You can’t block users from private Meraki mesh networks

If someone knows the WPA2 password to your Meraki mesh network, and you want to block them, you can’t. The block function only works on the public network. Meraki’s Jeff Gould explains in an email to me:

The blocking function works only on the public network. There is no blocking capacity on the private Meraki Network. There are a variety of folks who would like to have this functionality and I believe that we will have features to address this in 2009.

Wow. So, like, sometime this year? That’s kind of vague.

Right now, it seems the only way to keep someone that knows your password off your network is to change your password.

Wireless Corktown expands east

I’m really happy to report that SSID Corktown_Free extends a little farther east on Queen Street, thanks to Val, a neighbour I met this past weekend, and Savoury Grounds, the new coffee shop.

You can see an updated coverage map here, and more details on the project here.

Excellent t-shirts I have recently received as gifts, part 2

Knowing my affinity for mesh networking, Tristan had this shirt made for me as a birthday gift this year.

Fun fact: Tristan had this shirt made at LogoMagik across the street from me. A few months ago, when I emailed LogoMagik to see if they were interesting in joining my mesh network thing, they didn’t reply.

Mesh network update

My little Meraki-based public WiFi project has expanded south.

Marty Millionaire on the southwest corner of Queen and Parliament now has a repeater.

If you’re in the neighbourhood, look for SSID Corktown .

Free Neighbourhood WiFi at Queen and Parliament

Inspired by Peter Rukavina’s experiments with mesh networking, I ordered three Meraki Minis this week, and installed two of them this morning. One sits on a bookshelf in our living room, and the other points north out our back window.

You can see the status of the network, named Corktown, right here online. And if you’re in the neighbourhood, you’re welcome to use the connection.

I’d love to try and convince other residents and businesses to jump on the mesh networking bandwagon, but I don’t really know how to explain the benefits to them. I’m thinking of a flyer, posted to lamposts at the intersection of Queen and Parliament:

Dear [List of neighbourhood SSIDs here],

You probably pay a lot for high-speed internet. I know I do.

Want to share? Make things cheaper, faster, and better for everyone?

Let’s start a wireless mesh network.

Would you bite? I would, but I’m a geek like that.