Story

RATS: the Radio Transceiver System, an open source communication tool for the security-obsessed

Preview

Seems redundant (Score: 2, Informative)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-11-11 13:34 (#T8KB)

A WiFi AP is $20, which can act as wireless repeater, router with dynamic routing protocols, etc.

Nearly all WiFi chips can do ad hoc mode, including routing with software. Then you just need to throw in Gnutella to allow chat and file sharing without extra infrastructure.

Re: Seems redundant (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-11-12 02:37 (#TANG)

For years I've been searching out a link I found that gave the performance of a wireless repeater mesh in an equation. I can't remember the precise equation, but it was something like P = (N(N-1))/N where N is the number of nodes. Basically, you add a node, you lose capacity as any transmission through it needs to be repeated across any number of nodes in the path, before coming back along the path, halving the bandwidth.
I don't think a mesh is as useful as people imagine it is. We'd need a serious backbone through it.

Re: Seems redundant (Score: 2, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-11-12 14:13 (#TC7E)

You're absolutely correct about mesh performance.

However, mesh networks provide other attractive features, such as fault tolerance and independence from established infrastructure.

The research work needed to make mesh networks a reality is based on adaptive learning, AI, and graph theory. All hard core topics in CS and maths. If we can come up with clever algorithms to ensure packets can traverse the mesh in optimal time, then mesh will become a reality. Keep in mind that any backbone (or really, multiple fast p2p links) will simply be a fast node on the mesh, and the algorithm will correctly route through (or around as required) it. In this way the mesh network can provide throughput via multiple changing backbones, but maintain its fault tolerance and independence. Interesting topic that's for sure.

Moderation

Time Reason Points Voter
2015-11-12 18:38 Insightful +1 bryan@pipedot.org
2015-11-12 15:58 Insightful +1 pete@pipedot.org

Junk Status

Marked as [Not Junk] by bryan@pipedot.org on 2016-05-06 23:19