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Installation Instructions

Daniel Mahony edited this page Apr 24, 2023 · 34 revisions

How To Install LoRa-AX25-IP-Network

There are 2 different ways to use this:

You can connect the E32 module directly to the Computer using a UART port (either GPIO pins or a USB to UART adapter. If you use a USB to UART adapter make sure you can supply enough current to the radio.

Another method is an E32 module connected to the UART pins of an ESP32 or ESP8266.

The ESP32/ESP8266 sends the UART data over wifi or bluetooth and the user connects to it using Socat.

Instructions for E32 Module + ESP32

TBD

Instructions for E32 Module + Raspberry Pi

If you are using the pi serial port make sure to enable it first.

Install the ax25 network suport:
sudo apt-get install libax25 ax25-apps ax25-tools uronode
(if your package manager can't find ax25-node try uronode)

Create a kiss.sh script file:
sudo nano kiss.sh

#!/bin/sh
# start ax25 on ttyS0 using port defined in /etc/ax25/axports
/usr/sbin/kissattach -m 254 /dev/ttyAMA0 ax0 10.10.10.1
sleep 1
# listen for various incoming connects like PMS, node, etc.
# (MUST first be configured in /etc/ax25/ax25d.conf)
/usr/sbin/ax25d
sleep 1
# listen for stations heard
/usr/sbin/mheardd
#end of script

make kiss.sh executable:
sudo chmod a+x kiss.sh

Edit /etc/ax25/axports:

sudo nano /etc/ax25/axports

# /etc/ax25/axports
#
# The format of this file is:
#
# name callsign speed paclen window description
ax0 ABCDEF 11200 254 1 LoRa<br>
#replace ABCDEF with your 6 letter callsign

run the kiss.sh script with sudo

sudo ./kiss.sh

Now do the same on your second device but with a different 6 letter callsign and ip address

Now you can ping or communicate over tcp/ip!

pi@lorachatC:~ $ ping 10.0.0.2
PING 10.0.0.2 (10.0.0.2) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 10.0.0.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=585 ms
64 bytes from 10.0.0.2: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=585 ms
64 bytes from 10.0.0.2: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=585 ms
64 bytes from 10.0.0.2: icmp_seq=4 ttl=64 time=585 ms
64 bytes from 10.0.0.2: icmp_seq=5 ttl=64 time=585 ms
^C
--- 10.0.0.2 ping statistics ---
6 packets transmitted, 5 received, 16% packet loss, time 5005ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 585.622/585.652/585.724/0.839 ms

Instructions for Encrypted Weechat

Open a Weechat Session
weechat
Install Crypt plugin
/script install crypt.py
Instruct Crypt to load when Weechat starts
/script autoload crypt.py
Add encryption to status bar
/set weechat.bar.status.items "[time],[buffer_count],[buffer_plugin],buffer_number+:+buffer_name+{buffer_nicklist_count}+buffer_filter,encryption,[lag],[hotlist],completion,scroll"
Quit Weechat
/quit
cd to weechat directory in home folder
cd .weechat
Generate OpenSSL key (#crypt is the name your encrypted room)
openssl genrsa -out cryptkey.#crypt 4096

Feel free to edit or contact me if you spot any mistakes!

danielwmahony@gmail.com