# RCBox Network Topologies RCBox is a Raspberry Pi–powered micro server and Wi-Fi hotspot that serves static content offline and hosts secure messaging and public chat. ## 1. Standalone Offline — Direct Wi-Fi Clients A single RCBox acts as an access point; clients associate directly to its Wi-Fi radio. No internet, no upstream — fully self-contained. ```mermaid flowchart TB subgraph RCBox["RCBox (Raspberry Pi)"] AP["Wi-Fi Access Point"] WEB["Static Content Server"] MSG["Secure Messaging"] CHAT["Public Chat Room"] AP --- WEB AP --- MSG AP --- CHAT end LAPTOP["Laptop"] PHONE1["Phone"] PHONE2["Phone"] TABLET["Tablet"] LAPTOP -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP PHONE1 -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP PHONE2 -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP TABLET -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP ``` ## 2. Multiple RCBoxes on a Wired LAN Several RCBoxes are joined by Ethernet and share data peer-to-peer across the wired backbone. Each RCBox continues to serve its own Wi-Fi clients. ```mermaid flowchart TB SWITCH["Ethernet Switch / Wired LAN"] subgraph BOX1["RCBox #1"] AP1["Wi-Fi AP"] SVC1["Content / Msg / Chat"] ETH1["Ethernet"] AP1 --- SVC1 SVC1 --- ETH1 end subgraph BOX2["RCBox #2"] AP2["Wi-Fi AP"] SVC2["Content / Msg / Chat"] ETH2["Ethernet"] AP2 --- SVC2 SVC2 --- ETH2 end subgraph BOX3["RCBox #3"] AP3["Wi-Fi AP"] SVC3["Content / Msg / Chat"] ETH3["Ethernet"] AP3 --- SVC3 SVC3 --- ETH3 end ETH1 --- SWITCH ETH2 --- SWITCH ETH3 --- SWITCH C1["Laptop"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP1 C2["Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP1 C3["Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP2 C4["Tablet"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP2 C5["Laptop"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP3 SVC1 <== "peer sync" ==> SVC2 SVC2 <== "peer sync" ==> SVC3 SVC1 <== "peer sync" ==> SVC3 ``` ## 3. RCBox with Wi-Fi HaLow Extended Range An RCBox uplinks to a Wi-Fi HaLow hub router. Remote endpoints reach the hub via HaLow bridges — one bridging a client device, another bridging a second RCBox at distance. ```mermaid flowchart TB subgraph BOX1["RCBox #1 (primary)"] AP1["Wi-Fi AP (2.4/5 GHz)"] SVC1["Content / Msg / Chat"] AP1 --- SVC1 end HUB["Wi-Fi HaLow Hub Router"] BR1["HaLow Bridge A"] BR2["HaLow Bridge B"] CLIENT["Remote Client (Laptop)"] subgraph BOX2["RCBox #2 (remote)"] AP2["Wi-Fi AP"] SVC2["Content / Msg / Chat"] AP2 --- SVC2 end LOCAL1["Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP1 LOCAL2["Laptop"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP1 BOX1 <== "Ethernet / Wi-Fi" ==> HUB HUB <-. "HaLow (long range)" .-> BR1 HUB <-. "HaLow (long range)" .-> BR2 BR1 --- CLIENT BR2 === BOX2 LOCAL3["Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> AP2 SVC1 <== "peer sync over HaLow" ==> SVC2 ``` ## 4. Opportunistic Mobile Mesh A stationary RCBox anchors a location. Mobile RCBoxes — one mounted in a bus, another on a motorcycle — carry data as they move, syncing opportunistically whenever they come within Wi-Fi range of the base or each other (a store-and-forward "sneakernet over Wi-Fi"). ```mermaid flowchart TB subgraph BASE["Stationary RCBox (fixed location)"] APB["Wi-Fi AP"] SVCB["Content / Msg / Chat"] STOREB[("Local Data Store")] APB --- SVCB SVCB --- STOREB end LC1["Local Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> APB LC2["Local Laptop"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> APB subgraph BUS["Mobile RCBox — Bus"] APBUS["Wi-Fi AP"] SVCBUS["Content / Msg / Chat"] STOREBUS[("Local Data Store")] APBUS --- SVCBUS SVCBUS --- STOREBUS end PBUS1["Passenger Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> APBUS PBUS2["Passenger Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> APBUS subgraph MOTO["Mobile RCBox — Motorcycle"] APM["Wi-Fi AP"] SVCM["Content / Msg / Chat"] STOREM[("Local Data Store")] APM --- SVCM SVCM --- STOREM end RIDER["Rider Phone"] -. "Wi-Fi" .-> APM SVCB <-. "sync when in range" .-> SVCBUS SVCB <-. "sync when in range" .-> SVCM SVCBUS <-. "sync when in range" .-> SVCM ```