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Latest revision as of 18:34, 28 February 2026

44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators building and connecting real networks using shared public address space.

44Net in brief

44Net makes publicly reachable networking available for experimentation and learning. Amateur radio operators and groups use it to run systems that are directly accessible from the Internet using stable public IP addresses.

The resource that makes this possible is a block of over 12 million IP addresses tracing its origins to early packet radio. Today, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) maintains the address space in service to the community. See About 44Net for background and history.

What people build

People use 44Net in many ways. Some run a single system; others collaborate on shared projects or build independent networks. There is no single “right” way to participate.

Projects vary in scale and technical depth, from individual servers and stations to regional networks and volunteer-run independent systems.

Individual projects

Remote station operation, self-hosted services, cloud services with BYOIP .

Examples:

See more projects →

Shared infrastructure

Club networks, linked repeaters, and services for the wider community.

Examples:

See more projects →

Autonomous networks

Multi-site links, resilient backbones, and globally-routed independent systems.

Examples:

See more projects →

See What People Build on 44Net for more examples.

How people participate

People arrive at 44Net by joining an existing project, contributing to a shared effort, or creating something new of their own.

Anyone interested can join one of the mailing lists to follow what people are actively doing with 44Net.

Common paths into 44Net

Join a network

Many participants begin by joining an existing project. Regional RF networks, overlay networks, and other volunteer-run systems offer ways to learn and practice.

Examples:

Local packet and microwave networks, regional mesh projects, and shared access systems operated by volunteer groups.

Contribute to a shared project

Others participate by contributing to an active project. Technicians, designers, tower climbers, and system administrators — time and skills are always in demand.

Examples:

IRLP nodes, shared monitoring or DNS services, research collaborations, repeater linking systems, and community experimentation platforms.

Create something new

Some participants begin by building systems or tools of their own. Many parts of 44Net running today started as something one person built that others found useful.

Examples:

New club networks, independent routing experiments, novel services, or radio-linked systems exploring new technical ideas.

How people connect

When an operator is ready to run their own system, they choose a provisioning approach that fits their project, request address space, and get building. These paths coexist but are not automatically integrated; see how Connect, IPIP Mesh, and BGP fit together.

Common ways projects connect

44Net Connect

A WireGuard-based approach that uses secure tunnels over existing Internet links to bring 44Net to common, modern devices. Developed and maintained by volunteers with support from ARDC.

Learn more about 44Net Connect →

IPIP Mesh

A community-operated overlay network built with IP-in-IP tunnels, allowing independently run systems to interconnect across the Internet. It’s a living descendant of the original AMPRNet packet networks.

Get Started with IPIP Mesh →

BGP-announced subnet

Projects integrate directly with the Internet’s global routing system by announcing 44Net subnets via BGP. Groups with ASNs, upstream peers, or datacenter facilities join the core of the Internet this way.

Get Started with BGP-Announced Subnets →

A culture of experimentation

44Net is meant to be explored. Many operators begin with a small experiment and discover new ideas along the way. Projects may grow, change direction, or conclude entirely. Returning address space when a project ends keeps the resource available for others to try something new.

Shared stewardship

ARDC maintains the address space and supporting infrastructure, while participants steward the network by building systems, maintaining projects, and supporting one another. As with amateur radio, wide freedom to experiment comes with shared responsibility to care for the resource and keep it useful for future builders.

ARDC maintains the address space and the core infrastructure that keeps 44Net available over time. Participants help care for the network by building things, keeping them running, and supporting one another’s work. In keeping with amateur radio tradition, operators have wide freedom to experiment, provided they help protect the resource and use it thoughtfully so others can build and explore as well.

To learn more about how decisions are made or how to take part, see About 44Net, Governance, Policies, and Contributing.

Before starting

44Net is maintained as a community service for non-commercial projects and generally requires an amateur radio operating license. Community expectations follow amateur radio traditions. To learn more about eligibility, see Learn how eligibility works.

Joining the discussion

You do not need a project or subnet to start. Many people begin just by listening.

Community and Mailing Lists: Subscribe to community discussions
Introduce yourself or follow ongoing projects.
See what others are building, and share ideas of your own.

Note

The 44Net Wiki is being updated and expanded. You may notice new sections and stub pages while this work is in progress. If you have suggestions or comments, please share them on the mailing list or help make contributions yourself.

