Set up an OpenSource DoES testing OpenBTS GSM/GPRS cell

[ajlennon]

Please make your issue:

• Specific

Setup an OpenSource OpenBTS GSM/GPRS cell

I've been having chats and have wanted to do this for ages.

I got some cell hardware ages ago off eBay and had it working but we need a test license to proceed. I got stuck filling in the form and could do with some help.

Anybody fancy working on this with me? @magman2112 ? @skos-ninja ?

• Measurable

Box in place we can do cellular comms through

• Achievable

Had it working before.

• Responsible

Alex et al

• Time-constrained

6 months

[ajlennon]

Some resources:

OpenBTS

OpenBSC

Harald Welte talk

[Abstract]

Running your own GSM+GPRS network using OpenBSC, OsmoSGSN and OpenGGSN

Description: Considering how ubiquitous Free Software is in the area of Internet networking is, there has been surprisingly little Free Software in the area of GSM standards based cellular networking. In the last two years, project OpenBSC was developed to change this. It implements the necessary signaling protocol stack and provide a miniature "GSM network in a box" application for small networks, replacing traditional BSC, MSC, HLR, EIR and SMSC.

Using the recently-developed OsmoSGSN and the existing OpenGGSN software, this GSM network can be extended by the necessary components to also provide packet-switched data services like GPRS and EDGE(EGPRS).

Harald Welte was the head of the netfilter/iptables coreteam for a number of years before moving on to other topics like Free Software + Open Source Hardware RFID. He started the gpl-violations.org project to actively enforce the GNU GPL, and was the lead system architect of the Openmoko telephones. In recent years, he has focused on creating Free Software implementations of the GSM protocols, both for the network side (OpenBSC) as well as the telephone side. He continues to work as a freelancer and runs his consulting business hmw-consulting. In 2009 he provided extensive consulting services to Samsung Semiconductor in how to interact with the mainline Linux kernel community and how to integrate their ports into mainline.

Video talk

[amcewen]

It'd be worth chatting to @9600 about it, as he got a test licence for a year and spun up a cell at OSHCamp2012.

Can we get it to run LTE Cat-M1 and/or NB-IoT too? :-D

[9600]

Osmocom is a lot more interesting than OpenBTS, IMHO. They recently switched to a new architecture too, which more closely resembles that of a classic GSM network. This can also support 3G via a femto box. See:

https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki

I just recently got this running on our Circumference 8+1 node cluster. For a description and video of it in action, see:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/ground-electronics/circumference/updates/running-a-gsm-network-with-a-limesdr-mini

Of course, you can run it all on a single host if you like.

Not aware of any FOSS implementation of LTE Cat M1 or NB-IoT. Spectrum may also become more of a challenge with higher bandwidth waveforms.

[ajlennon]

That all sounds awesome @9600. For starters I think I'd like to get whatever I get can going on the old ip.access nano-BTS I have in a box somewhere around here?

[ajlennon]

I see something about #FOSDEM on your GitHub @9600 ? One of my favourite conference trips. You get out to Brussels much? Love the Delirium Café Friday night beer fest...

[ajlennon]

Found it. Now just got to remember howt to get it going...

[ajlennon]

OK so I have built osmo-bsc and its library dependencies from source as per this document

Then running ipaccess-config as indicated in this document I get this response so things seem to be running

[9600]

@ajlennon nice! Note also that packages are available, so you don't have to go building everything from source.

Get to FOSDEM when I can. Was there for a day earlier this year. Do enjoy visiting Belgium.

What's the rack unit, a PA?

[ajlennon]

Yeah I haven't been able to get along for the past couple of years as it coincides with our yearly diving trip around the Red Sea on a liveaboard.

I dunno really what the rack is I am guessing it must be a PA (got all this kit off a bloke on eBay after I heard Harald speak on running your own GSM cell at ELE-C Cambridge,.)

I've been talking to @amcewen for years about digging this out and setting it up. Where I got stalled last time is I just couldn't work out what to put in the details on the Ofcom test license application.

Could I possibly beg a favour @9600 and ask if you could advise me how to fill in the form for this so I could get something test up for us to play with here?

[ajlennon]

NB. I got to the point last night where I configured up the NanoBTS to talk to Osmo-BSC and was able to set up MNC and MCC and that. Got a bit stuck at that point. I do remember last time I had a phone connecting up to it though...

[9600]

Looks like a PA + duplexer.

If you're using the new decomposed architecture you'll need OsmoHLR, OsmoMSC, OsmoMGW and OsmoSTP configured also.

Drop me a line via e-mail.

[ajlennon]

Will do! Cheers

[ajlennon]

NB There's this too

[IfitsBrokeDontFixit]

Your correct, it is in fact a signal booster for GSM BTS ipaccess running on 800 - 1200 MHz (Not specific to ipaccess, but what it was used on) Using Reverse Sma to Ntype Plug from BTS to Booster. The unit is approx 20w max output, switches on the back are attenuation.

Not sure on the antenna, but the ones we used are alike. They where x polar 800 - 1200 MHz directional

Don't try and use your phone next to it, as it had an exclusion zone (approx 20m) used in external field operations. Great for outdoors mounted on a pole!

Hope this helps (Ex-FMS)

[DoESsean]

Where are we with this? I have literally no clue what any of it is about.

[ajlennon]

For me this is still awesome stuff. Have chatted to @magman2112 and he's willing to help me set up our own cell tower. I'm stuck on how to fill in the form to make it legal for us to test. People have advised me and apologies but I've dropped the ball. If anybody who knows how to fill in the form would sit and help me for an hour or so in exchange for cake/beer it would really help move it on

[IfitsBrokeDontFixit]

Hi guys, If you need some help i can give you an email of a friend He will be able to help you

[ajlennon]

Please - would really appreciate that! I am @embedded_iot on Twitter or ajlennon ... dynamic devices.co.uk

Thanks! A/

[ajlennon]

No progress on this for ages (and sort of superceded by LoRa and NBIoT LPWAN) so closing for now