View source for NEW: Quick getting started guide for setting up an outdoor mesh node

[[Image:mesh_install.jpg]]

To download a larger clearer version of this image click [[Media:Mesh install-large.jpg|here]]


== Step by step guide to getting onto Pretoria network ==

NEW!
 The first edition of "Wireless Networking in the Deveolping World" is available as e-book now. Prints can be
 ordered on demand at lulu.com. The e-book is available at no cost under a creative commons license.
 Get your copy at [http://wndw.net/ wndw] or [[Media:Wndw-ebook.pdf|locally]] and share it.

==Step 1. Check where you are on the planet:==
Your very first step is to find your current position on a map and then see what other wireless nodes are nearby. The best way to do this is to get a GPS and find out your coordinates and then to enter these into [http://earth.google.com/ google earth] - you can also use google earth to find your coordinates by identifying your house on the satellite image. 

==Step 2. Check who else is around that you can connect to ==

Once you have entered your google earth position - have a look at the positions of other wifi installations around you. For the [[Pretoria Mesh]] we have stored all the google earth positions in this [ftp://ftp.icomtek.csir.co.za/pub/in/wiki/wifi%20installations.kmz file]. You can also have a look on sites like [http://http://www.nodedb.com/ NodeDB] to see if there are other wireless installations near you. Once you have identified someone that you want to connect to, the best way to check connectivity is to use a WiFi sniffer such as [http://www.netstumbler.com/ netsumbler] for windows or [http://www.kismetwireless.net/ Kismet] on linux loaded on a laptop with a Wifi card fitted with an external antenna. Find the highest point at your house such as your roof and slowly rotate the directional antenna around you to see if you can pick up any WiFi access points. You will want to find an access point that is in ad-hoc mode and is mesh enabled - the wifi sniffer will tell you if the wireless node is in ad-hoc mode but you will have to contact the owner to check what mesh protocol, if any, they are running. 

 For the Pretoria network you will be looking for any node with the SSID: ptamesh

==Step 3. Build a mesh node==

Now that you know where you are located and you have hopefully found someone you can connect to, you will need to construct your mesh hardware. Have a look at the diagram at the top of the wiki for a description of all the components that make up an installation. Below is a shopping list of all the components together with the suppliers that provide them and prices.


== Shopping list ==


{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
|-
! &times; !! Item description !! Supplier !! Supplier Stock Code !! Quantity type !! Cost !! Quantity !! Total
|-
! 1
| 1.5m 38mm Aluminium mast || MIRO || AP-38x150  || EACH || R48.00 || 1 || R48.00
|-
! 2
| Wall Bracket - Large - 250mm (tripod) || MIRO || WB-250-15 || EACH || R54.45 || 1 || R54.45
|-
! 3
| Coach screw with wall plug || MIRO || COACH || EACH || R2.42 || 3 || R7.26
|-
! 4
| 50mm U Bolt (Mast to Wall Bracket) || MIRO || UB-50 || EACH || R4.24 || 2 || R8.48
|-
! 5
| LMR400 Cable (per Meter) - Loss 0.2dB /m || MIRO || LMR400 || METERS || R24.20 || 3 || R72.60
|-
! 6
| N-Type (Male) Connector for LMR400 Cable || MIRO || N(m)-400 || EACH || R66.55 || 2 || R133.10
|-
! 7
| Weather Proof Box || ROSS|| RL2P || EACH || R129.60 || 1 || R129.60
|-
! 8
| 12dBi Yagi Antenna - 2.4GHz || MIRO || PA-12-YAGE || EACH || R290.40 || 1 || R290.40
|-
! 9
| CAT5 single core cable /m || Compucable || xxx || METERS || R1.75 || 20 || R35.00
|-
! 10
| Ethernet connector and jacket  || Compucable || xxx || EACH || R1.48 || 2 || R2.96
|-
! 11
| Pigtail RP TNC - N FEM Bulkhead  || WEBB || xxx || EACH || R160.00 || 1 || R160.00
|-
! 12
| No 0 13mm Gland  || ROSS || xxx || EACH || R15.00 || 1 || R15.00
|-
! 13
| Linksys WRT54GL  || MIRO || LS-WRT54GL || EACH || R647.35 || 1 || R647.35
|-
! 14
| 3.5mm Power Jack || ROSS || xxx || EACH || R2.50 || 1 || R2.50
|-
! 15
| Power over Ethernet Injector (CAT5) - Base - no PSU || MIRO|| 12V-POE || EACH || R108.90 || 1 || R108.90
|-
| || || || || || || '''TOTAL''' || '''R1715.60'''
|-
| || || || || || || '''VAT''' || '''R240.18'''
|-
| || || || || || || '''GRAND TOTAL''' || '''R1955.78'''
|}

== Tools and accessories needed ==


{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
|-
! &times; !! Item description !! Purpose
|-
! 1
| GPS || Establish coordinates of site 
|-
! 2
| Signal measurement device || Measure signal strength to establish Antenna gain required
|-
! 3
| >650W Drill || For Drilling holes to mount wall bracket
|-
! 4
| 11mm Masonary drill bit || For Drilling holes to mount wall bracket
|-
! 5
| Duck tape || To secure box on mast
|-
! 6
| Ethernet crimping tool || To build custom ethernet cable length from box to PC in house
|-
! 7
| Size 10 Spanner || For Antenna bracket nuts and U bolt nuts
|-
! 8
| Size 13 Spanner || For Coach screws
|-
! 9
| Flat Screwdriver || To open waterproof enclosure
|-
! 10
| HT Tape  || To seal RF connectors at Box and antenna
|-
! 11
| Ladder  || Best to use this instead of pole vaulting onto roof
|-
! 12
| 13mm Hole sore  || To drill 13mm hole for N-Type Bulk head and gland for ethernet
|}

A mesh network node consists of a wireless router, antenna, routing software and settings.

