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{{DISPLAYTITLE:44Net: Build Networks Together with Public IP Space}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:44Net Main Page}}
<div class="toclimit-3">
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</div>
 
{{Lead|44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators building and connecting real systems and networks using shared public address space.}}
 
== 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 can be accessed directly from the Internet using stable public addresses.
 
The resource that makes this possible is a block of over 12 million IP addresses. The address block traces its origins to early packet radio networking, a project still known today as “AMPRNet.” That legacy continues, with Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) maintaining the address space in service to the community. See [[About 44Net]] for history and context.
}}


{{Lead|44Net is a community of amateur radio operators building networks using publicly routable IP address space, from a single reachable host to routed networks.}}
{{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]]
}}


= 44Net in Brief =
{{Section|
<!-- [[File:Network_map_illustration.png|thumb|right|400px|class=mw-thumb-card|44Net IP addresses are globally routable, enabling direct connectivity on the public Internet.]] -->
== What people build ==
'''44Net''' is shared Internet address space stewarded for experimentation, education, and community-built infrastructure. It enables amateur radio operators and groups to run systems that are directly reachable on the Internet using stable public addresses.
Operators put 44Net to work in different ways. Some connect a single system; others collaborate on shared projects or build networks of their own. There is no single “right” way to participate.


44Net traces its origins to the early days of the Internet, when address space was set aside for amateur radio experimentation. That legacy continues today; see [[About 44Net]] for history and context.
{{SectionFigure|file=Landscape.png|width=900px}}
Projects using 44Net vary widely in scale and technical depth. Examples include a club maintaining repeaters over cellular or satellite uplinks, an individual publishing resources from a server in their shack, preparedness teams keeping fixed public IPs on mobile devices, or a regional group linking microwave sites across a city or country.


= What People Build =
{{SectionLayout|min=16rem|class=mw-section__layout--build|
{{SectionCard|
=== Individual projects ===
Remote station operation, self-hosted services, cloud services with {{Term|BYOIP}}.


People use 44Net in many different ways. Some operate a single reachable system; others collaborate through shared projects or build networks of their own. There is no single "right" way to participate. Projects vary widely in scale and technical depth. What people choose to build determines how the network grows.
==== Examples: ====
* [https://ni2o.ampr.org NI2O’s bit of Cyberspace]
* [https://yo2loj.ampr.org YO2LOJ’s map of 44Net]


{{CardGrid|
{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
  | 1 =  
{{CardGrid_Card|
  | heading = Personal station and home services
  | body = <p>Many participants begin by making a single system reachable: a home station, personal server, or experimental host available directly on the Internet.</p>
  <p style="font-size: 0.9em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 1em;">In Practice:</p>
  [http://yo2loj.ampr.org YO2LOJ] maintains a site sharing resources, tools, and information for 44Net users and amateur radio operators.
}}
}}
{{CardGrid_Card|
 
  | heading = Shared infrastructure
{{SectionCard|
  | body = <p>Groups use 44Net to operate shared systems: repeaters, gateways, and services maintained collaboratively and relied on by many operators.</p>
=== Shared infrastructure ===
  <p style="font-size: 0.9em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 1em;">In Practice:</p>
Club networks, linked repeaters, and services for the wider community.
  [[IRLP|The Internet Radio Linking Project]] connects repeaters and stations worldwide using publicly reachable systems built on 44Net addresses.
 
==== Examples: ====
* [https://www.irlp.net The Internet Radio Linking Project]
* [https://hamgate.ampr.org HamGate Northeast US Networks]
 
{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
}}
}}
{{CardGrid_Card|
 
  | heading = Routed and experimental networks
{{SectionCard|
  | body = <p>Some participants build larger experiments: inter-site links, research networks, and independently routed infrastructure exploring how networks operate at scale.</p>
=== Autonomous networks ===
  <p style="font-size: 0.9em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 1em;">In Practice:</p>
Multi-site links, resilient backbones, and  
  The [[Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis|CAIDA]] measurement infrastructure at UC San Diego receives a passive optical feed of global Internet traffic directed to 44Net address space, supporting large‑scale research on Internet traffic patterns and network behavior.
globally-routed independent systems.
 
