Thanks! I've been keeping on eye on the VillageTelco Mesh Potato project -- they're doing amazing work. The problem they're working on is quite different from what we do, but certainly we all stand to gain from better open source mesh. <br>
<br>Meraki's FreeTheNet network in San Francisco is often cited as a surprisingly big and stable mesh, with many repeaters installed in "unideal" locations by people with no particular knowledge of mesh networking. But because it's a privately-run network, we don't have much info on how it really works. The idea is understandably seductive! <br>
<br>Gabe<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 2:55 PM, Nicholas Kovats <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:nkovats@gmail.com">nkovats@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi List.<br>
<br>
Building "meshes" is no easy task as close proximity of wireless nodes<br>
can cause issues. The City of Toronto staff are a bit naive to see it<br>
as a plug and play attempt.<br>
<br>
Users will not utilize the network if they can't get reasonable access<br>
to their local internet gateway.<br>
<br>
Has anyone been tracking the Village Telco project? i.e.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.villagetelco.org/villagetelco/about/" target="_blank">http://www.villagetelco.org/villagetelco/about/</a><br>
<br>
Mock up of the prototype, i.e.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.villagetelco.org/villagetelco/about/" target="_blank">http://www.villagetelco.org/villagetelco/about/</a><br>
<br>
These guys are very serious about wireless mesh, hardware and voice.<br>
One of the co-founders has real world low cost Asterisk embedded<br>
fanless Linux hardware for sale. They have working prototype<br>
"potatoes" and are running actual tests, i.e. wireless APs in 2-3 hop<br>
meshes at the moment utilizing the Batman routing protocol. They are<br>
finalizing antenna design. They have a super dense technical<br>
discussion list including people from FreiFunk in Germany.<br>
<br>
They are focusing on keeping all this as cheap as possible and<br>
completely open - hardware and software.<br>
<br>
So basically web based administration of single radio meshes w/<br>
ethernet (WAN) + Analog Telephony Adapter ( fxs port for analog<br>
phone). Yep. Analog phones.<br>
<br>
But the backend can be connected to Asterisk or the new Asterisk +<br>
open source GSM software called OpenBTS, i.e.<br>
<a href="http://openbts.sourceforge.net/" target="_blank">http://openbts.sourceforge.net/</a><br>
<br>
OpenBTS just cleared legal hurdles with the GSM developers and were<br>
operating a test site at the recent Burning Man Festival.<br>
<br>
I am also aware of research whereas you can cluster single radios<br>
separated by an approx. foot whereas two radios are for backend<br>
(non-interference) with 802.11a and the other two are regular 802.11g<br>
clients. Interconnect the APs via ethernet. Then utilizing directional<br>
antennas to start connecting all these stationary mesh nodes, i.e. 2 -<br>
4 radios per mesh node.<br>
<br>
Good to see the list still talking.<br>
<br>
Nicholas K.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 10:13 AM, Gabe Sawhney <<a href="mailto:gabe@pwd.ca">gabe@pwd.ca</a>> wrote:<br>
> <a href="http://wirelesstoronto.ca/blog/2009/11/09/another-attempt-at-toronto-muni-wifi/" target="_blank">http://wirelesstoronto.ca/blog/2009/11/09/another-attempt-at-toronto-muni-wifi/</a><br>
><br>
> Another attempt at Toronto muni wifi?<br>
><br>
> November 9th, 2009 by Gabe<br>
><br>
> At today’s Government Management Committee meeting, a report will be<br>
> received updating the committee on three public policy initiatives:<br>
><br>
> Setting up a “Meraki-style” mesh network in one of the priority<br>
> neighbourhoods.<br>
> Allowing the Oxford Group to install free-to-use, sponsored public Internet<br>
> terminals in one of the priority neighbourhoods.<br>
> Setting up free-to-use public wifi at City Hall and in publicly-accessible<br>
> areas in other city buildings.<br>
><br>
> The report is here; it’s quite good, actually:<br>
> <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-25011.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-25011.pdf</a><br>
><br>
> In addition, the committee invited (through an RFI) “major leaders in the<br>
> Wireless marketplace” to “present an overview of their Wireless strategic<br>
> directions and plans.” Each will have 15-20 minutes to present. There’s a<br>
> bit of info on this here:<br>
> <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-25060.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-25060.pdf</a><br>
><br>
> Item 26.21 is scheduled for 1:30pm, and the meeting is in Committee Room 1;<br>
> I hope to be there.<br>
><br>
> —<br>
><br>
> As I mentioned, I think the Staff Report is pretty good — it’s the first<br>
> City document I’ve seen that shows a realistic approach to public wifi. Some<br>
> highlights & thoughts:<br>
> Read the rest of this entry »<br>
><br>
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