ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several mesh network components, deals with the familiar wireless LAN card which is also referred to as a wireless modem. It shows that many wireless mesh networking components can be used either as is with special software for a limited distance or can be obtained with a different radio technology that provides an extended transmission capability. In comparison, MeshNetworks includes a location provider mechanism built into its Quadrature Division Multiple Access radio protocol. This location provider enables other radios in the mesh network to use signal triangulation to determine the position of mesh network clients within an accuracy of approximately ten meters. As an alternative to the use of the 6300 wireless modem card, MeshNetworks as well as other vendors are marketing software that turns IEEE 802.11 clients into participants on an 802.11 technology-based mesh network.
