WiFi Mesh in a box: first step toward universal wireless broadband access in East Cleveland

Thanks to an anonymous donor, East Cleveland has received some excellent equipment to start setting up a pilot proof of concept wireless broadband mesh network [1] in some part of the city - location to be determined. The donated equipment is from a similar proof of concept deployment in Washington, D.C., and includes several commercial wifi antennas and routers and cabling to set up a small multipoint demonstration network, running the open source CUWiNWare mesh application [2] and wifiDOG contained portal application [3], all routing to the city of East Cleveland's open source Drupal community portal [4], at http://eastcleveland.org [5]. All this, combined with other digital divide bridge programs there [6], makes East Cleveland approaches to information technology some of the most interesting in America.

For those involved with or interested in this deployment, below is a list of the equipment received - if you need more details, take a look at the attached high res photo - if you need more details, email me. Phillip Williams is working with the technical team at CUWiN [7] to configure this equipment and upgrade applications and we should have the test up and running within a few weeks. We will write about how this develops and progresses here. Anyone interested to be involved in this initiative in any way is welcome to comment here or contact me at realneo [at] inbox [dot] com - Norm Roulet.

Two 2.4 GHz 8.5 dBi Omnidirectional Wireless LAN Antennas - HyperGain® HG2409U - Quantity 50+: $44.99 each - http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2409u.php#mounts [8]

Two Mesh Link devices - about 8" square by 4# height, with Ethernet/Power connection and N connector - appear shop-made - no brand markings

Two 2.4 GHz 14 dBi 120 Degree Vertical Polarized Sector Panel Wireless LAN Antenna - Model: HG2414SP-120 - Quantity 10+: $139.99 each - http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg2414sp-120.php [9]

One Netgear 2.4 GHz 54 Mpbs Wireless Access Point WG602 - for use for second mesh relay with one of the directional antennas

One Lynksys Wireless-G 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps broadband Router WRT54G

Some long and heavy gage wire for connecting these, and other cords and connectors.