Difference between revisions of "Mesh/Home and extender nodes"

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[[File:Sudomesh home and extender node illustration extra-simplified.png|thumb|Illustration showing how a sudomesh home node can connect to a window-mounted extender node. The device with two antennas is the home node and the device on the outside of the window is an extender node.]]
[[File:Sudomesh home and extender node illustration extra-simplified.png|thumb|Illustration showing how a sudomesh home node can connect to a window-mounted extender node. The device with two antennas is the home node and the device on the outside of the window is an extender node.]]
[[File:Sudomesh home and extender node illustration.png|thumb|Illustration showing a more complicated setup. Here the node operator has connected their personal computer, a small Raspberry Pi computer and two extender nodes: One on the outside of the window and one on the roof (not shown but a can be seen going up and out of the frame). This is definitely an advanced node operator.]]
[[File:Sudomesh home node ethernet ports.png|thumb|A close-up of the wired network ports on the home node and their use.]]


= Home nodes =
= Home nodes =

Revision as of 07:06, 2 July 2015

There are two types of nodes in the mesh:

Illustration showing how a sudomesh home node can connect to a window-mounted extender node. The device with two antennas is the home node and the device on the outside of the window is an extender node.
Illustration showing a more complicated setup. Here the node operator has connected their personal computer, a small Raspberry Pi computer and two extender nodes: One on the outside of the window and one on the roof (not shown but a can be seen going up and out of the frame). This is definitely an advanced node operator.
A close-up of the wired network ports on the home node and their use.

Home nodes

Every node operator has a home node. The home node does everything you need for the mesh. It must be kept indoors since home nodes don't like rain or sun. Each home node has two wifi radios and two antennas so they can talk to other mesh nodes on both the 2.4 and 5 gigaherz frequencies. Home nodes also have one wired network port for connecting to your existing internet connection (if you have one), two wired network ports to connect to any of your computers that don't have wifi and two wired network ports for connecting extender nodes (see next section).

Extender nodes

Extender nodes are optional add-ons to your home node. They plug into your home node with a cable and act as a sort of extra antenna that extends the signal of your home node to reach mesh nodes that are further away. Extender nodes come in different shapes and sizes. You can get extender nodes that look like little parabolic dishes and these are suitable for mounting on your roof and making connections to other nodes several miles away! Or you can get ones that are flat and tall that are good for extending the signal out your window and to your close neighbours or maybe to a nearby park. Most extender nodes can be mounted outside and only need one cable that carries both data and power.

To tell you the truth, each extender node isn't really just an antenna: They each have their own computers and wifi radios so they can talk on different wifi channels at the same time as your home node without causing interference.