# librerouter

> multi-radio wireless router

**Wikidata**: [Q60812978](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60812978)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/librerouter

## Summary
LibreRouter is a multi-radio wireless router designed to connect computer networks. It is the primary hardware product of the LibreRouter project, an initiative aimed at making mesh networks simple and affordable. The device's technical documentation, including schematics, is publicly accessible via the project's official website.

## Key Facts
*   **Product Type:** Multi-radio wireless router.
*   **Function:** Serves as a device to connect computer networks (Instance of: Router).
*   **Project Goal:** Aims to make mesh networks simple and affordable.
*   **Official Website:** https://librerouter.org
*   **Technical Documentation:** Schematics for version 1 are available at `https://librerouter.org/document/schematic-v1/`.
*   **Media Coverage:** Subject of a TechCrunch feature dated December 19, 2018.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the LibreRouter?
A: The LibreRouter is a multi-radio wireless router. It functions as a standard network device but is specifically engineered to facilitate the creation of mesh networks.

### Q: What is the main purpose of the LibreRouter project?
A: The project's primary objective is to make mesh networks simple and affordable, lowering the barrier to deploying decentralized community networks.

### Q: Are the hardware designs for the LibreRouter available?
A: Yes, technical documentation, including the hardware schematics for version 1, is publicly described and accessible through the official LibreRouter website.

## Why It Matters
LibreRouter matters because it addresses the specific technical and economic barriers associated with building community-owned telecommunications infrastructure. Unlike standard consumer routers, which are often optimized for single-home use and closed source, the LibreRouter is designed as a multi-radio wireless device tailored for mesh networking.

By focusing on affordability and simplicity, as noted in 2018 media coverage, the project lowers the entry threshold for communities wishing to build their own networks. The availability of detailed schematics online further distinguishes it as a tool for transparency and local autonomy, allowing users to understand, repair, and adapt the hardware to their specific connectivity needs rather than relying solely on proprietary, commercial solutions.

## Notable For
*   **Multi-Radio Architecture:** Designed with multiple radios to optimize wireless mesh performance.
*   **Accessibility:** Specifically aimed at making mesh networking "simple and affordable."
*   **Open Documentation:** Hardware schematics and design files are made publicly available for users and developers.
*   **Mesh-Specific Design:** Built explicitly to support mesh network topologies rather than just standard point-to-point or star topologies.

## Body
### Device Classification and Function
The LibreRouter is classified as a router, functioning as a device that connects computer networks. It is distinct from typical commercial routers due to its specific design as a multi-radio wireless system. This architecture allows it to manage multiple wireless connections simultaneously, a critical feature for maintaining robust mesh networks where devices must relay data to one another.

### Project Development and Documentation
The project maintains an official web presence at librerouter.org. It emphasizes open hardware principles; the schematic for the device (version 1) is documented and accessible to the public. This allows for verification of the hardware design and facilitates local manufacturing or modification.

### Strategic Impact
Highlighted in technology reporting in late 2018, the LibreRouter Project was identified for its mission to democratize network infrastructure. By integrating the complexity of mesh networking into a simpler, affordable hardware package, the project seeks to empower remote or underserved areas to build their own connectivity solutions without requiring expensive, proprietary equipment.