To get started connecting to the mesh, you’ll generally need to meet a few minimum requirements, namely:

1. You must be an FCC licensed Amateur Radio (Ham) Operator [Part 97],

2. You must have line-of-sight to an existing SFWEM site,

3. You must have compatible equipment (see below),

4. The equipment must be running the AREDN firmware,

5. You must be configured for the SSID/channel/bandwidth below:

5.8 GHz

• SSID: AREDN-10-v3

• Channel: 179 (5.895 GHz)

• Bandwidth: 10 MHz

No sites near you? That’s Ok!

As we build out the network, it’s possible to be located where there are no other nodes to connect to. In these instances, you can still connect your node to the mesh using a tunnel over your internet connection. While not as resilient as an RF link to other nodes, tunnels help us grow islands of connectivity that can eventually be bridged into the wider mesh.

What do You need to buy?

Our sample Bill of Materials (BOM) will guide you on what to get, depending on what kind of site your building, as well as some of the best places to get mesh gear at a fair price.

Make sure you’re already connected with SFWEM before buying anything: our army of volunteers can help you better determine what gear will work best for your particular needs, and help ensure you have a good experience. We often have donated or granted equipment that can be borrowed to test a location or establish a site, too!