N8CD.com

I'm looking into the options for 802.11 b/g based wireless mesh networks.

I see use for these partly to provide data coverage to augment the emergency communications angles of Amateur (ham) Radio.

While hams have a good history of providing communications in disasters, there are some capabilities that ham radio can't deliver.  I believe 802.11 networks can overcome some of these:

• Privacy: Encryption is not permitted under FCC rules in amateur radio.  This could be important in the event patient health records or other personal information is transmitted via ham radio.  Other tasks such as purchasing can also require privacy.
• Internet access: While hams can provide e-mail through Winlink and other technologies, it doesn't give web or other access.  Many businesses and organizations have built business processes around web access, and will want it in disasters.
• Speed: There are very few ways for ham radio to provide high speed data, although hams CAN do slow speed data over very long distances (worldwide with simple equipment)
• Business traffic: Hams are not permitted to carry traffic for profit or to enable it. 

A lot of other people are already working on this in their areas, and here are a few links I've found to get started.   

http://www.cuwin.net/

http://projects.powerdeveloper.org/projects.php?pending=121
http://projects.powerdeveloper.org/projects.php?project=81

http://www.wca.org/event_archives/2005/NPS_WCA_Nov2005.pdf

http://thewirelessroadshow.org/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=1

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2004/01/22/wirelessmesh.html

I'll post more on this project as it develops.