Meraki's (http://meraki.com/) are very good for setting up geographically small mesh nets. They are completely self configuring. A friend of mine uses them to run a mini-ISP around an isolated vacation lake in upstate NY.
If you want to set up longer distance links, say over 5 miles, you run into speed of light problems. There are 2 default constants built into all Wifi equipment that limits good operation to about that distance. I forget the exact limit. Beyond that, the protocol breaks down unless you can program these constants to larger values. I won't know of commercial software that allows this. Perhaps DD-WRT will allow it. High-gain, directional antennas are pretty much required for long distance links. Cheers, Bob Eugene, OR - Tucson, AZ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Eug-lug] OT:Forgive my naivete The other day I had an idea about setting up wireless networks and providing digital services (internet, telephone, basic cable,...etc) for free. So I'm wondering if it would really be all that hard to set up a mesh of nodes that could be used to create large line-of-sight, rural to urban, wireless networks. More importantly to make them otherwise independent of public utilities (ie that they have a means of generating (and storing) enough electricity to continue service even during extended periods of unforeseen "dark"). So how about a few of these http://www.sysmaster.com/products/access_point.php?kw=googlewifi&gclid=CJuH7 YHyopMCFQNHFQodcTvw3g set up on private lots of land, with solar, wind, or a hydro source electricity? Just woolgathering but as I have been a little restricted to actually attending meetings as of late.... -E _____ Plan your next roadtrip with MapQuest.com <http://www.mapquest.com/?ncid=mpqmap00030000000004> : America's #1 Mapping Site.
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