What do you get when a non-profit company slaps a wireless router inside a casing that plugs into a wall? Plug and play WiFi anyone? Netequality’s new box is designed for low-income families who can’t afford the internet. It works by integrating a Meraki wireless mesh router into an easier installation medium that costs just $79 and plugging DSL or Cable internet into one of the boxes. Once one box has an Internet connection, up to four other boxes can leech off that single connection before another uplink is needed.
This sounds like the best way hands down to get an Internet connection into remote areas and low-income families’ homes. Looking to start a similar project in your community? Head on over to Netequality’s website for more info.
Really Plug and play WiFi [Giga Om]
i am dum lol i don’t understand just plug it in and you get wifi or do you need computer with internet?
I’m working on a community wireless network project in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area called DFWFreeNet – http://www.dfwfreenet.org We’re deploying Meraki Mini’s in outdoor enclosures with high gain antennas to increase range. We have a few sites up now and are always looking for individuals interested in community wireless networking to help build the network.
Netequality’s wall plug Meraki is a great solution to public installations, such as hotels or apartment complexes. A torx screw is included so you can secure the Meraki to the center screw on the outlet. The routing protocol has been improved and only about every tenth Meraki needs to be plugged into an Internet connection (provided all 10 are within 3 or 4 hops of the gateway) which can cover a good sized area if the gateway Meraki is at the center.
Regarding the Anonymous post, at least one of these needs to be connected to the Internet. The idea is that a neighborhood can share a single DSL connection (possibly spliting the cost, brining the cost of broadband Internet access to a few dollars a month) if everyone gets one of these wireless routers.