==== Examples: ====
* [https://www.darc.de/der-club/distrikte/c/hamnet/ HamNET broadband RF network]
* [https://www.arednmesh.org AREDN Emergency Data Network]
 
{{SectionMoreLink|page=What People Build|label=See more projects →}}
}}
}}
}}
}}


See [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]] for more examples and build paths.
See [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]] for more examples.
}}


= How People Participate =
== How people participate ==
People arrive at 44Net in different ways. Some discover an existing project and join in. Others contribute skills or help operate shared systems. Many eventually begin running projects of their own.


People engage with 44Net in different ways. Some begin by joining existing efforts; others start something of their own. Both approaches are common, and participants often move between them.
Anyone interested can [https://ardc.groups.io/ join a mailing list] and ask questions. For some people, seeing what licensed amateurs are actively doing with 44Net is motivation to get licensed themselves.


{{CardRow|
{{Section|variant=secondary|
| title = Common paths into 44Net
=== Common paths into 44Net ===
| 1 =
{{SectionLayout|min=16rem|gap=0.75rem|
<div style="grid-column: 1 / -1;">
{{SectionCard|
People often find their way into 44Net by joining an existing effort, contributing to shared infrastructure, or creating something new. These paths are not sequential, and movement between them is common.
==== Join a network ====
</div>
Many participants begin by connecting to an existing network or joining a local effort. Regional RF networks, shared gateways, and other volunteer-run systems provide ways to participate while learning how systems operate in practice.


{{Card
===== Examples: =====
|Join a Network
Local packet and microwave networks, regional mesh projects, and shared access systems operated by volunteer groups.
|<p>Many participants begin by connecting to an existing network or local effort. Regional RF networks, shared gateways, and community-operated infrastructure provide immediate ways to participate while learning how systems operate in practice.</p>
 
<p style="font-size:0.9em; text-transform:uppercase; margin-top:1em;">Examples:</p>
Local packet and microwave networks, regional mesh projects, and shared access systems operated by volunteer groups.
}}
}}


{{Card
{{SectionCard|
|Contribute to a Shared Project
==== Contribute to a shared project ====
|<p>Others participate by helping operate systems used by the wider community. Shared services, repeaters, research platforms, and infrastructure projects depend on volunteers who maintain, improve, and extend them.</p>
Others participate by contributing to active projects. Technicians, designers, tower climbers, and system administrators volunteer to keep these projects running and help them grow. Sometimes all it takes is a radio, a Raspberry Pi, and a willingness to contribute.


<p style="font-size:0.9em; text-transform:uppercase; margin-top:1em;">Examples:</p>
===== Examples: =====
IRLP nodes, shared monitoring or DNS services, research collaborations, repeater linking systems, and community experimentation platforms.
IRLP nodes, shared monitoring or DNS services, research collaborations, repeater linking systems, and community experimentation platforms.
}}
}}


{{Card
{{SectionCard|
|Create Something New
==== Create something new ====
|<p>Some participants begin by building something entirely new: a reachable host, a local RF deployment, an experimental network, or a research project. Many long-running parts of 44Net started as small individual experiments.</p>
Some participants begin by building something new on their own: a reachable host, a local RF deployment, an experimental network, or an open hardware project. Many parts of 44Net running today started as something one person built for themselves.


<p style="font-size:0.9em; text-transform:uppercase; margin-top:1em;">Examples:</p>
===== Examples: =====
New club networks, independent routing experiments, novel services, or radio-linked systems exploring new technical ideas.
New club networks, independent routing experiments, novel services, or radio-linked systems exploring new technical ideas.
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}


When a participant is ready to run their own system, they can request address space and choose a connectivity approach that fits their project.
== How people connect ==
When an operator is ready to run their own system, they choose a connectivity approach that fits their project, request address space, and get building.
 
{{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.


