K4UJ - OpenHSMM Projects

OpenHSMM

What is OpenHSMM?

The name is derived from the combination of Open Source projects designed to facilitate the ideas that are put forth by the ARRL HSMM Task Force. Basically this task force is focused on investigating technologies for high speed communications. Keep in mind that the term "high speed" is anything greater than 1200 baud packet that was designed decades ago. ;-)

The Challenges:

The primary challenges with applying todays technologies (FCC Part 15) to Amateur Radio (FCC Part 97) stem from the limitation for application of encryption technologies. Basically, Part 97 says that Amateur Radio Communications can NOT be encrypted. This precludes the use of encryption to protect against login credentials, whether it is an SSL web page served over Amateur Radio based infrastructure or WEP,or WPA, or VPN's for securing wireless (WiFi) networks.

We urge the ARRL and the FCC to work together to define a new set of standards that is applicable to the world we live in today, where identity theft is a reality. Through the use of encryption we can provide technology solutions to the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) groups that protect the users and the information transmitted on those networks.

THE PROJECT(s)

openhsmm-ap: Currently under development is a completely flexible and open wireless access point. The hardware is the Soekris single board computer running OpenBSD 3.8 as the operating system. Here are the reasons for this combination...

openhsmm-nos: Also currently under development is quick and easy software and hardware framework to rapidly deploy JNOS in a stable environment. JNOS is an Amateur Radio packet to TCP/IP bridge to allow a remote packet user to gain access to a TCP/IP enabled RF network. The hardware is the Soekris single board computer running Linux.

openhsmm-firewall: NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.. I strongly recommend using m0n0wall on the Soekris platform.

I have been a technology junkie for over 20 years, couple that with the love for Amateur Radio and you can easily see how this site came about. I love to travel to islands to operate radio, which is called DXpeditions. You can learn more about some of the travels at my other website DX-IS.

I am the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Technology with Gwinnett ARES. This year (2005) I had the distinct pleasure of being able to help serve with the Red Cross during hurricane Katrina.