Getting Started
Note: This document is currently a work in progress in a early stage.
The Mesh-Potato (MP) can be used for many different networking application scenarios. We have designed the MP with Voice over IP mesh networking in mind, but the device is not limited to that. You are not forced to use the VOIP or mesh networking possibilities of the MP. The MP can also do simple standard WiFi things like accesspoint, accesspoint client or point-to-point bridge operation (and much more…). But why operate a device capable of doing true multipoint-to-multipoint mesh networking for something that lacks the great properties of a mesh network?
A: Choose your mesh application scenario (from simple to advanced):
1/ Independent stand-alone mesh
This guide will run you quickly through deploying MPs as a decentralized, independent phone mesh network which allows people to make free phone calls between MPs deployed in an area. You can simply dial the number of a MP and it will ring. A Internet uplink is not required.
2/ Small enterprise or campus mesh network
Take a bunch of MPs and simply plug one of them into a existing LAN segment with a DHCP server. The MPs will set up a mesh backbone with virtual accesspoints, providing a network of hotspots that normal client devices like smartphones can use to access the Internet, and/or your local LAN. The LAN port of each MP can be used for wired access to the Internet/LAN, too. And of course you can make telephone calls.
3/ Villagetelco VOIP provider mesh
Start your own mesh-based VOIP telephone company. This guide will show you how to set up a server for network management and billing, creating pre-paid vouchers, configuring MP and monitoring the network.
B: Standard WiFi application scenarios
1/ Using the MP as a simple accesspoint.
This is the same functionality that basically all access-points on the market offer, so nothing really exciting. The MP will bridge the LAN port with the WiFi interface, running in master mode. Standard access-point devices lack a FXS port where you can plug a phone in and make phone calls, of course. And they are certainly not shipped with a Asterisk server PBX software. We can think of a few good reasons why people would want to use a MP as a simple accesspoint: Robustness, weatherproofing and low power consumption.
2/ Using the MP as an accesspoint client (station)
This application profile is actually quite useful to connect MPs to a existing WiFi hotspot and make phone calls. It will also allow wired computers connected to the LAN port of the MP to connect to the hotspot.
3/ Using the MP as a point-to-point bridge.
It is possible to do this with the MP, however the omni-directional antennas in the MPs are not the first choice for a point-to-point bridge. This is the typical application scenario for devices that feature high-gain directional antennas.
4/ Using the MP to set up a WDS (Wireless distribution system)
While it is possible to do WDS with the MP, a WDS is by far inferior than the solution we provide for the small enterprise or campus mesh – in terms of scalability and performance. We strongly recommend to use the mesh solution.
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