How Wireless Mesh Networks Work
by Dave Roos
Wireless Mesh Technology
Wireless mesh network
The graphic below shows how a wireless mesh network functions when sharing an Internet connection across a Local Area Network (LAN). As you see, only one node in the wireless mesh network needs to be directly wired to the Internet. That wired node shares the Internet connection wirelessly with the nearest cluster of nodes, which then share it with their nearest cluster of nodes and so on.
That means that each individual node doesn't need to be wired to anything. It only needs a power supply such as traditional AC plugs, batteries, or solar panels if outdoors. Outdoor nodes are encased in a weatherproof, protective shield and can be mounted anywhere including telephone pools, roofs, etc.
Wireless mesh networks are effective in sharing Internet connectivity because the more nodes that are installed, the further the signal can travel. And the more nodes you have, the stronger and faster the Internet connection becomes for the user.
How does the Internet connection become stronger and faster?
If your laptop computer is in the broadcast range of four nodes, you're tapping into four times the bandwidth of one traditional wireless router.
Distance plays a huge role in wireless signal strength. If you reduce the distance between your computer and the nearest wireless node by two, the signal strength is four times as strong.
Nodes can also provide Internet connectivity to wired devices within the network like VoIP phones, video cameras, servers, and desktop workstations using traditional Ethernet cables. Most nodes come with two or more Ethernet ports, and through a technology called Power Over Ethernet (PoE), the node can provide power to stand-alone devices like surveillance cameras without having to plug the camera into an electrical outlet.
Now let's look at some real and potential applications of wireless mesh networks.
Backhaul Nodes
Even in a wireless mesh LAN, there comes a time when information needs to return to a wired access point to reach the wider Internet. Getting that information back to the access point is called backhaul. Small wireless mesh networks handle backhaul without needing special configurations. In larger mesh networks, like those for cities or large companies, certain nodes need to be dedicated as backhaul nodes. The other nodes send all outgoing information straight to one of the backhaul nodes, which will send it to the wired access point without unnecessary hops.
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