The Grid Roofnet: a Rooftop Ad Hoc Wireless Network

This thesis describes the Grid Roofnet, a rooftop wireless Ad Hoc network built using off the shelf computers and 802.11 hardware along with special software. The Roofnet is a real-world testbed for wireless Ad Hoc networking research, and as a side effect also provides network access to a small number of apartments in Cambridge, MA. We describe the construction and performance of the network, and draw some conclusions about the viability of such networks and directions for future research. Thesis Supervisor: Robert T. Morris Title: Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering