely shares the same root cause. >> >> Apologies we weren't able to get S2 done, but at least it looks to be cabling instead of a hardware issue. For now S2 has been unplugged at the lightning arrestor. >> >> Thanks to Kenny Richards, Scott Honaker, and Jim Irving for joining me to help make this all happen. We were fortunate to luck into likely the last weather opening for the season. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Rob Salsgiver - NR3O >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> PSDR mailing list >> >> PSDR(a)hamwan.org >> >> https://mail01.fmt.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr -------- Original message --------From: Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com> Date: 10/28/23 9:02 PM (GMT-08:00) To: 'Bart Kus' <me(a)bartk.us>, 'Puget Sound Data Ring' <psdr(a)hamwan.org> Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update I definitely agree it has benefits as a revised standard to future installs and/or retrofits. In this case we didn't have water reach and wick into the RJ45 terminations, so we were lucky this time. Might be something to put on the next visit list. Thanks for sharing. Rob From: Bart Kus <me(a)bartk.us> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2023 8:55 PMTo: Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com>; 'Puget Sound Data Ring' <psdr(a)hamwan.org>Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update The key difference is the lack of RJ45 termination on the cable coming down the tower. If you don't give the water somewhere to go, it'll go right into the RJ45 fingers and with PoE on there, it'll corrode and short/open in no time. The punchdown blocks let it drip down without touching any copper. One can also remove the jacket, and shield, and plastic film from the cable to let it drip before an RJ45, but I found that to be cumbersome to do, ugly looking and fragile.--Bart On 10/28/2023 8:51 PM, Rob Salsgiver wrote:In the case of Lookout, the incoming CAT cables went into the bottom of the lightning protection similar to your picture at Haystack. Once the jackets of the CAT cables were compromised up above, the water rode down the jackets clear inside the building. Ironically the lightning protection wasn't affected, as the excess cable looped inside and upward entry into the lightning protection served to stop/slow the path of the water. It was mostly when the cables were unplugged and left to hang that the water started dripping out. It could have been worse. The hardline that broke free up above did a pretty serious number on the CAT cables, stretching them and allowing them to abrade on the angle iron / etc. Cheers,Rob From: Bart Kus <me(a)bartk.us> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2023 8:38 PMTo: Puget Sound Data Ring <psdr(a)hamwan.org>; Rob Salsgiver <rob(a)nr3o.com>Subject: Re: [HamWAN PSDR] Lookout maintenance update Water water everywhere! New water drainage devices have been installed @ Haystack. May be useful elsewhere. Surprised to hear SnoDEM was affected. Those cables are really well supported.--Bart On 10/28/2023 6:27 PM, Rob Salsgiver wrote:The maintenance at Lookout is complete. Problems found on inspection include:PTP link to Triangle (only one operating) had an abrasion in the CAT5E jacket up next to the dish. This link has been intermittent, causing the site to go up and down repeatedly, most notably during periods of rain.PTP link to SnoDEM was found to have significant damage to the CAT5E jacket toward the upper end where it runs from the main cableway out to the dish.Sector 2 is offline (more on this below) The cause of the damage to both PTP link CAT cables was due to another tenant's antenna hardline had become detached from it's mountings and fell toward the inside of the tower, stretching both CAT cables and damaging them. New CAT cables were pulled for both Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes and the site is stable once again and fed from both sources. Sector 2 is still down, as we simply could not get to it on this trip. S2 is substantially higher on the tower and after the first two antennas were corrected the call was made to stop there due to fatigue and waning daylight. It is unlikely that S2 will be fixed before winter, but it should be able to be done as soon as an opening allows in the spring. While we didn't go up to examine the cable, it was leaking water through the jacket down at the tower base just like the Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes were, so it likely shares the same root cause. Apologies we weren't able to get S2 done, but at least it looks to be cabling instead of a hardware issue. For now S2 has been unplugged at the lightning arrestor. Thanks to Kenny Richards, Scott Honaker, and Jim Irving for joining me to help make this all happen. We were fortunate to luck into likely the last weather opening for the season. Cheers,Rob Salsgiver - NR3O_______________________________________________PSDR mailing listPSDR@hamwan.orghttps://mail01.fmt.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr

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Lookout maintenance update
by Rob Salsgiver 28 Oct '23

