NetEquality makes Meraki Mini WiFi router even easier to utilize

While the issue of stealing borrowing other's WiFi has taken on a whole new meaning now that the law is involved, there's still nothing wrong with hitting up your own mesh networking setup in order to extend your range without coughing up big bucks for name brand repeaters. Meraki's Mini WiFi router certainly gave the tinkering crowd a way to implement such luxuries on the cheap, but for those totally freaked out by the mere sight of PCB, NetEquality feels your pain. In a presumed effort to get uber-cheap networking abilities to the masses, the kind folks over there have wrapped the Mini in a neat wall-plug package, providing a "truly plug-and-play" method of adding a signal booster / repeater to your network. No Ethernet jack is built-in, however, so you'll need a wireless network to begin with, but coming in at just $79, this isn't a half bad way to extend the waves of your precious connection.

[Via GigaOM]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 8:45AM]

Aargh...why do these companies think it's worthwhile to save $5 by leaving off an Ethernet jack? Penny wise but pound foolish. I have the Netgear wireless extender and the lack of a wired jack makes the device a nightmare to configure. I am sure they spend at least as much in phone support costs handling confused customers as they would have spent on an Ethernet port.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 5:11PM]

I agree having an Ethernet connection in this device would be useful. However, with the Meraki Mini, configuration of the device is not a problem. Everything is configured from a web interface hosted by Meraki.net. The Meraki Mini periodically downloads it's configuration.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 9:29AM]

I bought a few of these last week -- Meraki's Mini product (the original, unmodified one) has a 100mbps Ethernet port and actually looks pretty sleek: http://meraki.net/products/mini/

The setup process is amazing and the free dashboard webapp is also pretty cool. Check out the screenshots: http://meraki.net/products/dashboard/

My only complaint is they only have 1 and not the standard 5 Ethernet ports like on the Linksys products, but it makes sense given the size of the product.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 2:12PM]

At first glance I thought this device used the power lines in your house as antenna like X10 modules, but the article makes no mention of this. *shrug*

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 5:11PM]

This device has a built in 2dbi antenna.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 3:19PM]

Belkin and Netgear did this last year. Just no one picked up... This isn't all that new anyways

What are the speeds cos they might not be running as fast as normal wireless :/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 3:42PM]

This is wireless mesh networking, a lot different than the repeaters Belkin/Netgear offer. The Meraki Mini supports 802.11g at 54mbps.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 19th 2007 10:55PM]

Whoa, is this for real? I'm guessing there has to be a broadband line/modem connected to the plug. I'd like to see a full set up of this device, but from the sound of it, I want one for myself. It's a space saver, too it seems. You just have to plug it onto an outlet and it works, right? I can't believe it's a non-profit organization that came up with this idea. WiFi Internet for all!


http://nationwidevpn.com
Nationwide VPN provides secured VPN connectivity, enhanced security VPN and VPN encryption.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2007 1:32PM]

You need at least one Meraki Mini connected to the Internet and you can distribute the signal with these devices. Yes, you just plug it in and it works. NetEquality (the non profit org) came up with the enclosure, Meraki (commercial company that grew from the MIT roofnet project) has developed the hardware (Meraki Mini) and software/management system.

I'm part of a community wireless network in Dallas, TX deploying a Merkai wireless mesh network - www.dfwfreenet.org if anyone is interested.