Re: wireless mesh how-to

> I recently read this, and mattw just brought up a product that is $79
> http://www.govtech.com/gt/377232?topic=117699

The meraki stuff is decidedly different than the OpenWRT/ OLSR-NG/
B.A.T.M.A.N or ROBIN type mesh networks, mostly in how one 'controls'
the network.   With Meraki and open-mesh (ROBIN), you have a
centralized dashboard that controls a mesh or at least provides
statistics to those that are playing.  Meraki is a bit more nailed
down,  and does not encourage alternative firmware BTW.   By
installing OpenWRT and OLSR-NG, you can have more of an ad-hoc mesh
design.   There are some efforts to build in dashboard functionality
to olsr distributions, because there is movement in that direction,
but I would argue that centralization != decentralized multi owner
mesh.

>
> Some questions to start with:
>
> These packages receive and put out signals themselves? Do they just
> sort of repeat signals?

The goal of most mesh networks is to build a self forming, self
healing network.   To do this, you do not just 'repeat' signals, but
each node tells other nodes what it can and can't see and routes
traffic accordingly.   There are some caveats, mostly to do with
addressing, naming, etc.    Making it truly decentralized is hard,
bootstrapping is always needed.  The Internet, although distributed in
services, is also very centralized when it comes to certain core
services.

> A link to a broader network has to be from somewhere...

does it?

> Does the system contract with a telecom company, and who pays for
> that?

Gateways are just gateways,  they can be locked down and require
authentication or be free for all.   You don't need to have access to
another network to have a network.     A lot of people do find utility
in Internet though, so most people include some sort of Internet
access as part of their plan.

> Who sets up the original "node" or access point - is that an ISP, and
> who controls it?

Depends on what you want.   If you truly want to build a decentralized
mesh network, it's pretty hard to stop someone from adding gateways to
other networks.   If you want to start up an ISP, and people are
interested in helping  you build it out by adding mesh nodes, that's a
model as well.

I think it's probably easiest to say that you control whatever you
have control over.  Once you involve other people and use standard
protocols, the choice is no longer in your hands.


I'm not sure if I've answered your questions...

Regards,
-matt

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