Linux/WL1835MOD: Beaglebone Green Wireless using Wi-Fi mesh : Mesh + AP & Mesh + STA

Tool/software: Linux

First, I believe it would be helpful for me to explain what we intend to use the BBGW for in our Capstone project.

The goal of our project is to relay (extend) the live stream video data from the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ drone, to the user’s cell phone. Therefore, we decided to utilize the Wi-Fi mesh functionality network to approach this solution.

The current communication network for the drone flows from Drone <-> Camera <-> Range Extender <-> User Phone

To satisfy the functionality of our project the effective range of the drone is to be extended by going through the network flow from Drone <-> camera <-> BBGW(1)  <-> BBGW(2)  <-> BBGW(3)  <-> User Phone(App for camera control and show live stream)

We have discoved the Drone, Camera, User Phone IP address and how they function within the network.

1. Defined IP addresses
   1. Drone – 192.168.1.1
   2. Camera – 192.168.1.10
   3. Range Extender – 192.168.1.2
   4. User Phone – 192.168.1.xxx

2. How the network works

1.  
   1. When the range Extender is on. Hidden SSID of camera : FC200_0176db
   2. Range Extender broad cast with Phantom_XXX

User phone connects to Phantom_XXX

I installed TI SDk + Wilink8 based on attached file "TI Wilink 8 Linux SDK"

0451.TI Wilink 8 Linux SDK.pdf

I tried to test Mesh standalone using BBGW(1) and BBGW(2)

 Based on attached filed name "swaa166.pdf"

0143.swaa166.pdf

1. So, I modified "mesh_supplicant.conf" for BBGW1 and BBGW2

*ssid = "Phantom_GS"

2. Changed the IP address for BBGW1 and BBGW2 in "mesh_start.sh"

BBGW1 : 192.168.1.3

BBGW2 : 192.168.1.4

3. Ping and Iperf test result

If seems like one of the devices has to be the server and the other has to be the client to do iperf testing

4. Mesh + STA mode 

I am trying use to Mesh + STA mode

According to Section 5.3.2.1, I have to use the wpa_supplicant configuration file (I assume I have to change the wpa_supplicant, similar to what I did on mesh_supplicant)

Here is what I got:

5. Display of Hidden SSID when mesh0 is up

After I tried Mesh + STA. I can view the Wi-Fi networks using iw dev wlan0 scan but, It shows no SSID defined but it has MESH ID as Phantom_GS which I defined in the mesh_supplicant configuration file.

6. Mesh + AP

I followed 5.4 and I got this output:

I assume I have to install some apt and upgrade the kernel? I do not want to install apt and upgrade kernel before verifying the changes with reply.

And run mesh_start.sh

It seems I have to make some additional modifications between AP and Mesh modes.

I look forward to hearing sage advice before continuing further. 

Thank you again for invaluable support,

Gi-Soo Kim