[GRLUG] Mesh networking, localnet and Internet infrastructure

[Michael Mol]

I've recently been thinking about mesh networking and Internet access.

802.11 can have some incredible range; My ASUS WL-330ge can be
associated with 300 yds from my house, and that's stock hardware--I
applied no signal boosting or special antennas.  What if someone were
to take a number of these (or similar) devices and set them up with
mesh network software?  Have the mesh routing operate entirely within
IPv6 addressing, and have occasional point access to a local Internet.
(Such gateways could be for-pay or for-free, depending on the operator
of the node.)  One could build a mesh infrastructure that way, and
could even avoid congestion if one limits the number of hops allowed
along the mesh before reaching an external destination.

My thought is that if one could take existing high-range access point,
attach a small computer to it (Pico-ITX or smaller), and use that
computer as the platform for the mesh routing logic.  Once the
software is developed (which I do believe this is the tricky part),
the mesh routing nodes could be assembled and sold at a profit;
Initial customers would be managers of--or communities in--apartment
complexes, parks and other large-area recreational areas.  It's also
worth considering the millions of handheld game units out there that
use 802.11 as a means of connecting to each other for network play; A
kid in Grandvile suddenly becomes able to go head-to-head with a kid
in Wyoming or Allendale, without his parents having to pony up for a
subscription from Nintendo's or Sony's central service.

Initially, it would be useful as a means of setting up point-to-point
connections such as between related businesses or as between friends'
homes (with a hop or two between).  As lines of mesh hops between
related parties connect, the mesh starts growing horizontally as the
smaller meshes see each other and exchange routing information.

Ultimately, there are two pieces to the puzzle: Choke-resistant mesh
networking software, and assembly and sale of the mesh nodes.

The mesh nodes themselves can be sold as part of a branded network; A
not-necessarily-global alternative to AT&T, Comcast, Charter, etc.  It
can also act as a localnet for businesses and other local
organizations; Throw a webserver up and use mDNS or similar to
broadcast its availability.  Or keep its IPv6 address relatively
private, and only give access to the people you want to use it.

-- 
:wq