Older docs and notes

Earlier pages that may still be useful:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= 44Net Wiki =
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:44Net Main Page}}
+<div class="toclimit-3">
+__TOC__
+</div>
-'''Real IPv4 for real hams.'''
+{{Lead|44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators building and connecting real networks using shared public address space.}}
-[[File:Network_map_illustration.png|thumb|right|400px|44Net IP addresses are globally routable, enabling direct connectivity on the public Internet.]]
+== 44Net in brief ==
+{{Section|class=mw-section--brief|1=
+{{SectionAside|
+{{SectionFigure|file=Network_map_illustration.png|width=400px|caption=44Net IP addresses are globally routable, enabling direct accessibility from the public Internet.}}
+}}
+'''44Net''' makes publicly reachable networking available for experimentation and learning. Amateur radio operators and groups use it to run systems that are directly accessible from the Internet using stable public IP addresses.
-Net provides public, routable IPv4 address space for licensed amateur radio operators building real systems on the open Internet.
+The resource that makes this possible is a block of over 12 million IP addresses tracing its origins to early packet radio. Today, [https://ardc.net/ Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)] maintains the address space in service to the community. See [[About 44Net]] for background and history.
-'''44Net''' is a global IPv4 resource dedicated to amateur radio use. It exists so individuals and groups can learn, experiment, and operate services on real internet infrastructure without NAT-only constraints.
+}}
+<!-- {{Section|class=mw-section--quickpaths-strip|1=
+''Quick links:'' [[GetStarted|Get Started]] • [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Connect]] • Run a Project: [[DNS|DNS]], [[Routing|Routing]] • [[Community|Community]]
+}} -->
+{{Section|
+== What people build ==
+People use 44Net in many ways. Some run a single system; others collaborate on shared projects or build independent networks. There is no single “right” way to participate.
-Net began in 1981 and has evolved through decades of contribution and stewardship by the amateur radio and networking communities.
+Projects vary in scale and technical depth, from individual servers and stations to regional networks and volunteer-run independent systems.
-Net is operated as a program of [https://www.ardc.net/ ARDC], but 44Net and ARDC are not the same thing: ARDC provides governance and support, while 44Net is the network and operating community built by its participants.
+{{SectionLayout|min=16rem|class=mw-section__layout--build|
+{{SectionCard|
+=== Individual projects ===
+Remote station operation, self-hosted services, cloud services with {{Term|BYOIP}}.
-== Start Here ==
+==== Examples: ====
+* [https://ni2o.ampr.org NI2O’s bit of Cyberspace]
+* [https://yo2loj.ampr.org YO2LOJ’s map of 44Net]
-If you are new, returning, or already building, use these trailheads:
+{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
+}}
-* '''New to 44Net''': [[What is 44Net?|What 44Net is]], [[Eligibility|who can participate]], and [[GetStarted|how to get your first allocation]]
+{{SectionCard|
-* '''Returning users''': [[Home|Wiki index]], [[GetStarted|current onboarding]], and [https://portal.ampr.org/ Portal sign-in]
+=== Shared infrastructure ===
-* '''Builders and operators''': [[ASNs|ASN primer]], [[Routing|routing and BGP]], [[DNS]], [[Monitoring]], and [[Examples|implementation examples]]
+Club networks, linked repeaters, and services for the wider community.
-== What People Build on 44Net ==
+==== Examples: ====
+* [https://www.irlp.net The Internet Radio Linking Project]
+* [https://hamgate.ampr.org HamGate Northeast US Networks]
-[[File:44net_Globe.png|thumb|right|350px|44Net is a globally distributed community network.]]
+{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
+}}
-Examples include:
+{{SectionCard|
+=== Autonomous networks ===
+Multi-site links, resilient backbones, and
+globally-routed independent systems.
-* Authoritative DNS and hosted services
+==== Examples: ====
-* BGP-connected network segments and tunnels
+* [https://www.darc.de/der-club/distrikte/c/hamnet/ HamNET broadband RF network]
-* Gateways between radio-linked and internet-linked systems
+* [https://www.arednmesh.org AREDN Emergency Data Network]
-* Monitoring, telemetry, and operational tooling
-* Experimental protocols and educational lab environments
-== Stewardship and Participation ==
+{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
+}}
+}}
-[[File:Community-radio.png|thumb|right|400px|44Net participants build, operate, and support the network together.]]
+See [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]] for more examples.
+}}
-Net is maintained through volunteers, staff support, and published policies. We prioritize technical clarity, practical operations, and open participation without gatekeeping.
+== How people participate ==
+People arrive at 44Net by joining an existing project, contributing to a shared effort, or creating something new of their own.
-* [[Policies|Policies and practices]]
+Anyone interested can join one of the [https://ardc.groups.io/ mailing lists] to follow what people are actively doing with 44Net.
-* [[Governance|Governance and responsibilities]]
-* [[Roadmap|Roadmap and priorities]]
-* [[Contributing|How to contribute]]
-== Documentation Status ==
+{{Section|variant=secondary|
+=== Common paths into 44Net ===
+{{SectionLayout|min=16rem|gap=0.75rem|
+{{SectionCard|
