Hello  everyone,

I am somewhat new to this but let me give you all an intro about me, what I am looking to do, and a few questions.

I am an IT guy who recently (3/2014) was appointed ARES Emergency Coordinator for my county. Being the IT nerd I am and my new interest in ARES, I have started the beginning of a mesh network project. I have a few Linksys WRT54G's I am playing with, one of which has the Hamnet firmware installed. I did notice that this is a very basic/simple to use firmware but it left me with a few questions.

1. I would like to implement a VOIP/SIP solution to have another form of communication when the mesh is deployed. Is there an easy to implement solution that will use the mesh to to make phone calls to other phones on the mesh? Maybe its just better/easier to use Mesh Potatoes. They are being used by other ARES groups too. :)

2. Not to take away from BBHN which I feel is a great resource and mesh network firmware solution, and taking into consideration of the Linksys end of life, are there other widely used, supported, mesh focused firmwares out there?

3. Am I able to install "packages" with this firmware like what can be done in DD-WRT and OpenWRT, or is this a "it is what it is" type firmware? Im just curious about this in regards to being able to add extra functionality (if needed) to the Hamnet firmware.

Thank you all for the help.

1. Navigate to HSMM-MESH Info --> Videos --> and click on "Install Asterisk on a Raspberry Pi." Alternatively, you can use AsteriskNOW (or any other PBX) in it's place.

2. Please note that the firmware will still be readily available, but no longer updated.

3. BBHN/HSMM-MESH uses OpenWRT. So, you can install whatever packages you would like.

1. No question is a stupid question. :) Asterisk can be installed directly onto a router (I've personally tested 3 con-current calls 6 phones channels and left them open for two+ hours spread out all over a building without any jitter or choppy sound). Let me dig up my documentation from two years ago and I will point you to the correct link.

Here is a link to a minimalistic GUI for asterisk on the node as well: http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/hsmm-mesh-forums/view-postlist/forum-9-voip/topic-354-asterisk-gui-management.html

I would place it as an install-and-configure type solution. Maybe I am a fast learner, but I learned/figured out how to do all of this in one month where I started from not knowing anything about Linux other than "cd" and "ls."