Difference between revisions of "Mesh/Hardware support"
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THIS PAGE IS OUTDATED. SEE [[Mesh/Home and extender nodes|Home and extender nodes]] instead. | |||
sudo mesh supports only a few routers for use as home nodes but supports a bunch more for use as extender nodes. | |||
== Ubiquiti Picostation 2 HP == | == Ubiquiti Picostation 2 HP == | ||
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*Ethernet ports: 5 non-PoE | *Ethernet ports: 5 non-PoE | ||
*USB ports: 1 | *USB ports: 1 | ||
=== TP-Link TL-WDR3500 === | |||
This was recommended by the Guifi net people who visited on August 28th 2014. It's basically a Western Digital N600 with two large'ish external omni antennas. The case is a bit physically larger. Unfortunately it's $42. | |||
= Second milestone = | = Second milestone = | ||
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We have a lot of these, but the Linux kernel currently has no support for their watchdog and it is enabled with a 5 minute timer per default. These are otherwise basically the same as the Picostation 2 HP, but with two ethernet ports and less power. | We have a lot of these, but the Linux kernel currently has no support for their watchdog and it is enabled with a 5 minute timer per default. These are otherwise basically the same as the Picostation 2 HP, but with two ethernet ports and less power. | ||
*Frequency: 2.4 | *Name: Long Range | ||
*Board: [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Sparky MicroTik RB133] | |||
*Frequency: 2.4 GHz | |||
*Chipset: AR2315 | *Chipset: AR2315 | ||
*Ethernet ports: 2 | *Ethernet ports: 2 | ||
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= Fourth milestone = | = Fourth milestone = | ||
Support an open hardware router (does not yet exist, though a Beagle Bone Black with an Atheros Chipset is probably as close as we're likely to get soon). | Support an open hardware router (does not yet exist, though a [[Beagle Bone Black]] with an Atheros Chipset is probably as close as we're likely to get soon). | ||
= Fifth milesone = | = Fifth milesone = | ||
Support an even more open hardware router, possibly with everything implemented with FPGAs and DACs. Possibly not even limited to the wifi standard. | Support an even more open hardware router, possibly with everything implemented with FPGAs and DACs. Possibly not even limited to the wifi standard. | ||
Latest revision as of 20:18, 25 May 2016
THIS PAGE IS OUTDATED. SEE Home and extender nodes instead.
sudo mesh supports only a few routers for use as home nodes but supports a bunch more for use as extender nodes.
Ubiquiti Picostation 2 HP
We have about 70 of these. These were part of our first large purchase and have been the initial focus of our firmware efforts.
- Frequency: 2.4 ghz
- Chipset: AR2315
- Ram: 32 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- Ethernet ports: 1 PoE
Remaining ToDo:
- Support "paired" mode
- Where router is hooked up to secondary ethernet port of a Nanostation M5 to function similarly to a single dual radio 2.4 + 5 ghz router.
Ubiquiti Nanostation M5
The 5 ghz rooftop mesh backbone is initially being built primarily using Nanobridges and Nanostations and Rockets. Nanostations a are light and easy to install on e.g. flagpoles and can support maybe two or three connected Nanobridges.
- Frequency: 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR7xxx
- Ram: 32 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- Ethernet ports: 1 PoE and 1 with optional PoE passthrough.
WARNING: Some of the older versions of these have a hardware bug that can kill the router the first time you enable the PoE pass-through.
Remaining ToDo:
- Add 5 GHz-specific and 802.11n-specific configuration options to node-configurator
- Support "paired" mode
- Where router has Picostation 2 HP hooked up to secondary ethernet port to function similarly to a single dual radio 2.4 + 5 ghz router.
Ubiquiti Nanobridge M5
The 5 ghz rooftop mesh backbone is being built primarily using Nanobridges and Nanostations. Nanobridges are our directional nodes. We connect them to other Nanobridges or to Nanostations.
