Some community wireless / WDS feasibility questions

[Fred Weston]

When you say newer WRT54G, is there a specific version/revision I
should look at?

On 3/9/07, Tyler van Houwelingen <tyler at azulstar.com> wrote:
> Mixing and Matching vendors is (IMHO) not the right way to go for
> infrastructure.  There is way too much that can cause issues even within the
> same vendor.  I believe the solution is to specificy (or create) a single,
> cheap hardware box that can do "auto-routed-mesh" (which is much more than
> WDS bridging).  The wrt54g was a great starting point with the hacked
> firmware.  The newer WRTs are cheap and much more reliable.  Google is using
> this for their FON box.
>
> The real trick, however, is that the mesh needs to be a routed mesh, not
> bridged WDS or routed with multiple subnets - Otherwise you 1. can only have
> one internet connection feeding it or 2. users have no mobility and will
> constatly be flopping between subnets, forcing DHCP renews if you make the
> network pervasive, 3. Any user can bring down network with a single network
> Dup, ethernet loop or backwards DHCP server plugged in.  The only ones I
> know that have truly accomplished this to date is Tropos but that is quite
> pricey.  Cisco has a great solution, but not for multiple Internet drains as
> it is controller based.
>
> An example of this approach is Meraki, with their potential for success
> coming from  1. Google as an investor always helps, 2. More importantly the
> fact that they are shaping completely the hardware/software and attempting
> to do the above routed mesh.
>
> I would start with the WRT54G and work to make it a true routed mesh.
> (Locustworld may be another good starting point.)
>
> ty
>
> --------
> Tyler van Houwelingen
> Founder and Chairman
> Azulstar, Inc.
> 1051 Jackson, Grand Haven, MI 49417
> Main:  1-877-AZULSTAR
> Fax:  616-842-1104
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>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Weston" <fweston at gmail.com>
> To: <george at awarenessworkshop.org>; "SeattleWireless Talk List"
> <talk at seattlewireless.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 10:13 AM
> Subject: Re: Some community wireless / WDS feasibility questions
>
>
> > Bigger than that, but I don't really know how big it could eventually
> > become.  It will look more like a line than a cloud though.  I would
> > be more or less in the middle of the line and houses around me would
> > extend it out toward the rest of the neighborhood.
> >
> > On 3/8/07, George Lathrop <george at awarenessworkshop.org> wrote:
> >> How big is this network? I live in a 3 house compound and we all share a
> >> an Internet connection. We do not share a network, altho we could. NO
> >> repeaters involved as the distance -100ft. Every client has a different
> >> brand of client. Standards are great.
> >>
> >> Fred Weston wrote:
> >> > So, the wireless bug's been getting me again as of late.  I've been
> >> > reading up on WDS and looking at cheapish used hardware on eBay trying
> >> > to figure out what it would cost to set up a small community network.
> >> > Anybody have any input as to the feasibility of WDS for that type of
> >> > thing?  I realize WDS means lower overall bandwidth but that isn't
> >> > necessarily a huge problem for me.
> >> >
> >> >>From what I've read, it looks like some manufacturers use WDS that
> >> > only works with the exact same model AP throughout the network... are
> >> > there any that are more standardized so hardware could be mixed?  Any
> >> > thoughts on specific models to look for (cost is the primary factor,
> >> > but then again I don't want to spend money on garbage)...?  I guess I
> >> > really just want to hear some stories from people with real world
> >> > experience with a similar scenario; does it work / not work, what
> >> > problems did you run into, etc.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks
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> >> >
> >> >
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