{{CardRow|
[[44Net Connect|Learn more about 44Net Connect →]]
| title = Common ways projects connect
| 1 =
<div style="grid-column: 1 / -1;">Projects use different Internet connectivity approaches depending on what they are building. Most use one of three approaches: 44Net Connect, IPIP Mesh, or a BGP‑announced subnet.</div>
{{Card
  |44Net Connect
  |<p>A WireGuard-based approach that makes it easy to experiment with publicly reachable services using existing Internet connectivity.</p>
  <p>[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_44Net_Connect|Get Started with 44Net Connect →]]</p>
}}
}}


{{Card
{{SectionCard|
  |IPIP Mesh
==== IPIP Mesh ====
  |<p>A community-operated mesh built with IP-in-IP tunnels, allowing independently run systems to interconnect across the Internet for experimentation and collaboration.</p>
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.
  <p>[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_IPIP_Mesh|Get Started with IPIP Mesh →]]</p>
 
[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_IPIP_Mesh|Get Started with IPIP Mesh →]]
}}
}}


{{Card
{{SectionCard|
  |BGP-Announced Subnet
==== BGP-announced subnet ====
  |<p>Projects that operate their own routing infrastructure may announce 44Net address space using BGP, integrating directly with global Internet routing.</p>
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.
  <p>[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_BGP-Announced_Subnets|Get Started with BGP-Announced Subnets →]]</p>
 
[[GetStarted#Get_Started_with_BGP-Announced_Subnets|Get Started with BGP-Announced Subnets →]]
}}
}}
}}
}}
= A Culture of Experimentation =
}}
 
== A culture of experimentation ==
44Net is meant to be used and explored. Experimentation and course changes are normal parts of participation. Many operators start with a small idea just to see what happens. Some of those ideas have grown into long-running projects that still serve the community today.


44Net address space exists to be used. Experimentation is a normal part of participation. Many projects begin as small trials, change direction, or conclude once an idea has run its course.
Some projects naturally conclude once operators have explored their ideas. If a project winds down, returning or exchanging a subnet is straightforward, and operators are always welcome to try something new later. You do not need a fully formed plan before you begin. Trying something new is part of participation — just return the space when you are finished so others can try their ideas too.


Trying something does not "use up" the resource. If a project ends, returning or exchanging a subnet is straightforward, and participants are welcome to request space again later. When a project ends, make room for the next experiment.
== Shared stewardship ==
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.


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


44Net is sustained through shared stewardship. ARDC provides long‑term care of the address space and supporting infrastructure, while participants build systems, operate networks, share knowledge, and help one another succeed.
== Before connecting ==
44Net supports non-commercial projects and is maintained as a community service. Participation generally requires an amateur radio operating license, and community expectations are similar to those of other amateur radio activities. To learn more about eligibility, see [[Eligibility|Learn how eligibility works]].


Stewardship is an outcome of participation. It grows out of the projects and communities that make use of 44Net. To learn more about how decisions are made or how to take part, see [[About 44Net]], [[Governance]], [[Policies]], and [[Contributing]].
== Further reading ==
'''Ways to keep learning:'''


= Keep Exploring =
* Understand history and stewardship: [[About 44Net|About 44Net]]
* Explore examples and existing efforts: [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]]
* Learn how connectivity approaches compare: [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Connect]]


Common next steps:
'''More ways to participate:'''


* Explore examples and existing efforts: [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]]
* Join or contribute to community projects: [[Contributing|Ways to Participate]]
* Join or contribute to community projects: [[Contributing|Ways to Participate]]
* Start your own project: [[GetStarted|Getting Started]]
* Start your own project: [[GetStarted|Getting Started]]
* Learn how connectivity approaches compare: [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Connect]]
* Manage requests and allocations: [https://portal.ampr.org/ Portal sign‑in]
* Dive deeper into infrastructure topics: [[DNS|DNS and naming]] and [[Routing|Routing and connectivity]]
* Dive deeper into infrastructure topics: [[DNS|DNS and naming]] and [[Routing|Routing and connectivity]]
* Understand history and stewardship: [[About 44Net|About 44Net]]
= Join the Conversation =


You do not need a project or subnet to participate in 44Net. Many people begin by simply listening and asking questions.
== Joining the discussion ==
You do not need a project or subnet to participate in 44Net. Many people begin just by listening.


