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Turn On/Off Mesh RF - Turn On/Off Mesh LAN Access Point

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AE6XE
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Turn On/Off Mesh RF - Turn On/Off Mesh LAN Access Point
The nightly build from Dec 13, 2018 now includes an ability to turn off the RF if not in use.  See the "enable" button by mesh RF in attached image #1.

If you "uncheck" this Enable box, and "save", then see attached image #2.   There is now an option to enable a mesh LAN access point.   These options become visible on all AREDN devices.  At this point, after a reboot, the wireless will be off and not configured.  

If you "check" the LAN Access Point Enable box, and configure the settings, then reboot, the device becomes a standard Access Point.  Any devices that connect will be as if physically on the LAN of the mesh node to access all mesh services.

In the past we would configure a standard wifi router or the AirGateway in bridge mode, then cat5 connect to the LAN of a mesh node.  Now, the access point can be any AREDN device and it would then DtDLink with a cat5 cable to another mesh node with RF mesh enabled.   

As an example, at Field Day, there could be a P2P mesh node Nanobridge or PowerBeam pointing up to the tower/cell site and connected to the greater mesh network.  This NanoBridge could have a local NanoStation M2 or M5 connected via DtDlink together.  But the Nanostation has LAN access point enabled.   You now have mesh wifi coverage to the field day site for laptops and other device to connect into he mesh.   The Nanostation  provides strong wifi coverage to the area with a high gain antenna.

Joe AE6XE 
 
AE6XE
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setup pics
attached pics.
Image Attachments: 
AC0WN
AC0WN's picture
Outstanding!

That little "check" box is going to reduce a great deal of low level spectrum "pollution".

Great job, Joe!

Many thanks,
julie /ac0wn

K5DLQ
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Great work Joe!
Great work Joe!
nc8q
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What Darryl said. :-)
+1
 
K6AH
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Great work Joe!
+1
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Yes
What Darryl said!   smiley.

Orv W6BI
w6bi
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2 GHz LAN access?
Joe, any chance of configuring the 2 GHz port as a LAN access point?  And maybe disabling the 5 GHz radio?

Orv W6BI
AE6XE
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Orv,  it is possible and I
Orv,  it is possible and I considered it.  But what would be the value of adding an option to do 2GHz wifi?    Do you have client devices that only do 2Ghz wifi?   newer devices are all 5GHz preferred and generally also do 2Ghz.   The UI is not templated out to do 2 APs, so could do 2GHz or 5GHz AP, but not both.

Joe AE6XE
w6bi
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Asking for a friend...
.. with really old laptops.  I pointed out to him that dual-band USB radios are available for around fifteen bucks  :-)

Orv W6BI
AE6XE
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2GHz/5GHz LAN AP selection
2GHz/5GHz LAN AP selection option submitted to github PR.  Should be in nightly build, probably Wed AM.   Have to turn off mesh RF (only 2GHz) to use LAN AP on 2GHz.

Joe AE6XE
KX5DX
Yes, thank you. 
Yes, thank you. 
I have a Raspberry Pi Zero W that been wanting to add to my Mikrotik node and wanted to keep it simple by not adding anything else other than power from USB port.

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