[deleted]
LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
71–80 of 90 posts
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#72libremesh supports a few models: https://libremesh.org/docs/en_quick_starting_guide.html ubnt's devices are not that expensive and may be the easy way out, unless you really want to do all the firmware testing, equipment in a water-proof enclosure etc. Plus this project is in lack of a web GUI to manage the nodes, you have to use CLI to do that, might be hard to find qualified IT workers in remote areas. I also agree…
regular LibreMesh provides luci web admin interface.
The LibreRouter version of LibreMesh uses a simple UI[1] that has been tested in existing community networks managed by non-tech people.
The LiMe App provides a simple view of the node, neighbors and mesh status, it helps with antenna alignment, mapping and general diagnosis. This system will be coupled with the remote support platform currently in development under the LibreRouter Phase 2 project funded by Internet Society.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#73From a WISP point to multipoint radio perspective, pure mesh is a really bad idea (due to half duplex medium and CSMA hell). I admire the internet research work that APNIC does but it looks to me like they're re-inventing the wheel here, versus mature and stable, relatively low cost commercial 5 GHz band point to multipoint radio platforms like the Ubiquiti Rocket5AC gen2 and its associated CPEs, Cambium PMP450/PMP45…
On the point to multipoint problem, I think we thoroughly licked that last year (and in openwrt 17.01) and later, with:
https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/atc17/atc17-h...
I look forward to seeing some more field results from that.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#74From a WISP point to multipoint radio perspective, pure mesh is a really bad idea (due to half duplex medium and CSMA hell). I admire the internet research work that APNIC does but it looks to me like they're re-inventing the wheel here, versus mature and stable, relatively low cost commercial 5 GHz band point to multipoint radio platforms like the Ubiquiti Rocket5AC gen2 and its associated CPEs, Cambium PMP450/PMP45…
On the point to multipoint problem, I think we thoroughly licked that last year (and in openwrt 17.01) and later, with: https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/atc17/atc17-h... I look forward to seeing some more field results from that.
Indoor wifi is a very different thing from a ptmp AP radio that might have clients from 400m to 9km connected to it, at a variety of signal strengths and some with fresnel zone incursion. The GPS timing systems used in the radios I mentioned previously make a big difference. For wisp last mile stuff it's also possible to do things you wouldn't expect in a office or conference high density wifi setup, such as allocate 75% of the timeslices to traffic in the downstream direction, because that is the typical traffic pattern of residential singlehomed end users.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#75Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
Depends on who you're buying from. In general, home/consumer usage is cheaper, less reliable, and comes with those restrictions compared to a business use.
So, basically some small, rural township would buy the access then share or several individuals would pool their funds and do it?
Yes.
Either fibre or wireless link(s) to an upstream provider. Non-residential connections don't have the same sort of ToS that residential broadband does.
The cost of those links (or link) is then shared by the community wireless organization. So typically, subscribers pay a small monthly fee to join the mesh, which covers the cost of Internet connectivity and any other shared resources in the community network (ie. rooftop space for a central node, etc).
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#77From a WISP point to multipoint radio perspective, pure mesh is a really bad idea (due to half duplex medium and CSMA hell). I admire the internet research work that APNIC does but it looks to me like they're re-inventing the wheel here, versus mature and stable, relatively low cost commercial 5 GHz band point to multipoint radio platforms like the Ubiquiti Rocket5AC gen2 and its associated CPEs, Cambium PMP450/PMP45…
Without disputing your points, I think it's probably a different focus that has driven the libremesh/librerouter approach.
They're aiming at price point that works for developing countries, as well as libre hardware/software.
That rules out eg. all -ac gear (I think?) and also probably means a developed-world commercial-grade PTMP solution is outside their budget as well.
One correction though: although the article is from APNIC, they don't "own" the project.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#78From a WISP point to multipoint radio perspective, pure mesh is a really bad idea (due to half duplex medium and CSMA hell). I admire the internet research work that APNIC does but it looks to me like they're re-inventing the wheel here, versus mature and stable, relatively low cost commercial 5 GHz band point to multipoint radio platforms like the Ubiquiti Rocket5AC gen2 and its associated CPEs, Cambium PMP450/PMP45…
Without disputing your points, I think it's probably a different focus that has driven the libremesh/librerouter approach. They're aiming at price point that works for developing countries, as well as libre hardware/software. That rules out eg. all -ac gear (I think?) and also probably means a developed-world commercial-grade PTMP solution is outside their budget as well. One correction though: although the article i…
It really doesn't rule out all AC equipment, quite the opposite, mikrotik PTP and ptmp radios and small routers are wildly popular in developing nations like the Philippines, Pakistan and Nepal. People on very limited budgets do some highly creative things.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#79From a WISP point to multipoint radio perspective, pure mesh is a really bad idea (due to half duplex medium and CSMA hell). I admire the internet research work that APNIC does but it looks to me like they're re-inventing the wheel here, versus mature and stable, relatively low cost commercial 5 GHz band point to multipoint radio platforms like the Ubiquiti Rocket5AC gen2 and its associated CPEs, Cambium PMP450/PMP45…
Since you have experience with WISP, I’m personally curious, for communities that are poor, but have low labor costs at certain points of the year, would a fiber backbone be viable?
I mean if labor for wiring was free, and you only have to pay for equipment and to configure the equipment, would it be worth it?
Although I think the communities would be grateful for just 200 kilobyte/s reliable internet on sunny days.
Re: LibreRouter: Powering community networks with free and open hardware
#80Production is about to start. Phase II is around the corner.
Contact us through the contact form at http://librerouter.org/contact if you wish to keep up to date with the project.