Linux Outdoor WiFi Router

Saxonia, a German networking equipment integrator is shipping an x86-based outdoor WiFi router that runs Debian Sarge. The Meshnode router has up to two WiFi radios, and supports mesh configurations based on OLSR (optimized link state routing).

What's cool about this is that it's not some exotic platform like Linksys' WRTG linux router/ap.
The device is powered by an AMD Geode 266 MHz CPU, 128MB of SDRAM, two miniPCI slots, one wired ethernet channel and one serial port. Additionally, the board offers an LPC and I2C bus.

Saxonia spokesperson Steffen Dreise said, "The hardware is based on x86, so every Debian package can be installed."

The base configuration priced at about 500 Euro comes with an outdoor cast-aluminum case, two Atheros-based 100mW radios, two 5dbi rubber duck antennae, an 18V power supply, a PoE adapter, a waterproof ethernet plug, and a 64MB CompactFlash card with a Debian system with ssh access (no GUI).

With a 3-7W power draw (without considering the miniPCI cards), it can't exactly be powered by your watch batteries, but it could still make a great mobile WiFi node or general-purpose computer if mounted in a car.

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