UTK, ROANEnet, Signal Power & Ubiquity Networks Partner on Innovative Mesh Network Project
On February 12, 2021, members of two University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UTK) undergraduate multi-disciplinary engineering senior design teams and ROANEnet will be testing a low-cost mobile mesh Wifi network in Rockwood, Tennessee.
The goal is for communities to rapidly implement this network for disaster relief, large scale events or use it for neighborhoods that do not have access to a robust, reliable, and affordable broadband internet solution. Lorna Treffert, ISE Graduate Student stated “Both of the senior design teams and I are excited to be working on a project that is so impactful. The digital divide creates social, educational, material, and immaterial inequalities that significantly impact people’s quality of life. Access to a reliable internet connection has become a basic human right and the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on our daily lives has proven this statement as so many jobs and school systems have gone virtual.”
After setting up the network, a large group of students will test the network’s range and capability by replicating a typical load on the system and analyzing the impact of the hilly terrain, ground cover, and houses. The testing signal will be broadcast from the tower at Roane State Community College and communicate with two separate mesh networks: one covering the College Grove Neighborhood and the other around Post Oak Springs Christian Church. The test also includes students connecting to the network with their devices and testing the signal strength and data rate across the test site. The test will serve as a proof of concept for implementing the system in a rural area with challenging topography.
The system was designed so that a main backhaul can be set up and receive signal from an antenna stationed up to 15 miles away from the access location and connect to an internet service provider which will provide users with a connection outside of the network.
This project was made possible with the generosity and support of the following parties:
- Roane State Community College (www.roanestate.edu)
- UTK Amateur Radio Club
- Richard Glover and Matt Waters for the use of their drone in LOS Tests.
- Russell Brown, for the use of his property
- College Grove Neighborhood Residents
- Post Oak Springs Christian Church
- Signal Power in Chattanooga, TN. The main design requires the network to be easily movable and able to be mounted on LED light towers manufactured by a company based in Chattanooga, TN called Signal Power. Signal Power’s portable LED Light Towers serves as the structural backbone of the design. (https://hybridledlighttower.com)
- Ubiquiti Networks. Ubiquiti’s products are at the heart of the design. Ubiquiti has been generous to provide our team with over $600 of equipment for our initial testing of the system. We want to express our gratitude to them for helping us complete our project and helping meet the connection needs of those without. (https://www.ui.com)
Stay tuned for updates as we implement and expand our system and include pictures and videos describing our project in more detail!
Tickle College of Engineering (https://tickle.utk.edu/)
Members of the ISD team include Garrett Galbreath, Matthew Jones, Hans Perry, Jianjun Xu, and Rachel Dylewski. They have worked closely with Doug Zukowski, President of Signal Power, and Dr. Keith Stanfill, the Director of Integrated Engineering Design at UTK. Their advisor is Dr. Husheng Li.
The Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) senior design team is working to develop a business plan to ensure the solution’s economic feasibility, perform a risk analysis for the implementation and operation of the system, and determine the optimal placement of the network within Roane County. Members of the ISE Team include Nathaniel Sexton, Katherine Clayton, Katie Roberts, Kevin McGinnity. The ISE design team advisor is Floyd Ostrowski, and ISE Graduate Student Lorna Treffert is assisting them.
ROANEnet (roanenet.org) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocate for affordable, robust, and reliable high-speed internet access, equitable availability of digital devices, and training required to enhance the quality of life within Roane County, TN. ROANEnet has been instrumental in establishing contacts in Rockwood’s community and providing on-site support and evaluation of test sites. Members of ROANEnet involved in this project are Dayle Beyer, Executive Director, Egon Hillermann, Director of Technology Access Program, and Richard Glover, CIO.