28 Oct '23

The maintenance at Lookout is complete. Problems found on inspection include: 1. PTP link to Triangle (only one operating) had an abrasion in the CAT5E jacket up next to the dish. This link has been intermittent, causing the site to go up and down repeatedly, most notably during periods of rain. 2. PTP link to SnoDEM was found to have significant damage to the CAT5E jacket toward the upper end where it runs from the main cableway out to the dish. 3. Sector 2 is offline (more on this below) The cause of the damage to both PTP link CAT cables was due to another tenant's antenna hardline had become detached from it's mountings and fell toward the inside of the tower, stretching both CAT cables and damaging them. New CAT cables were pulled for both Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes and the site is stable once again and fed from both sources. Sector 2 is still down, as we simply could not get to it on this trip. S2 is substantially higher on the tower and after the first two antennas were corrected the call was made to stop there due to fatigue and waning daylight. It is unlikely that S2 will be fixed before winter, but it should be able to be done as soon as an opening allows in the spring. While we didn't go up to examine the cable, it was leaking water through the jacket down at the tower base just like the Triangle and SnoDEM PTP dishes were, so it likely shares the same root cause. Apologies we weren't able to get S2 done, but at least it looks to be cabling instead of a hardware issue. For now S2 has been unplugged at the lightning arrestor. Thanks to Kenny Richards, Scott Honaker, and Jim Irving for joining me to help make this all happen. We were fortunate to luck into likely the last weather opening for the season. Cheers, Rob Salsgiver - NR3O

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Lookout maintenance
by Rob Salsgiver 28 Oct '23

28 Oct '23

Mantenance on lookout in progress. Please disregard related messages as site goes up/down. Rob Salsgiver - NR3O

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Hamwan configuration help
by Brooke Burdick 12 Sep '23

12 Sep '23

I have a Mikrotik LHG 5nd antenna that is now configured, but am having trouble updating the firmware for Hamwan. If you are able to help, please let me know. Thanks, Brooke Burdick KJ7EMP

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HamWAN in KAWO
by Subhro Kar 27 Aug '23

27 Aug '23

Hello, I was considering connecting to the HamWAN from Arlington airport (KAWO), specifically from the top of the Evergreen Soaring Hangar. Can someone make an educated guess on the probability of it working? I would hate to spend the money on equipment and not be able to connect. I noticed on the map that there is a light red hue on the hangar. Subhro

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Buck Mountain upgrade/maintenance
by Rob Salsgiver 24 Aug '23

24 Aug '23

Today Kenny and I made a trip up to Buck Mountain for some improvements. The primary two focus items were to re-purpose the former Buck to Gold PtP dish from Gold to Camp Murray. The second RF item was to raise S2 a bit on the structure to improve signal path. Some additional signal path maintenance was done. Even before arriving onsite, the Buck-CampMurray path was close enough to the Buck-Gold and Gold-CampMurray paths to get the Buck-CampMurray path "talking" with OSPF active at a measly 6.5Mbps. After peaking the dish, that speed went up to 28.8Mbps. After the other maintenance and some time to train the signal and settle out, the Buck-CampMurray link runs between -68 and -72, with a speed of 78-86Mbps. This is without signal-peaking the Camp Murray end. Both ends of that link are running RouterOS 7, and the Camp Murray end is running a 912 instead of a 921 (for you hardware geeks). There is still room for improvement at the Camp Murray end, but in truth we appear to be in a pretty good spot even if we can't get to it for a while! This now gives the Buck Mountain site two pretty equal link paths to Camp Murray and Capital Park. If you have a client that attaches to S2.Buck, check your connection and let us know how it's going. We know that one client needed a restart before reconnecting. Traffic was UGLY coming back, but a good day's results nevertheless. Thanks Kenny for putting together the time, site access, climbing, etc. Cheers, Rob Salsgiver - NR3O

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Baldi S3
by Rob Salsgiver 16 Aug '23

16 Aug '23

Those who use Baldi sector 3, please restart and test your connections and let me know if there are any issues. Please reply direct to rob(a)nr3o.com or netops(a)hamwan.org. Cheers, Rob

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Free parabolic dish
by Nick Kartsioukas 20 Jun '23

20 Jun '23

I've got an L-Com parabolic dish up for grabs. It has mounting hardware but no feed (previously had a 5GHz feed but got damaged and I tossed it). I'm in the southeast corner of Seattle.

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