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Although I absolutely love this idea, I don't see it taking off without a critical mass of users (i.e. right now there is no Kleinrock router nearby that I can

Although I absolutely love this idea, I don't see it taking off without a critical mass of users (i.e. right now there is no Kleinrock router nearby that I can connect mine to). The only way I see this gaining critical mass is to piggyback it on some other device that people buy. e.g. build an open-source box that you sell to people, and that basically becomes your local email/calendar/webhosting/social network hub/file sharing/whatever server, and then hook it up to others who have bought similar servers. I feel that there's enough demand for that kind of a server now that people realize the pitfalls of having everything under Apple/Google/Amazon control. And if there isn't yet, there soon will be. (Edited a few times for clarity)

ckinni 15y ago
I agree, but I do think it seems to have a limited appeal within urban areas, then tunneling connections between server nodes in other cities over the regular internet. The tunneling between cities is still vulnerable, but when it gets cut off there will still be a way of communicating. The nice thing about this when localized to large urban areas is that the cost per capita shrinks. I'd imagine it wouldn't be too expensive to set up a bunch of routers that weren't online. Quick Google seems to suggest that a router tends to cost around $1-2 per month in electricity, plus an up front cost. Create a Kleinrock ecosystem in a section of a city would not necessarily require a large number of people adopting it, but rather a manageable start up cost plus maintenance, which seems almost reasonable. Of course, if a few people are paying for it, you'll still need people to actually use your wacky science project, which may or may not happen... If you build it, will they come?
themal 15y ago
I would like to see some sort of mesh network which is built into firmware like Tomato, with options to opt in of course.

ckinni 15y ago

I agree, but I do think it seems to have a limited appeal within urban areas, then tunneling connections between server nodes in other cities over the regular internet. The tunneling between cities is still vulnerable, but when it gets cut off there will still be a way of communicating. The nice thing about this when localized to large urban areas is that the cost per capita shrinks. I'd imagine it wouldn't be too expensive to set up a bunch of routers that weren't online. Quick Google seems to suggest that a router tends to cost around $1-2 per month in electricity, plus an up front cost. Create a Kleinrock ecosystem in a section of a city would not necessarily require a large number of people adopting it, but rather a manageable start up cost plus maintenance, which seems almost reasonable. Of course, if a few people are paying for it, you'll still need people to actually use your wacky science project, which may or may not happen... If you build it, will they come?

themal 15y ago

I would like to see some sort of mesh network which is built into firmware like Tomato, with options to opt in of course.