AoDv

From C, sigspy shows
A = Quality:246/92 Signal level:-27 dBm Noise level:-37 dBm
B = Quality:238/92 Signal level:-30 dBm Noise level:-37 dBm
Using WIANA, the Neighbour Status table shows
C to A @ -68
C to B @ -78
Using WIANA, the Neighbor Status picture shows
C to A @ 103
C to B @ 97
Now by my reckoning, C to A is the better signal (-68), yet the node 
selected B.
Why is that?
AODV works on the shortest distance, and they are both the same 
number of hops. There are also algorithms to test signal strength 
against threshold values (minsig), and to test the link to see that 
data is sent across it successfully. These apply in this instance as 
both gateways are one hop away, but both appear to be well above 
these values.
So, with two routes of equal value, it ends up that the node chooses 
whichever gateway responds first. To modify this behaviour, the 
Preferred Gateway and Lock to Gateway settings exist.
It is not whether a node has the best link (as the gateway might be 
several hops away, the client meshbox won't know which is the best 
link to follow), but whether the links are good enough. If you have 
11Mbps traffic, then increased signal strength isn't going to help 
you a whole lot.
=== Routing ===
i promise not to keep asking so
simple questions but i need these answers so i can start my research in my
library of networking books
Eddie,
Routing on the internet is more stable because in general the internet 
is a star network (Like cable TV) and where there are alternatives they are 
resolved by routing protocols which are deliberately slugged to be slow 
to change, and thus minimise the routes switching around.
In your reading look for "routing flap"
Also on the internet the paths are almost always asymetric. This is 
because ISPs want to do, and BGP the inter-isp routing protocol 
facilitates, something colloquially known as "hot potato routing." Hot 
Potato routing means getting the packet onto the target ISP's network 
as fast as possible (the network is identified by an ASN -- Autonomus 
System Number. This is partly why one gets extremely variable VoIP 
performance on long-haul, unless the person you're phoning uses the same (Tier 2, Tier 
1) ISP
There is a good discussion of routing in Computer Networks by Andrew S 
Tannenbaum from Prentice-Hall. And yes, despite the advert and the 
confrontational tone Jeremy is right, for a fixed (wireless) network 
conventional routing is probably more appropriate, but for the original 
community wireless goals AODV has the big benefit of not needing 
someone vaguely IP literate to get things going, all you need do is set your 
ESSID and put a stick in the air
=== links ===
MeshNetworking
Category:Mesh
Category:Mesh AODV