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Starting up a mesh group in your area?

One common mistake is...

 

OK; so you have the Mesh bug and are one of the first in your area to start experimentation. How do you get others to share your new passion?

Seems there's a misconception that the first priority for a new area is to get nodes operational at premier sites... before urging others to join in.

no, No, NO !!!

 

AREDN mesh is peer-to-peer; you only need two nodes seeing each other to start having fun. But instead, seems many envision AREDN Mesh more as a "central service" system.... akin to HamWan (except having multiple main-service-sites). And because of this false belief - many assume they shouldn't really promote Mesh right away - going to the point of discouraging hams... suggesting they "hold off until we can get a few major nodes installed at dream locations." 

The beauty of Mesh (especially for EmComm applications) is that it's usable in tactical situations where you may not have RF access into the local county-wide network.

Granted, higher profile installations are nice to have; it may take years to gain access to some of these "dream" locations (commercial towers, city/county buildings & water tanks); and it's detrimental to suggest interested hams "sit on their hands" during this mega-site acquisition phase.

Every AREDN mesh node is a repeater; that "Space Needle" location is no longer necessary.

A better way to get Mesh interest started in a new area is to encourage any & all node installation; whether installed on ham towers, or roofs of QTH's. Please, never ever suggest to those showing interest to "hold off until..."

EmComm'ers can look like saviors when supplying even just two nodes - that only see themselves - during a local emergency; could be supplying an important voice communications link via VoIP telephones, or a data/internet link, or providing a live video feed from a camera connected to that second node (this was demonstrated to emergency personnel in Delaware Ohio just north of Columbus; to their amazement... not reazlizing that ham radio had advanced to this level).

Summary: the usability and enjoyment of Mesh is not dependant upon getting that first dream-location on the air; it starts long before those mega-sites ever become operational.

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