Hubs
A Hub is a node on steroids, with additional radios for further distribution of the mesh. We typically use Airmax radios at hubs to allow LiteBeams to connect to the mesh.
Small Hub
Typically, a small hub looks like a regular node, with some directional sectors antennas added, and a larger PTP router for uplink:
- 1x Omnitik: ($130/ea) meshes with nearby omnitiks, serves as access point and power distribution.
- 3x LAP-120: ($99/ea) 120 degree sectors to provide access to other downstream members via Airmax
- 1x Gigabeam: ($179/ea) A higher speed PTP to another hub for uplink (typically replaces/augments a LiteBeam)
Downstream members will be able to connect to a hub’s sectors from 10s of km away, and the larger uplink device allows multiple members to get online through the hub without congestion.
Diagram
A typical hub may look like the following:
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ │ │ │
│ │ Mesh │ ┌──────────┐ │
│ ┌─────────┐ │◄────────────────►│ │ LiteBeam ├─┐ │
│ ┌────┤ LAP-120 │ │ │ └──────────┘ │ │
│ │ ├─────────┤ │ │ │ │
│ ├────┤ LAP-120 │ │ Wifi │ ┌─────────┐ │ │
│ │ ├─────────┤ │◄────────────────►│ │ Omnitik ├──┘ │
│ ├────┤ LAP-120 │ │ │ └─────────┘ │
│ │ └─────────┘ │ │ Node │
│ │ │ └──────────────────┘
│ ┌───┴─────┐ │
│ │ Omnitik │ │
│ └───┬───┬─┘ │
│ │ │ │ ┌─────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ ┌──────────┐ │ 60GHz PTP │ │
│ │ └───┤ Gigabeam │ │◄────────────────►│ │
│ │ └──────────┘ │ Backhaul │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ Other Hubs │
│ │ Rooftop │ └─────────────┘
└──────┼──────────────────────┘
│
│
│
│
│
│
│
│
│ ethernet + poe
│
│
▼
To Indoor Router
Note that the Omnitik has 5 ethernet ports, allowing for a 360 degree sector coverage via 3x sectors, an uplink, meshing, and an access point, all in a tidy package that can be mounted on a single pole.
Custom Hubs
Custom hubs can be any shape and size. For example, a small Hub consisting of an 1x Omnitik, 1x LiteBeam, and only 1x LAP-120 is completely valid, and a great way to deploy a lower cost hub, with an eye towards increasing capacity later as necessary.
We will post diagrams of more example hub topologies soon - check back later!