~~NOTOC~~
====== Getting Started ======
The easiest way to get started is to get a [[https://www.store.mikrotikcanada.ca/wireless-for-home-and-office/285-hap-ac-4752224006981.html |Microtik hAP ac³]] (for about %%$%%175) or a [[https://www.store.mikrotikcanada.ca/wireless-for-home-and-office/56-hap-ac-lite-tc-us-4752224003256.html |Microtik hAP AC Lite]] (for about $90).  The ac³ better, but it's bigger and more expensive.

Once flashed with the [[https://www.arednmesh.org/content/current-software|AREDN firmware]], the hAP will use the 5.8 GHz band as regular wifi for your computer to connect to, and the 2.4 GHz band can optionally be used to mesh with other hAPs nearby.  Realistically, the hAP is not useful to make long distance links since it would require an external antenna.  But it is useful to tunnel to others on the network via the internet to get started with the system.  By default, the five Ethernet ports are configured like so:
^Port 1       |WAN     |Connects into your home router to feed internet to the hAP|
^Ports 2 -- 4 |LAN     |Connect computers, IP phones, etc to the hAP|
^Port 5       |dtdlink |Connect an AREDN dish, or multiple AREDN devices via a switch|
See [[setups/va7fi/ |VA7FI's setup]] as an example.


===== Flashing the hAP =====
  * Follow the instructions from the [[https://arednmesh.readthedocs.io/en/latest/arednGettingStarted/installing_firmware.html#mikrotik-first-install-process |AREDN documentation]].


===== Initial Setup =====
  * Read [[./encryption/ |about Encryption]] before connecting your node to others.

===== Tunneling =====
  * [[./tunneling/|How to tunnel to other nodes]]

/*
  * [[./tunnel_list/|List of tunnels]]((The list of tunnels is only visible if logged into the public wiki, or on AREDN.))
*/

===== Updating =====
  * Every few months, a new stable firmware version comes out.  Updating devices is pretty easy, but there are a [[./update_checklist/|few steps to follow]].