[MLB-WIRELESS] MelbourneWireless Router Project

[Dan Flett]

Hi Donovan,

> Have a look at http://minkirri.apana.org.au/Wiki/WirelessNode for a
node
> costing about $120. This is using a minitar. I've been meaning to add
> more info to that page (dimentions, more pic's, how I made the POE
> adaptor etc), but there has not been enough interest for me to do it
> yet.
> 
> The minitar has less flash and RAM than the WRT54G, so it is less easy
> to do firmware tweaks. This probably makes it not-so-good for
> backbone/routing nodes, but fine for client nodes.

That's a very nice, cheap way of building a client node there - neat
stuff!  

However, we can't grow the network if everyone builds client-only or
AP-only nodes.  At some point, some people are going to have to decide
that they believe in the network enough to fork out a bit of extra cash
(if they can afford it) and set up a multi-radio routing node.

This is especially true when we talk about connecting to major backbone
nodes like GHO.  Technical limitations mean GHO and other backbone nodes
can only accept a certain number of client connections whilst
maintaining reliable connections.  That "certain number" is a very low
number - like maybe 4 at the very most.  Using technologies other than
802.11b may increase that number, but the number is still limited, and
non-802.11b technologies tend to be expensive.  So major backbone nodes
are best used to connect between existing node clusters.

This means that major backbone nodes should not allow lone client node
access - meaning if you are a node by yourself and not connected to any
other nodes in your local area, you should not expect to be allowed
access to a major node like GHO.

What if you are a node by yourself, with no neighbouring nodes, and your
only option seems to be to connect to a major backbone node?  Well, set
up a routing node to start with.  Become the first node in your area to
run an AP with open access and contact all the "interested", "building"
and "gathering" nodes near you and invite them to connect to you - and
tell them you have potential access to Node GHO or other major backbone
nodes.  Once you have a couple of nodes connected to you - you are part
of a node cluster and you will have a much better chance being allowed
access to a major routing node.

The key here is that to be allowed access you need to contribute
something yourself - be it further distribution of network coverage via
your own AP, or perhaps some important content or service from your own
server.

This is why I'm concentrating on building routing nodes "in a box".  I
want to make it as easy and as cheap as possible for people to
contribute to the growth of the network.  Sure, it's more expensive than
a client-only or AP-only node, but it's what is required to make the
dream of city-wide coverage a reality.

I'm not aiming all these comments specifically at you, Donovan. :)  I do
think your work with the Minitar is very handy and useful, and you're
probably aware of these arguments already.  But for the wider readership
of this list the point needs to be made again and again - multi-radio
nodes are the way to make the network grow.

Cheers,

Dan

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