+==== Join a network ====
+Many participants begin by joining an existing project. Regional RF networks, overlay networks, and other volunteer-run systems offer ways to learn and practice.
-This wiki is under active reconstruction. Some pages are incomplete, outdated, or still being organized.
+===== Examples: =====
+Local packet and microwave networks, regional mesh projects, and shared access systems operated by volunteer groups.
+}}
-We are building clear foundations, portal how-tos, and operational references in stages. Until that work is complete, this page is the primary orientation point and the shortest path to current resources.
+{{SectionCard|
+==== Contribute to a shared project ====
+Others participate by contributing to an active project. Technicians, designers, tower climbers, and system administrators — time and skills are always in demand.
-== Quick Links ==
+===== Examples: =====
+IRLP nodes, shared monitoring or DNS services, research collaborations, repeater linking systems, and community experimentation platforms.
+}}
-{| class="wikitable"
+{{SectionCard|
-! Resource
+==== Create something new ====
-! Link
+Some participants begin by building systems or tools of their own. Many parts of 44Net running today started as something one person built that others found useful.
-|-
-| Portal
+===== Examples: =====
-| [https://portal.ampr.org/ Portal sign-in]
+New club networks, independent routing experiments, novel services, or radio-linked systems exploring new technical ideas.
-|-
+}}
-| Getting started
+}}
-| [[GetStarted|Get Started]]
+}}
-|-
-| Wiki index
+== How people connect ==
-| [[Home|Wiki Index]]
+When an operator is ready to run their own system, they choose a provisioning approach that fits their project, request address space, and get building.
-|-
+These paths coexist but are not automatically integrated; see [[Decentralization|how Connect, IPIP Mesh, and BGP fit together]].
-| ARDC
-| [https://www.ardc.net/ ARDC.net]
+{{Section|variant=secondary|
-|}
+=== Common ways projects connect ===
+{{SectionLayout|min=16rem|gap=0.75rem|
+{{SectionCard|
+==== 44Net Connect ====
+A WireGuard-based approach that uses secure tunnels over existing Internet links to bring 44Net to common, modern devices. Developed and maintained by volunteers with support from ARDC.
+[[44Net Connect|Learn more about 44Net Connect →]]
+}}
+{{SectionCard|
+==== IPIP Mesh ====
+A community-operated overlay network built with IP-in-IP tunnels, allowing independently run systems to interconnect across the Internet. It’s a living descendant of the original AMPRNet packet networks.
+[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_IPIP_Mesh|Get Started with IPIP Mesh →]]
+}}
+{{SectionCard|
+==== BGP-announced subnet ====
+Projects integrate directly with the Internet’s global routing system by announcing 44Net subnets via BGP. Groups with ASNs, upstream peers, or datacenter facilities join the core of the Internet this way.
+[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_BGP-Announced_Subnets|Get Started with BGP-Announced Subnets →]]
+}}
+}}
+}}
+== A culture of experimentation ==
+Net is meant to be explored. Many operators begin with a small experiment and discover new ideas along the way. Projects may grow, change direction, or conclude entirely. Returning address space when a project ends keeps the resource available for others to try something new.
+== Shared stewardship ==
+ARDC maintains the address space and supporting infrastructure, while participants steward the network by building systems, maintaining projects, and supporting one another. As with amateur radio, wide freedom to experiment comes with shared responsibility to care for the resource and keep it useful for future builders.
+ARDC maintains the address space and the core infrastructure that keeps 44Net available over time. Participants help care for the network by building things, keeping them running, and supporting one another’s work. In keeping with amateur radio tradition, operators have wide freedom to experiment, provided they help protect the resource and use it thoughtfully so others can build and explore as well.
+To learn more about how decisions are made or how to take part, see [[About 44Net]], [[Governance]], [[Policies]], and [[Contributing]].
+== Before starting ==
+Net is maintained as a community service for non-commercial projects and generally requires an amateur radio operating license. Community expectations follow amateur radio traditions. To learn more about eligibility, see [[Eligibility|Learn how eligibility works]].
+== Further reading ==
+* [[About 44Net|About 44Net]]: Understand history and stewardship
+* [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]]: Project examples
+* [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Provision 44Net]]: Get 44Net on your device or network.
+== Joining the discussion ==
+You do not need a project or subnet to start. Many people begin just by listening.
+* [[Community|Community and Mailing Lists]]: Subscribe to community discussions
+* Introduce yourself or follow ongoing projects.
+* See what others are building, and share ideas of your own.
+{{Info|Note|The 44Net Wiki is being updated and expanded. You may notice new sections and stub pages while this work is in progress. If you have suggestions or comments, please share them on the [https://ardc.groups.io/g/44net mailing list] or help make contributions yourself.}}
+== Older docs and notes ==
+Earlier pages that may still be useful:
+* [[Archive/Main Page]]
+* [[Archive/Home]]
+* [[Quickstart]]
+* [[Requesting a block]]
+* See [[Archive]] for more.