5 ms·

This doesn't seem to actually be a mesh network.

by aero142 8y ago

yale 8y ago
Can you please elaborate?
- aero142 8y ago
  I think I was a bit too terse, but I really feel like it's on them to explain themselves better. They link to this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=glW_S9bKAHk https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=glW_... That does not describe anything related to a mesh network. It appears that the people running it are joining nodes in a mesh network, but they don't seem to be encouraging you to join in a mesh network.
LeoPanthera 8y ago
From the article: "All of our network nodes cooperate in the distribution of data, and the network can also function independently in case of emergencies or internet shutdown." Sounds fairly meshy to me.
- walrus01 8y ago
  Something like bgp+ospf adjacency between routers and ring/triangle shaped networks can provide a high degree of resilience, but are not "mesh".
unethical_ban 8y ago
Yes, it is, though the homepage doesn't seem to explain it well. You can connect to their "supernodes" which are the backbone, that connect to the Internet proper. You can also connect via other member nodes. So by my understanding of the colloquial term "mesh" for wifi, it is. I do take issue with their FAQ stating they're not an ISP. They are providing Internet access to the public. They are an ISP, even if their structure and methods are unconventional. Maybe they're avoiding the term due to legalese? It's an interesting project. I wonder if something like that would work in urban San Antonio... Hm!
- phikai 8y ago
  Shout out to a fellow San Antonio local!
  - unethical_ban 8y ago
    Kai from Ultimate? internet at cyberfoxfire com
- fabricexpert 8y ago
  It's not really a mesh network. It's basically stick a dish on your roof and point it at a tower downtown that has a direct connection to the internet. Yes you can then extend it a bit a sort of create a mesh, but it's not really the same as having a mesh network which spreads out evenly from individual access points.
- walrus01 8y ago
  This is not really a mesh neteork. It may resemble a mesh in a logical diagram, but it's composed of PTP wireless, ptmp, and fiber.
ris 8y ago
Agreed. Seems to be fairly static routing, albeit using BGP. Doesn't appear to be a mesh protocol in sight.
- nycmesh 8y ago
  BGP is mesh, we also use bmx6
ATsch 8y ago
You are being downvoted, but this is a good point. People would usually expect it to be a peer-to-peer mesh system without any supernodes. The problem is that in the experience of the similar German "freifunk" project, which tried this with custom router firmware, this really doesn't scale well, even with a custom developed routing protocol (B.A.T.M.A.N). So many Freifunk communities are also choosing this supernode setup as a compromise between "full" mesh and good connectivity.
_m_a_t_t_ 8y ago
It is a hybrid at this point. Supernode and hub connections are not mesh connections, but there is some second hop meshing still happening between nodes where there is not line of sight to a hub.

This doesn't seem to actually be a mesh network.

yale 8y ago

Can you please elaborate?

aero142 8y ago
I think I was a bit too terse, but I really feel like it's on them to explain themselves better. They link to this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=glW_S9bKAHk https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=glW_... That does not describe anything related to a mesh network. It appears that the people running it are joining nodes in a mesh network, but they don't seem to be encouraging you to join in a mesh network.

LeoPanthera 8y ago

From the article: "All of our network nodes cooperate in the distribution of data, and the network can also function independently in case of emergencies or internet shutdown." Sounds fairly meshy to me.

walrus01 8y ago
Something like bgp+ospf adjacency between routers and ring/triangle shaped networks can provide a high degree of resilience, but are not "mesh".

unethical_ban 8y ago

Yes, it is, though the homepage doesn't seem to explain it well. You can connect to their "supernodes" which are the backbone, that connect to the Internet proper. You can also connect via other member nodes. So by my understanding of the colloquial term "mesh" for wifi, it is. I do take issue with their FAQ stating they're not an ISP. They are providing Internet access to the public. They are an ISP, even if their structure and methods are unconventional. Maybe they're avoiding the term due to legalese? It's an interesting project. I wonder if something like that would work in urban San Antonio... Hm!

phikai 8y ago
Shout out to a fellow San Antonio local!
- unethical_ban 8y ago
  Kai from Ultimate? internet at cyberfoxfire com
fabricexpert 8y ago
It's not really a mesh network. It's basically stick a dish on your roof and point it at a tower downtown that has a direct connection to the internet. Yes you can then extend it a bit a sort of create a mesh, but it's not really the same as having a mesh network which spreads out evenly from individual access points.
walrus01 8y ago
This is not really a mesh neteork. It may resemble a mesh in a logical diagram, but it's composed of PTP wireless, ptmp, and fiber.

ris 8y ago

Agreed. Seems to be fairly static routing, albeit using BGP. Doesn't appear to be a mesh protocol in sight.

nycmesh 8y ago
BGP is mesh, we also use bmx6

ATsch 8y ago

You are being downvoted, but this is a good point. People would usually expect it to be a peer-to-peer mesh system without any supernodes. The problem is that in the experience of the similar German "freifunk" project, which tried this with custom router firmware, this really doesn't scale well, even with a custom developed routing protocol (B.A.T.M.A.N). So many Freifunk communities are also choosing this supernode setup as a compromise between "full" mesh and good connectivity.

_m_a_t_t_ 8y ago

It is a hybrid at this point. Supernode and hub connections are not mesh connections, but there is some second hop meshing still happening between nodes where there is not line of sight to a hub.