[OpenWireless Tech] Mesh Networking

[Dan Ryan]

Mesh networks can function well, just like any other network, but single
radio setups (which are what Todd just described) are generally a poor
idea. They have the bandwidth halving problem, and the latency across
multiple hops can really add up. Multiradio nodes can be thrown together
fairly cheap these days, especially since you can get a FreeStation 5, put
OpenWRT on it, get 2 good USB radios & some directional antennas, and
you've got a node with 4 radios & 2 Ethernet ports.

TL;DR, Single radio mesh networks preform poorly, but Multi-radio nodes are
now cheap & preform well.

-Dan Ryan


On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 11:01 PM, Todd Freeman <todd at chiwifi.net> wrote:
>   Mesh networking is pointless when working with more then 5 routers. Its
> a fundamental part of mesh networking that limits its size, all nodes
> must divide bandwidth almost equally among all nodes in the chain,  so
> assuming you start out with 150mbit link, which is VERY generous.  2nd
> hop, total throughput is 75mbit, 3rd hop, total throughput is 37mbit,
> 4th hop, 19mbit, 5th op, 10mbit. That is 10mbit for ALL clients to
> share, starting from 150mbit. Because each of the first 4 hops must
> carry traffic for its own user as well as the traffic for all the users
> down the line. Start out with your home internet and 1mbit upload, you
> may get to 3 hops and have internet still function if you are very lucky.

> TLDR, mesh networking do no scale at all. Its fundamental in their
> structure, regardless of protocol.
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