[HOT] Using Wifi to make phone calls from mobiles using a router.

[john whelan]

I've looked at serval and its a mesh network that has some complexity and
its not as reliable as one might desire.  It's better at text messages than
phone calls especially if there are delays in getting across the network.
Also it really needs a special router with custom software.  They
recommended a portable TP-Link router the MR3020 but no longer do so as the
US government has tightened restrictions on modified routers.  The software
moves forward when they can get funding so their mesh extender design is
five years old at the moment.

csip simple is open source and has many users.  Normally its used to a
server such as Asterisk an open source telephone exchange and ideally for a
large implementation you'd go that route.  If you need to go beyond one
router there are mesh network solutions that don't need an Internet
connection.  Asterisk is available as on a dvd image as a instant install
that insalls Unix as well.  A laptop has sufficient processing power but
setting the parameters is not something an unskilled person can do in the
field without very clear instructions.

The advantage of csip used in this way is it can be used on a small network
and its relatively simple to set up.  All you need is the ip address of the
phone you are calling.  It can use normal unmodified wifi routers. The
TP-link MR3020 for example can be battery powered.  There are advantages in
terms of keeping the electronics safe from fluctuating voltages.

There are other options such as Firechat but they aren't Open Source also
they rely on the functionality of the version of Android you are using.
The later versions of Android have things such as WiFi direct which means
in theory you can connect two devices without using anything else.
Unfortunately there isn't much software around at the moment capable of
using it.

I'm not saying csip meets all requirements and it does need documentation
to make it easier to use in the field.

If you start at the requirements then I think they include:

Independence from the Internet.  Either because it isn't available or
because the bandwidth available is insufficient to meet demand.

Works on a a range of mobile phones Android version 4.1 up?  You need to
define the base version.

Android or other operating systems as well?

Open Source for sanity's sake.  Proprietary systems are fine until the
company goes out of business etc.

Can a Lap Top be used as a router to hand out the IP addresses?

Can it use standard unmodified hardware or does it need a particular device?

Can it reach devices beyond the router's firewall given an ipv6 address
perhaps?

Cheerio John



On 11 January 2018 at 07:08, Milo van der Linden <milo at dogodigi.net> wrote:

> Please contact http://www.servalproject.org their project focuses exactly
> on this matter.
>
> On Jan 11, 2018 12:59 AM, "john whelan" <jwhelan0112 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> The problem was mentioned some time ago in reference to a refugee camp in
>> Europe.
>>
>> You need csip simple and to know the phone's ip address.  IP checker is
>> a simple free app that will how this.
>>
>> "Just install csip simple and create a profile called "user", not linked
>> to any server. To call another person with the same setup, you just need to
>> know his ip address. Once they have sent it via voice, email, sms or
>> whatsapp or ever (much better) a safer way like textsecure, you simply type
>> "user at 15.14.173 et cetera (basically user@ other person's ip) and their
>> Csipsimple will ring. It works and it's the purest form of Internet. "
>>
>> It doesn't have to be called user by the way.  So John or Mabel will work
>> fine.  You do need the ip address so to call John it would be
>> John at 192.168.2.99 mabel at 192.168.2.33
>>
>> You do not need the router to be connected to the internet for this to
>> work by the way.
>>
>> Cut and paste should work.  So stick the wifi router up high and you
>> should be able to cover a fair range.
>>
>> Cheerio John
>>
>>
>>
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