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Wireless Mesh Network with Small and Low Cost Devices
The goal of this project is to implement a wireless mesh network that provides connectivity and multimedia services in a geographic area such as a small campus.
- TP-Link MR3020 wireless router.
- USB WLAN adapter based on the Ralink RT5370 chipset.
- Raspberry Pi Model B.
Make sure you have the attitude adjustment release of OpenWRT on your TP-LINK MR3020. For more information on how to flash the firmware on your router and take basic control, please refer to this article.
Start by updating the package list and installing the necessary packages for the USB WLAN adapter.
root@MeshNode:~# opkg update root@MeshNode:~# opkg install kmod-rt2800-lib kmod-rt2800-usb kmod-rt2x00-lib kmod-rt2x00-usb
Verify that the adapter is detecter on your router:
root@MeshNode:~# wifi detect config wifi-device radio2 option type mac80211 option channel 11 option macaddr 00:e0:4c:81:88:8a option hwmode 11ng option htmode HT20 list ht_capab GF list ht_capab SHORT-GI-20 list ht_capab SHORT-GI-40 list ht_capab RX-STBC1 # REMOVE THIS LINE TO ENABLE WIFI: option disabled 1 config wifi-iface option device radio2 option network lan option mode ap option ssid OpenWrt option encryption none
Now, copy the detected WiFi modules into the wireless configuration of your MR3020.
root@MeshNode:~# wifi detect > /etc/config/wireless
Your wireless configuration file should be similar to the following:
- /etc/config/wireless
config wifi-device radio0 option type mac80211 option channel 11 option macaddr f8:d1:11:bd:62:ce option hwmode 11ng option htmode HT20 list ht_capab SHORT-GI-20 list ht_capab SHORT-GI-40 list ht_capab RX-STBC1 list ht_capab DSSS_CCK-40 config wifi-iface option device radio0 option network lan option mode ap option ssid OpenWrt1 option encryption none config wifi-device radio1 option type mac80211 option channel 11 option macaddr 00:e0:4c:81:88:8a option hwmode 11ng option htmode HT20 list ht_capab GF list ht_capab SHORT-GI-20 list ht_capab SHORT-GI-40 list ht_capab RX-STBC1 config wifi-iface option device radio1 option network lan option mode ap option ssid OpenWrt2 option encryption none
Check that both antennas are working:
root@MeshNode:~# wifi up Configuration file: /var/run/hostapd-phy0.conf Using interface wlan0 with hwaddr f8:d1:11:bd:62:ce and ssid "OpenWrt1" Configuration file: /var/run/hostapd-phy1.conf Using interface wlan1 with hwaddr 00:e0:4c:81:88:8a and ssid "OpenWrt2"