- Frequency: 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR7xxx
- Ram: 32 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- Ethernet ports: 1 PoE
Remaining ToDo:
- Add 5 GHz-specific and 802.11n-specific configuration options to node-configurator
Ubiquiti Rocket M5
Like a Nanostation, but antenna is better (and external and sold separately) and it has twice the ram and more CPU.
- Frequency: 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR7xxx
- Ram: 64 MB
- Flash: 8 MB + USB (port but not sure if USB works in OpenWRT)
- Ethernet ports: 1 PoE
Remaining ToDo:
- Add 5 GHz-specific and 802.11n-specific configuration options to node-configurator
The cheap home router
TP-LINK TL-WR703N / TL-MR3020
These are the cheap indoor option. The TL-WR703N is $25 including shipping but is not FCC/CE certified. The TL-MR3020 is basically the same unit with a few extra LEDs and FCC/CE certification and costs $32 including shipping.
Both of these will need an external USB stick to work with our firmware. These can be had for ~$2.50 for 128 MB sticks and maybe $5.00 for 8 GB. We can probably get lower bulk prices from china.
- Frequency: 2.4 ghz
- Chipset: AR7240
- Ram: 32 MB
- Flash: 4 MB + USB port for additional storage.
- Ethernet ports: 1 non-PoE.
Remaining ToDo:
- The router boots up and gets and IP with DHCP but then becomes unresponsive?
Vizio XWR100
An alternative to the TP-Links. Not as small and cute-looking, but dual-radio and all-around better specs for comparable price.
- Price: $26 including shipping
- Frequency: Dual radio 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR72xx
- Ram: 32 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- CPU: 680 MHz
- Ethernet ports: 5 non-PoE
- USB ports: 1
Western Digital N600
An alternative to the TP-Links. Not as small and cute-looking, but dual-radio and all-around better specs for comparable price. The 128 MB ram means we can actually realistically run apps on this thing.
- Price: $30 including shipping
- Frequency: Dual radio 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR72xx
- Ram: 128 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- CPU: 560 MHz
- Ethernet ports: 5 non-PoE
- USB ports: 1
TP-Link TL-WDR3500
This was recommended by the Guifi net people who visited on August 28th 2014. It's basically a Western Digital N600 with two large'ish external omni antennas. The case is a bit physically larger. Unfortunately it's $42.
Second milestone
We're not yet sure exactly which platforms will be supported for our second milestone.
Meraki Outdoor
We have a lot of these, but the Linux kernel currently has no support for their watchdog and it is enabled with a 5 minute timer per default. These are otherwise basically the same as the Picostation 2 HP, but with two ethernet ports and less power.
- Name: Long Range
- Board: MicroTik RB133
- Frequency: 2.4 GHz
- Chipset: AR2315
- Ethernet ports: 2
- Flash: 8 MB
- Max power: ~200 mW
Remaining ToDo:
- Add watchdog support to kernel.
- Fix issue where firmware shuts down immediately after bootup.
- Make/buy cases.
- Buy antennas.
- Buy power supplies.
Ubiquiti Nanobeam M5
This seems to be the replacement for the Nanobridge. Has nicer mounting bracket with 2D swivel joint. Not yet available for purchase.
- Frequency: 5 ghz
- Chipset: AR7xxx
- Ram: 64 MB
- Flash: 8 MB
- Ethernet ports: 1 PoE
Remaining ToDo:
- Unknown but probably same as Rocket M5.
Third milestone
No hard plans, but some ideas are:
- Generic x86 Linux-based desktop/laptop operating systems.
- Beagle Bone Black
- Raspberry Pi
Fourth milestone
Support an open hardware router (does not yet exist, though a Beagle Bone Black with an Atheros Chipset is probably as close as we're likely to get soon).
Fifth milesone
Support an even more open hardware router, possibly with everything implemented with FPGAs and DACs. Possibly not even limited to the wifi standard.