===[[Wireless Router]]===
Your wireless router can either be a PC with a wireless card, a dedicated [[Wireless Router]] unit or [[SBC]] Single Board Computer with a wireless card. A dedicated [[Wireless Router]] is the most popular choice because it is relatively cheap, easy to configure and low power making it practicle for a device that is meant to be on most of the time. Have a look at  [[Cost Tables]] to get an idea of all the possible types of mesh nodes you can build together with the cost implications

===Antennae:=== 

The first step is to select an antenna that suits your situation best. There are several types of Antennae:
 1) [[Omnidirectional]]
 2) [[Yagi-Uda]]
 3) [[Grid]]
 4) [[Flat-panel]]
 5) [[Wave-guide]]

The main difference between these antennae is the [[Radiation Pattern]]. Each type is also available with different [[Gain]] specifications.
Typical [[Wireless Router]]s are sold with 2 omnidirectional antennae and these can be re-used as part of your node, depending on your situation. If you have other nodes in your vicinity that are spread out in all directions but are fairly close (i.e. < 3Km), then an omni-directional antenna should suffice. If the other nodes are concentrated in one direction, for example, if you have a hill on one side of your house and theres no point in radiating the hill, then you may want to choose a more directional antenna, like a 180 degree [[Flat-panel]]. For point-to-point links, a smaller radiation angle is needed and [[Grid]] or [[Yagi-Uda]] type antennae are probably best suited.
 

==Step 4. Install latest mesh networking firmware==

The type of software that needs to be installed will typically be implmentations of mesh routing protocols like [[OLSR]], as well as security software, like VPN clients. On dedicated wireless routers, this is typically implemented on Firmware, while on standard PC's its implemented in Software.

===[[WRT54G]] Firmware update===
[[Wireless Router]]s like the [[WRT54G]] are not mesh capable as is. One of the reasons for selecting the Linksys is that the Firmware is upgradeable. 

'''Caution: ''' Please note, that fiddling with the firmware will void your warranty!!! 

The following instructions apply to networks running the OLSR routing protocl, like the [[Pretoria Mesh]].

1. Download freifunk firmware from [http://www.freifunk.net/wiki/FreifunkFirmwareEnglish Freifunk site] or [ftp://comgingsoon Local]

2. Set boot wait on linksys

Web method:

Navigate to web page were you can send pings and type each of these lines one line at a time

 ;cp${IFS}*/*/nvram${IFS}/tmp/n
 ;*/n${IFS}set${IFS}boot_wait=on
 ;*/n${IFS}commit
 ;*/n${IFS}show>tmp/ping.log

NVRAM method:

telnet into box and type the following

nvram set boot_wait=on
nvram commit
reboot

3. Upload firmware

Give yourself a fixed IP in the 192.168.1.x range e.g. 192.168.1.100

Use tftp to upload firmware

 tftp 192.168.1.1
 tftp> binary
 tftp> rexmt 1
 tftp> trace
 Packet tracing on.
 tftp> put openwrt-g-freifunk-1.0.2-en.bin

Wait for the power light to stop flashing
Power cycle the box



==Step 5. Install mesh node==

===HowTo Water-proof your equipment===
[[Image:Usb-wireless-final.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Wireless-router-outdoor1.jpg|thumb]]


==Step 6. Setup mesh configuration==

1. Check that the web interface is working. Visit the site http://192.168.1.1 on your web browser - you should see the main freifunk web interface appear

2. Set up the wireless interface

 WLAN protocol: Static
 Ip Address: 192.168.2.5
 Netmask: 255.255.255.0
 WLAN Mode: Ad Hoc (Peer to Peer)
 ESSID: mesh
 Channel: 6
 TX Power: 100

3. Set up the LAN interface

 LAN protocol: Static
 LAN IP: 192.168.4.1
 LAN Netmask: 255.255.255.0
 Disable NAT: yes
 Disable Firewall: yes

4. Set up the WAN interface

 WAN Protocol: DHCP
 Host name: Lawrence

5. Set up OLSR

 HNA4: 192.168.4.1 255.255.255.0

6. Restart the Linksys

You should now be given an IP address in the 192.168.3.x range
You should be able to connect to another mesh access point and even get a default gateway to an internet point, if one exists




==Step 7. Start surfing==

Hopefully you`re now hooked up to the internet and you can start surfing the web or hooking up to other PCś on the mesh

==Step 8. Troubleshoot==

Start with Layer 1:
 Is everything switched on?
 Is the LAN plugged in?
 Is the Antenna connected?
 Is it facing the right direction?
 Is it polarised correctly?

Check software settings:
 Is the correct antenna selected?
 Is the routing daemon running?