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Hello Sascha, and thank your for your comments.<br>
Responses inline.<br>
<br>
On 08/16/2011 01:13 PM, Sascha Meinrath wrote:<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> Hi Isaac,<br>
> <br>
> Just read your notes from CCC and wanted to comment on the<br>
> wireless components. For the FreedomNodes, I would hope
that the<br>
> plan is to use 802.11a/b/g/n radios and not tie them solely
to<br>
> 5GHz.</span><br>
Well, the b/g chips that are integrated into the dreamplug could
be<br>
used to communicate with client machines, and auxiliary radios
would<br>
be used for contact with other nodes. We were envisioning the<br>
FreedomNodes as consisting of two parts, potentially connected by
some<br>
sort of PAN technology. The 'compute' part would be inside the
home,<br>
and the 'transponder' would be mounted outdoors. (This would also<br>
allow for the use of solar energy, at least for the transponders).<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> The 5GHz frequency, while
often less congested, has a harder time<br>
> propagating through architecture, trees, etc. than 2.4GHz.</span><br>
Agreed. I don't have enough experience in the field to know
whether<br>
it's worth the trade-off. We are also trying to remain cognizant
of<br>
cost restraints, and have had better luck finding radio chipsets
at a<br>
reasonable price point that support only a single band.<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> Since most consumer-grade
equipment runs on 2.4GHz, being able to <br>
> bridge between 2.4GHz and 5GHz would maximize the options
for<br>
> ad-hoc meshing.</span><br>
I see what you're saying. I agree that it would be best. I only
wonder<br>
if we won't have to make some tough choices. I'm not familiar with
the<br>
process of procuring component hardware in bulk, and I don't know
what<br>
sort of savings we could expect were we to fabricate our own
hardware.<br>
Perhaps you would be willing to put me into contact with someone
who<br>
could help me find answers to these questions? (That goes for
anybody<br>
else that know hardware supply chains, or knows someone who knows<br>
hardware supply chains. Please let me know)<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> <br>
> In terms of the Freedom Tower, the 3650-3700MHz band only
allows <br>
> higher-powered use for "lite licensed" devices -- which
means<br>
> registering the device's location with government
authorities.</span><br>
Perhaps I misunderstood, but I was under the impression that a
single<br>
license allowed an operator to run an unlimited number of sites<br>
without reporting their location, as long as they are outside of
the<br>
exclusion zones. We do need something for the long-range links.
3650<br>
seemed the best choice to us. Perhaps there are viable
technologies<br>
that we overlooked?<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> 3650-3700MHz is also not
harmonized globally, so that could present<br>
> a problem for sales of these devices in many locations
around the<br>
> world.</span><br>
I am not familiar with international regulatory climates, but I do<br>
assume that the stack will have to modified for compliance. Then<br>
again, there are places where even wi-fi is strictly off limits.
In<br>
the end, I doubt that available spectrum resources will be
sufficient<br>
to enable wide-scale adoption of the fractal-mesh architecture. I<br>
believe that we will have either to lobby for more open spectrum,
or,<br>
in all likelihood, engage in civil disobedience.<br>
<br>
Old arguments about efficient allocation seems to go out the
window in<br>
light of advances in software defined and cognitive radio
technology.<br>
It is the people's spectrum, and it should be used to their
benefit.<br>
That's my take, anyways.<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> <br>
> Overall, I love the idea of several different types of
FreedomBox <br>
> equipment; however, I also want to ensure maximum
interoperability<br>
> and extensibility of the technology.</span><br>
I'm glad, and I appreciate your feedback. You are right in your<br>
assertion that flexibility is key. Let's work to make it happen.<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> <br>
> --Sascha Meinrath Director, Open Technology Initiative New
America<br>
> Foundation</span><br>
-Isaac Wilder<br>
The Free Network Foundation<br>
<br>
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