The underlying cool thing is that the proliferation of low-cost, ultra small form-factor devices like the TL-MR3020 is enables diverse projects such as LibraryBox, Serval's mesh extender, even the mini nodes I'm deploying. Likewise, I do hope s2e finds success in slimming down Commotion to run on these boxes (with outboard USB disk), if he hasn't already.<br>
<br>Although these different projects may not actually end up sharing the same firmware, at least beyond the extent they still derive from OpenWRT, seems to me there should be distinct possibility in collaborating over the following goals:<br>
<ul><li>Improve USB disk support, i.e. to work-around limitation of on-board 4Mbyte flash. That is, what is the correct kernel/module compile recipe, what is the best method or auto-mounting on boot, and how to best do opkg install to ramdisk?</li>
<li>2nd external antenna? <a href="https://apollo.open-resource.org/lab:argus#modifications">These guys</a> may have figured out the original hack for one external antenna, but the lack of an AR9330 datasheet prevents them from using the 2nd antenna output.</li>
<li>Pool funding sources to contract manufacture of a customized version of the TL-MR3020? I realize Mesh Potato is already pursuing a customized / beefed-up version of a similar TP-Link product, but I wonder if other groups together may be interested in a lighter-weight design. E.g. not so much additional I/O, but maybe just double the RAM and flash size?</li>
<li>Brainstorm novel applications that take advantage of these devices running on battery and/or solar power. Recall the newer TL-MR3040 is the same device, but with a large lithium battery.<br></li></ul><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 8:36 PM, Seamus Tuohy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:s2e@opentechinstitute.org" target="_blank">s2e@opentechinstitute.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
On 07/24/2013 07:09 PM, Chris Ritzo wrote:<br>
> On 07/24/2013 05:44 PM, Ben West wrote:<br>
>> A friend pointed me to this Kickstarter for LibraryBox:<br>
>><br>
>> "LibraryBox is an anonymous fileserver based on cheap hardware that runs<br>
>> on little power and serves files to any wifi-enabled device with a<br>
>> browser. It is a fork of the Open Source project PirateBox, altered to<br>
>> be more comfortable to use for libraries, educators, and anyone else<br>
>> that has a need to serve files in locations that lack reliable,<br>
>> unfiltered connectivity with the Internet."<br>
>><br>
>> <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/griffey/librarybox-20" target="_blank">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/griffey/librarybox-20</a><br>
>> <a href="http://librarybox.us/" target="_blank">http://librarybox.us/</a><br>
>><br>
>> The photo suggests a TP-Link TL-MR3020 or TL-WN703N, indeed with an<br>
>> itty-bitty flash drive in the USB jack.<br>
>><br>
>> Likewise, I'm about to deploy my 2nd TL-MR3020 as a repeater node for<br>
>> WasabiNet, having finally squeezed enough of the firmware into 4MB to<br>
>> get mesh + AP + coovachilli all onboard.<br>
>><br>
>> It is neat to see a low-cost platform like the TL-MR3020, whose intended<br>
>> use as "3G travel modem" is kinda worthless, but which nevertheless<br>
>> enables quite a diversity of community wifi projects.<br>
>><br>
>> --<br>
>> Ben West<br>
>> <a href="http://gowasabi.net" target="_blank">http://gowasabi.net</a><br>
>> <a href="mailto:ben@gowasabi.net">ben@gowasabi.net</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:ben@gowasabi.net">ben@gowasabi.net</a>><br>
>> <a href="tel:314-246-9434" value="+13142469434">314-246-9434</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> Commotion-dev mailing list<br>
>> <a href="mailto:Commotion-dev@lists.chambana.net">Commotion-dev@lists.chambana.net</a><br>
>> <a href="https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-dev" target="_blank">https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-dev</a><br>
>><br>
><br>
> I met Jason Griffey who is the developer of LibraryBox. One of his<br>
> features for the next version is "mesh networking". I'm wondering if the<br>
> work folks have done on "appropriate box" would be useful to share.<br>
><br>
<br>
</div></div>The appropriate box was also inspired by David Darts pirate box (which<br>
this is a fork of). It looks like he still uses python in his<br>
implementation. We decided to package the features we wanted in a LuCI<br>
package to save room. I would be interested in a conversation to see<br>
where he is going with library box, and possibly learn from each others<br>
explorations in this arena. It might be worth reaching out.<br>
<br>
s2e<br>
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5">_______________________________________________<br>
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<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Ben West<div><a href="http://gowasabi.net" target="_blank">http://gowasabi.net</a><br><a href="mailto:ben@gowasabi.net" target="_blank">ben@gowasabi.net</a><br>
314-246-9434<br></div>