New Wireless MeshAP Prototype - Outdoor PC
As I previously announce last year, I am working on a Prototype for an Outdoor Wireless Mesh AP. The objective of this new prototype was to have a high powered uplink node in noisy urban areas. After building and do some preliminary tests, I noticed that components had to be upgraded. A single board construction like a wrap board was out of the questioned. I wanted something like a Via board but a lot less expensive but as durable. What I found was an Intel Shelton board. This board is really a Mini-ITX motherboard. It contain advance features like DDR Memory and it is totally fan less. The entire construction is solid state.
The components on the board can be quickly upgraded such as, radio card, power supply, memory, solid state hard disk, antennae and operating system. The bonus was the actual OS. This board is very versatile can run many different OS. The enclosures being NEMA 4 gives the unit the ability to work outdoors. I guess what I made is a PC that can work out doors.
There are many advantages of having flexible equipment. The fact that the hardware can be upgraded as new technologies are available and the fact that one is not married to the operating systems is too an advantage.
Current OS is open source Locustworld and I will be using this software for testing purposes.
Unique features of this Mesh AP is the dual antennae running off a single radio card. I noticed that with two lower power antennae the shadows and null packets decrease. I'm still not sure if it warrants the extra cost but for now it is a powerful Mesh Access Point. Currently the radio cards are 300 mW unfortunately I can only test up to 200 mW (software does not have a 300 mW power setting.)
Other unique features is the smallest PC power supply. This unit is totally awesome. It takes very little space and it has been working flawlessly.
Also I have locked down and the components to prevent them from dislodging themselves.
I have put some pictures and description of unit on my web site.
The components on the board can be quickly upgraded such as, radio card, power supply, memory, solid state hard disk, antennae and operating system. The bonus was the actual OS. This board is very versatile can run many different OS. The enclosures being NEMA 4 gives the unit the ability to work outdoors. I guess what I made is a PC that can work out doors.
There are many advantages of having flexible equipment. The fact that the hardware can be upgraded as new technologies are available and the fact that one is not married to the operating systems is too an advantage.
Current OS is open source Locustworld and I will be using this software for testing purposes.
Unique features of this Mesh AP is the dual antennae running off a single radio card. I noticed that with two lower power antennae the shadows and null packets decrease. I'm still not sure if it warrants the extra cost but for now it is a powerful Mesh Access Point. Currently the radio cards are 300 mW unfortunately I can only test up to 200 mW (software does not have a 300 mW power setting.)
Other unique features is the smallest PC power supply. This unit is totally awesome. It takes very little space and it has been working flawlessly.
Also I have locked down and the components to prevent them from dislodging themselves.
I have put some pictures and description of unit on my web site.
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