HaMPR: Human MANET Portable Radio

HAMPR: Human Attached Mesh Portable Radio

User-mounted self-contained Wireless MANET and EUD

Overview

The Human MANET Portable Radio (HaMPR) is a human-carried portable Amateur Radio Emergency Digital Network (AREDN) wireless Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) access device that encompasses both a MANET radio and an End User Device (EUD).

HaMPR can be worn & operated by a single person and will either initiate a local MANET, or extend/augment an existing MANET, particularly in emergent situations. This design utilizes Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components ensuring low cost & easy sourcing. HaMPR supports any smartphone or IP network application, including Situational Awareness tools like ATAK, Push-to-Talk apps like Orion, or other services like web browsing, Voice-over-IP, chat, and more.

Design Goals

• MANET should both provide network connectivity to an EUD, as well as extend the MANET to other users’ and their EUDs.
• Reduce to a minimum the total number of components.
• Use COTS components.
• Power and Network should be provided to EUD over USB C.
• There should only be a single battery for both MANET and EUD.
• Should support any IP network based application.

Bill Of Materials (BOM)

1. Samsung Galaxy S8+ (or other phone capable of supporting USB Ethernet) (MV)
2. Ubiquiti airMAX Rocket M5 BaseStation ($89): https://www.ui.com/airmax/rocketm/

1. Running the AREDN Mesh firmware: https://www.arednmesh.org/

3. (2x) 5 GHz Omni Antennas ($9/pair): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M66SLZW
4. USB C OTG “splitter” adapter ($12): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C5FWQND
5. USB C PD Emulator Trigger cable ($10): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PBG4GY6
6. Passive PoE Injector ($7): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NRHNPUA
7. USB C PD power-bank (“battery”) (check specs)
8. USB Ethernet interface (supported by Android)
9. 3 Foot (1 Meter) Ethernet Cable
10. 1 Foot USB C Cable
11. Optional: Juggernaut Case
12. Optional: Carrying Case for radio + battery

Assembly Instructions

Part 1: Rocket M5 MANET Radio

1. Attach 2x 5 GHz Omni Antennas to the Rocket M5.
2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the Rocket M5.
3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Power+Ethernet “output” side of the Passive PoE Injector.
4. Connect the USB C PD Emulator Trigger cable to the power “input” side of the Passive PoE Injector.
5. Connect one end of the USB C cable to the USB C PD Emulator Trigger cable.
6. Connect the other end of the USB C cable to the USB C PD power-bank.

Part 2: EUD

1. Connect the USB C OTG splitter into the EUD.
2. Connect the USB Ethernet interface to the USB C OTG splitter.
3. Connect the USB Ethernet interface to the Ethernet “input” side of the Passive PoE Injector.
4. Optional: To charge the phone, connect an additional USB C cable between the USB C OTG splitter and an additional USB C power on the USB C PD power-bank.

Assembly Notes

• The Ubiquiti Rocket M5 accepts Passive Power over Ethernet (PoE) voltages of between 8 VDC and 24 VDC. USB C Power Distribution (PD) allows peripheral-negotiated output voltages. Commonly supported voltages range from 5 VDC to 24 VDC - almost all in the supported range of the Rocket M5.
• A pre-configured USB C PD “Emulator Trigger cable” was chosen, as opposed to a field-programmable Trigger cable, due to the sophistication of programming the field-programmable version, and numerous misconfigurations when evaluating this solution in the lab. Pre-configured cables just tended to ‘work’ right out of the box, every time.
• Ensure the USB C “power bank” actually supports USB C PD. Results with off-the-shelf self-reported USB C PD power-banks varied both in the existence of USB C PD support at all, and the voltages available with the USB C PD port when it was supported. Consult vendor specifications and verify.

System Diagrams

HaMPR Major Systems Diagram

Additional Photos

Wireless MANET Radio stowed in a carrying pouch mounted on the back of backpack.

Smartphone EUD stowed in a chest-mount case attached to the backpack straps.

Smartphone EUD in operating position on user’s chest.