The community mailing lists and discussion spaces are where ideas are shared, projects take shape, and newcomers get a feel for how people are building and collaborating. Joining the conversation is often the easiest way to start.
Participants use mailing lists and discussion spaces to compare notes and test ideas as projects take shape in real time. Joining the conversation is often an easy way to start.


* Subscribe to community discussions: [[Community|Community and Mailing Lists]]
* Subscribe to community discussions: [[Community|Community and Mailing Lists]]
* Introduce yourself, ask questions, or follow ongoing projects
* Introduce yourself or follow ongoing projects.
* Learn how others are experimenting and collaborating across the network
* See how others are experimenting and collaborating across the network.
* Listen and share what you learn.


You are welcome to listen, ask questions, and take part.
44Net continues to grow through the projects people build and the knowledge they share. If you are licensed and curious, you can start simply by joining the conversation.

Latest revision as of 22:50, 25 February 2026

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

44Net in brief

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 can be accessed directly from the Internet using stable public addresses.

The resource that makes this possible is a block of over 12 million IP addresses. The address block traces its origins to early packet radio networking, a project still known today as “AMPRNet.” That legacy continues, with Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) maintaining the address space in service to the community. See About 44Net for history and context.

Quick links: Get Started • Ways to Connect • Run a Project: DNS, Routing • Community

What people build

Operators put 44Net to work in different ways. Some connect a single system; others collaborate on shared projects or build networks of their own. There is no single “right” way to participate.

Projects using 44Net vary widely in scale and technical depth. Examples include a club maintaining repeaters over cellular or satellite uplinks, an individual publishing resources from a server in their shack, preparedness teams keeping fixed public IPs on mobile devices, or a regional group linking microwave sites across a city or country.

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 in different ways. Some discover an existing project and join in. Others contribute skills or help operate shared systems. Many eventually begin running projects of their own.

Anyone interested can join a mailing list and ask questions. For some people, seeing what licensed amateurs are actively doing with 44Net is motivation to get licensed themselves.

Common paths into 44Net

Join a network

Many participants begin by connecting to an existing network or joining a local effort. Regional RF networks, shared gateways, and other volunteer-run systems provide ways to participate while learning how systems operate in 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 active projects. Technicians, designers, tower climbers, and system administrators volunteer to keep these projects running and help them grow. Sometimes all it takes is a radio, a Raspberry Pi, and a willingness to contribute.

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 something new on their own: a reachable host, a local RF deployment, an experimental network, or an open hardware project. Many parts of 44Net running today started as something one person built for themselves.

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 connectivity approach that fits their project, request address space, and get building.

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 used and explored. Experimentation and course changes are normal parts of participation. Many operators start with a small idea just to see what happens. Some of those ideas have grown into long-running projects that still serve the community today.

Some projects naturally conclude once operators have explored their ideas. If a project winds down, returning or exchanging a subnet is straightforward, and operators are always welcome to try something new later. You do not need a fully formed plan before you begin. Trying something new is part of participation — just return the space when you are finished so others can try their ideas too.

Shared stewardship

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 connecting

44Net supports non-commercial projects and is maintained as a community service. Participation generally requires an amateur radio operating license, and community expectations are similar to those of other amateur radio activities. To learn more about eligibility, see Learn how eligibility works.

Further reading

Ways to keep learning:

More ways to participate:

Joining the discussion

You do not need a project or subnet to participate in 44Net. Many people begin just by listening.

Participants use mailing lists and discussion spaces to compare notes and test ideas as projects take shape in real time. Joining the conversation is often an easy way to start.

  • Subscribe to community discussions: Community and Mailing Lists
  • Introduce yourself or follow ongoing projects.
  • See how others are experimenting and collaborating across the network.
  • Listen and share what you learn.

44Net continues to grow through the projects people build and the knowledge they share. If you are licensed and curious, you can start simply by joining the conversation.

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