Main Page: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:24, 27 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 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 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 4: / Line 4: @@
 </div>
-{{Lead|44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators building and connecting real systems and networks using shared public address space.}}
+{{Lead|44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators building and connecting real networks using shared public address space.}}
 == 44Net in brief ==
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 {{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.
+'''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, [https://ardc.net/ Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)] maintains the address space in service to the community. See [[About 44Net]] for background and history.
-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.
 }}
 <!-- {{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 ==
-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.
+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.
-{{SectionFigure|file=Landscape.png|width=900px}}
+Projects vary in scale and technical depth, from individual servers and stations to regional networks and volunteer-run independent systems.
-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.
 {{SectionLayout|min=16rem|class=mw-section__layout--build|
@@ Line 67: / Line 65: @@
 == 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 arrive at 44Net by joining an existing project, contributing to a shared effort, or creating something new of their own.
-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.
+Anyone interested can join one of the [https://ardc.groups.io/ mailing lists] to follow what people are actively doing with 44Net.
 {{Section|variant=secondary|
@@ Line 76: / Line 74: @@
 {{SectionCard|
 ==== 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.
+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: =====
@@ Line 84: / Line 82: @@
 {{SectionCard|
 ==== 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.
+Others participate by contributing to an active project. Technicians, designers, tower climbers, and system administrators — time and skills are always in demand.
 ===== Examples: =====
@@ Line 92: / Line 90: @@
 {{SectionCard|
 ==== 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.
+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: =====
@@ Line 130: / Line 128: @@
 == A culture of experimentation ==
-Net 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.
+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.
-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 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.
-== 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 ==
+== Before starting ==
-Net 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]].
+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 ==
-'''Ways to keep learning:'''
+* [[About 44Net|About 44Net]]: Understand history and stewardship
+* [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]]: Project examples
-* Understand history and stewardship: [[About 44Net|About 44Net]]
+* [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Provision 44Net]]: Get 44Net on your device or network.
-* Explore examples and existing efforts: [[What People Build|What People Build on 44Net]]
-* Learn how connectivity approaches compare: [[Ways to Connect|Ways to Connect]]
-'''More ways to participate:'''
-* Join or contribute to community projects: [[Contributing|Ways to Participate]]
-* Start your own project: [[GetStarted|Getting Started]]
-* Dive deeper into infrastructure topics: [[DNS|DNS and naming]] and [[Routing|Routing and connectivity]]
 == Joining the discussion ==
-You do not need a project or subnet to participate in 44Net. Many people begin just by listening.
+You do not need a project or subnet to start. 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.
+* [[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.
-* Subscribe to community discussions: [[Community|Community and Mailing Lists]]
+{{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.}}
-* Introduce yourself or follow ongoing projects.
-* See how others are experimenting and collaborating across the network.
-* Listen and share what you learn.
-Net 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.
+== Older docs and notes ==
+Earlier pages that may still be useful:
+* [[Archive/Main Page]]
+* [[Archive/Home]]
+* [[Quickstart]]
+* [[Requesting a block]]
+* See [[Archive]] for more.