OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#1

Post by hexmiles » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 9:18 PM UTC

OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios
openmanet.net

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#2

Post by easygenes » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 9:35 PM UTC

This guy has been promoting and hacking hardware around this project heavily the last few months: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=550fh2n5rUs

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#3

Post by esafak » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:02 PM UTC

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#4

Post by harporoeder » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:05 PM UTC

esafak wrote: post #3

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

The killer application in this case is ATAK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Team_Awareness_Kit

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#5

Post by coreyw » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:17 PM UTC

easygenes wrote: post #2

This guy has been promoting and hacking hardware around this project heavily the last few months: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=550fh2n5rUs

That guy is not contributing to the open source project.

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#6

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:19 PM UTC

harporoeder wrote: post #4

esafak wrote: post #3

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

The killer application in this case is ATAK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Team_Awareness_Kit

[deleted]

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#7

Post by EvanAnderson » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:37 PM UTC

In case anybody is like me and didn't know what Wi-Fi HaLow is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ah

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#8

Post by bb88 » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 10:50 PM UTC

esafak wrote: post #3

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

Meshtastic has been popular, but relies upon a terrible implementation of a mesh -- and it's vastly oversold on its capabilities.

I understand some hams run a meshtastic repeater primarily to convince meshtastic users to become hams.

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#9

Post by ianburrell » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 11:10 PM UTC

bb88 wrote: post #8

esafak wrote: post #3

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

Meshtastic has been popular, but relies upon a terrible implementation of a mesh -- and it's vastly oversold on its capabilities. I understand some hams run a meshtastic repeater primarily to convince meshtastic users to become hams.

LoRa has tiny bandwidth. Enough for text messaging if not too many people use it.

HaLow has lots more bandwidth, 433Mbps max, which allows for proper networking. It can bridge to other networks. But the practical range is only 1km. Also, the radios are expensive while LoRa is cheap.

Re: OpenMANET Wi-Fi HaLow open-source project for Raspberry Pi–based MANET radios

#10

Post by nativeit » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 11:17 PM UTC

bb88 wrote: post #8

esafak wrote: post #3

MANETs: back from the dead!? The problem is not the hardware, but the software; apparently, nobody can think of a killer application.

Meshtastic has been popular, but relies upon a terrible implementation of a mesh -- and it's vastly oversold on its capabilities. I understand some hams run a meshtastic repeater primarily to convince meshtastic users to become hams.

I feel like a HAM license is something of an inevitability of my future, although I don’t have any practical need for one. Catching satellite signals in my backyard is a lot of fun.