Just starting out and want get good equipment that will be future proof. I am looking at some AC equipment but I know they're not supported at the moment, hopefully around Christmas time I've read.
Would it be worth the wait if I have a good deal on an AirMax Litebeam AC gen2 or TPlink CPE710? Or should I just say screw it and get something that will work now?
I've touched base with the local group and they suggested I post here :)
Thanks
Jesse
VE7KOD
Carpe diem.
Chuck
Haha.. thanks Chuck!
Steep learning curve for a brand new ham.
Take care and stay safe. Jesse
The 802.11ac devices won't be any faster then the 802.11n devices, so there's is no point in waiting for them. And once they are AREDN-compatible, they will interoperate with the 802.11n devices.
Hello Jesse,
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
The node closest to you is VA3QT-ARAA-150-Barrie running 2.4 Ghz. You may want to reach out to the owner to discuss how he has his node pointed.
https://www.qrz.com/lookup/VA3QT
The nodes in the Toronto area may be a bit far of a reach. You can use this tool to map out some hypothetical equipment links between yourself and nearby nodes: https://link.ui.com/#
If you're in a mesh island like I am, you may want to just get the HAP AC Lite for now and get a tunnel into VA3QT or one of the nodes in the Toronto area. Check the map: https://www.arednmesh.org/content/aredn-map-0
If you're all alone, a direction antenna isn't going to help you much. Consider building out a network with neighbors in you area. A good way to find possible interested parties is to check APRS.fi for local stations. You could also try your local ham clubs.
The forums are a great resource of knowledge. Reach out frequently!
---mark
KM6ZPO