[Chapter-delegates] Help Design the Ultimate Internet Gizmo!

[Harish Pillay 9v1hp]

David -

> I recently connected with hardware developers interested in designing and
> manufacturing a low-cost open source router for wireless mesh networks.
>
> I'm reaching out to get input on what features would be useful. The sky is
> the limit here as we haven't gotten started although we have the design
> talent and manufacturing facilities lined up.
>
> So ... something along the lines of:
>
> Small form factor
> Very low cost
> Low power consumption
>
> Possibly solar powered
>
> Built-in crypto
>
> Blockchain?
>
> Easily hacked/modified
> User-friendly
>
> Easy for non-technical user to configure and deploy
>
> What other features would be useful?
>
> In places where security is an issue
>
> Repressive governments try to block
> Criminals and terrorists try to exploit
>
> Difficult terrain or other environmental issues
> Interference is a problem - in dense urban areas for example
>
> Thanks for your input,

Thanks for posting this. ISOC Singapore Chapter has been working on creating
an emergency (e7y) networking toolkit. I did a presentation about it last year
(video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltVg_eNXBn0).

Some ideas that we are working with:
a) Using the serval project as a starting point (sevalproject.org)
because it is already
    running but uses existing Andrioid-based phones as the end points.
I have not
    tried to get the Serval code to run in a Raspberry Pi yet - it is
on my to-do list.
b) Experimenting with ESP8266 devices to create essentially tiny battery-powered
    relay nodes. These could be dispersed in a region to help set up a mesh.
c) As I am a ham (9v1hp), I am also experimenting with Broadband HamNet
   (http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/) for connections independent of ISPs
   and telcos.

Harish
ISOC Singapore