Question: Which benefits will I have if I'm using the FreeWLAN add-ons? Until now I have not found any useful information about this topic. What will change, what will be added?

Answer: Ok, let's make a small listing about the most important built-in improvements of the FreeWLAN add-ons (version 0.8.6):

  • Improvements on the status-page, now showing all connected clients (to the MyPlace signal as well as to FON_AP, including MAC, IP and speed of the connection), and all three MACs of the Fonera.
  • Providing a statistics-page showing the current time, the Fonera's uptime since its last booting, the current load-average and a graphical view of the Fonera's load during the last 1, 5 and 15 minutes.
  • Considerable improvements to the webinterface's view while using MS InternetExplorer. We hope to be able to remove all remaining view's disturbances (e.g. at Opera's and IE's view) too soon. Furthermore we have managed some more 'cosmetics' adjustments.
  • Providing a help-function for a lot of the webinterface's pages. We are undertaking a lot of efforts to do so for all pages.
  • The Fonera works now in 802.11b only-mode too.
  • Providing further languages. At the moment Dutch and Romanian are already added. Of course all other translations are welcomed too, but we cannot translate them by our own. So we need your help to extend the webinterface's language selection menu with your favourite''
  • Providing a backup and restore opportunity for your settings.
  • Providing a soft(ware) reset feature.
  • Providing advanced settings ('firewalling') to control all requests accessing the Fonera via SSH.
  • Adding support for the FonFan heartbeat. Note: The usage of this function assumes a FonFan account'.
  • Adding a console to execute Linux shell commands (and to view the messages they create) direct via webinterface.
  • Implementation of two new operating modes: QRM, short for quasi-repeater-mode (only), and QRM with bridging. Thus allows to integrate the Fonera much more flexible to your already existing WLAN or to use the Fonera (with some limitations) as a WLAN adapter for computers without WLAN hardware.
  • Now it's only your decision whether to use a FON-update or not. FON will no longer be able to update your Fonera via Internet without your previous decision.

This list is not exhaustive! Please note that all details of the features listed above may change at any time at any of the future updates! Only for the sake of completeness I will remind you of the FreeWLAN add-ons' (disengageable) auto-update. So an one-time installation of the FreeWLAN add-ons guarantees you a perpetual 'up-to-date' Fonera! Incidentally the FreeWLAN add-ons also always include all the (function-relevant) parts of the FON firmware updates that have been issued by FON since their firmware 0.7.1r1. Thus even therefore one will not have to think anymore.

Question: Are there any problems with FON or limits?

Answer: In general there are no problems with FON, as we undertake a lot of efforts to make sure FON functionality still remains. That's why we try to change the FON firmware as little as possible. On the other hand no coder on earth will give you a guarantee for (absolute) clean software development. Due to the wide range of possible settings and combinations it's in fact impossible to test all scenarios. But all arising issues are discussed and solved as quick as possible by means of the FreeWLAN board. Of course all issues (and hopefully solutions) will be taken into consideration releasing the next update.

Question: If necessary is there a way back to the original FON firmware?

Answer: As you never leave behind the original FON firmware when you use the FreeWLAN add-ons, where's of course (a simple) way 'back' to the original status of the Fonera. Using a simple command (rm -rf /jffs/*) on the console of your Fonera (or on the diag-page of the webinterface) or resetting your Fonera will kill all past changes. On the other hand we have never heard of anyone who killed our FreeWLAN add-ons for ever to use a FON-only-firmware again.

General information: Add-ons are, as already their name implies, never a separate (alternative) firmware, but only an additional feature-package to an existing firmware. Therefore they will never run without that firmware they are designed for.