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44Net is a community of licensed amateur radio operators connecting systems and operating networks using shared, publicly routable IPv4 address space.

44Net in Brief

44Net IP addresses are globally routable, enabling direct connectivity on the public Internet.

44Net provides publicly routable IPv4 address space for experimentation and education. Amateur radio operators and groups use it to build systems that are directly reachable on the Internet using stable public addresses.

The address block traces its origins to the early days of the Internet, when space was set aside for an emerging packet radio network 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 address space vary widely in scale and technical depth: 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:

• YO2LOJ
• YO2LOJ

See more projects →

Shared infrastructure

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

Examples:

• IRLP
• HamNET

See more projects →

Autonomous networks

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

Examples:

• AREDN
• HamWAN

See more projects →

See What People Build on 44Net for more examples.

How People Participate

People take various paths into 44Net. Many first hear about it at a hamfest, on a podcast, or in a blog post. Some join an existing project as users; others help operate one as volunteers. Many eventually run projects of their own.

Anyone interested can join a mailing list and listen or ask questions. For some people, seeing what licensed amateurs can do 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, writers, tower climbers, and system administrators volunteer to work together keeping these projects running and helping 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.

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. Get Started with 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 that operate their own infrastructure may announce 44Net address space using BGP, integrating directly with the global Internet routing table. This is the path for groups running their own ASNs, datacenters, or upstream connections. Get Started with BGP-Announced Subnets →

A Culture of Experimentation

44Net address space exists to be used. Experimenting, learning, and occasionally changing direction 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, and it is not a waste of space just to try something on 44Net — just return the space when you’re done 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 steward the network by building things, keeping them running, and contributing to a healthy community. 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:

• Understand history and stewardship: About 44Net
• Explore examples and existing efforts: What People Build on 44Net
• Learn how connectivity approaches compare: Ways to Connect

More ways to participate:

• Join or contribute to community projects: Ways to Participate
• Start your own project: Getting Started
• Dive deeper into infrastructure topics: DNS and naming and Routing and connectivity

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, test ideas, and watch 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, ask questions, or follow ongoing projects.
• See how others are experimenting and collaborating across the network.
• Listen, ask questions, and share what you learn.

People continue to evolve 44Net through the projects they build and the knowledge they share. If you’re licensed, curious, and ready to try something, there is a place for you here.