Low-cost wireless mesh communications based on openWRT and voice over internet protocol

Abstract

Technology makes it easier for us to communicate over a distance. However, there are still many remote areas that find it difficult to communicate. This is due to the fact that communication infrastructure in some areas is expensive to build while the profit will be low. This paper proposes to combine voice over internet protocol (VoIP) over mesh network implemented on openWRT router. The routers are performing mesh functions. We set up a VoIP server on a router and enabled session initiation protocol (SIP) clients on other routers. Therefore, we only need routers as a means of communication. The experiment showed very good results, in the line-of-sight (LOS) condition, they are limited to reception distances up to 145 meters while in the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) condition, they are limited to reception distances up to 55 meters.