Editing FreedomNode (section)

== Hardware ==

At the core of a full-featured FreedomNode is a small-form computer, designed to run continuously for years on end. The computer’s onboard capabilities can be expanded with USB mass storage, and miniPCI radio modules.

The following devices (available today) could fill the FreedomNode's basic networking roles until "full-featured" hardware becomes available or is implemented.

===== ARC Wireless FreeStation =====

'''$70''', 8MB flash, 32MB RAM, Atheros chipset. Has an 2x2 MIMO 802.11n radio and panel antenna (available with 2.4GHz or 5GHz) plus a secondary 2.4GHz local access point with omni antenna. Runs OpenWrt. Dual Ethernet (PoE) and dual USB.

* [http://www.antennas.com/freestation/ Manufacturer's info]
* [http://www.titanwirelessonline.com/ARC-FreeStation5-MIMO-p/cp-af-fs-5-arc.htm Available here]

===== Ubiquity RouterStation Pro =====
''This device is End-of-Life and no longer in production''

Reliable bare-board router. Does not come with wireless radios by default, has 3x (!) miniPCI slots (not PCIe). 128MB RAM, runs OpenWRT, Atheros chipset, 3x gigabit ethernet LAN ports, 1x ethernet WAN. Retailed for '''$80 (without radios)'''. 

* [http://www.ubnt.com/rspro Manufacturer's info]
* [http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/Ubiquiti_Networks_RouterStation_Pro wikidevi page]

===== TP-Link TL-MR3020 =====
[[File:TL-MR3020-02.jpg|thumb|x300px|alt=TP-Link TL-MR3020|TP-Link TL-MR3020]]

''Unclear if this would be an acceptable mesh node''

Very small low power travel hotspot. Designed to share 3G uplink from a USB dongle. 400MHz Atheros AR7240, 802.11b/g/n, 4MB Flash, 32MB RAM, 1x ethernet port, 1x USB host port, powered by miniUSB port. Multiple almost-identical versions of this device exist. '''$40''' (from amazon).

* [http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?model=TL-MR3020 Manufacturer's website]
* [http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_TL-MR3020 WikiDevi page]
* [http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-mr3020 OpenWrt wiki entry]

===== TP-Link TL-WR703N =====
''Not to be confused with the TL-WR'''702'''N, which has insufficient Flash and RAM for most firmware''

''Unclear if this would be an acceptable mesh node''

Very small USB-powered travel router, intended to be used as WiFi hotspot for multiple devices and/or sharing a 3G USB dongle's internet connection. Not yet FCC approved for the US and thus not yet as readily available as the cheaper 702 model? Price around '''$30 (overseas?)'''

32MB RAM, 4MB Flash, 1x USB 2.0 Host port, 1x USB device port (for power), 1x Ethernet port, Atheros AR9331 chipset. 

* [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/village-telco-dev/UlGxUTlj9mM Village Telco mailing list thread]
* [http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_TL-WR703N_v1.0 WikiDevi page]
* [http://freenetworkfoundation.org/pipermail/builders_freenetworkfoundation.org/2012-June/000693.html FNF mailing list thread on this hardware] (June 2012)

===== FreeStation =====

* http://www.titanwirelessonline.com/ARC-FreeStation5-MIMO-p/cp-af-fs-5-arc.htm
* http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/arc/freestation
* http://redd.it/v9e6d