[wsfii-discuss] help choosing between open-mesh and fonera

Thu Jan 22 17:33:36 UTC 2009

I didn't realize that the Foneras with the stock firmware did not
mesh, but yes, that's what it looks like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FON

Meraki.com is a commercial vendor of meshing routers with
closed-source firmware, although their devices just got more expensive
($100/ea instead of $50.ea).  Also, Meraki recently decided to lock
out 3rd-party firmware from operating with their service.
http://www.virishi.net/from-happy-hacking-screw-you-story-meraki

For now, open-mesh.com has the more cost-effective, flexible solution,
although you would do well to get larger antennae and possibly even
apply this mod to fix power supply issues:
http://robin.forumup.it/viewtopic.php?t=873&mforum=robin

I do read. nevertheless, that Meraki has teamed up with a non-profit
named One Economy to use mesh device to bring broadband to low income
families:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/meraki-and-one-economy-team,680985.shtml

On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Jonathan <ac3bf1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Also I think La Fonera does NOT scale to a mesh...
>
> You need something like openmesh, or OpenWRT type of firmware.
>
> I have no experience with open-mesh but heard good things ;-)
>
> Make sure you use good routers for the intallation...
> Fonera routers are weak for this porpose and i would suggest a double
> interface router...
>
> Jonathan
>
>
> /******************
> Some Interesting websites:
> http://ac3bf1.org - My Personal Blog
> http://gsm.wiker.org - GSM Project Homepage
> http://infosec.wiker.org - Information Security Wiki
> http://ninux.org - Wireless Community Rome
> ******************/
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Juergen Neumann <j.neumann at ergomedia.de>
> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Carlos,
>>
>> > ...
>> > were thinking of making use either of Fonera or Open-Mesh
>> > routers. We do not have any experience with any of them, but I was
>> > wondering whether
>> > you could recommend me any of them or propose any another option for
>> > such deployment.
>> > ...
>>
>> Please go for open-mesh.com!
>>
>> - It is very simple (no configuration required!)
>> - much more flexible, cause it can bring (Internet-)Access to places many
>> hops beyond the Internet uplink by meshing.
>> - Since the latest release is very stabile and solid. I did not have any
>> trouble ever since the last firmware release.
>> - It is the result of years of research and development to support
>> projects like yours the best way possible.
>> - It is all Free and Open Source Software.
>> - It is easy to maintain and administrate by a web-based dashboard.
>> - It is driven by people with the heart in the right place ;-)
>>
>> Just my 2 cents.
>>
>> JuergeN
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> wsfii-discuss mailing list
>> wsfii-discuss at lists.okfn.org
>> http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/wsfii-discuss
>
>
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>
>

-- 
Ben West
westbywest at gmail.com
http://savetheinternet.org