Wireless network laboratory for education and research in developing countries

The lack of technical equipment is one of the hurdles in facing challenges in engineering education and basic research for universities in developing countries. In this paper we present a low-cost laboratory mostly based on commercial off-the-shelf wifi routers. A basic workbench is made out of three second hand wireless routers. Our local market provided plenty of used D-Link DIR-300. Total cost of the basic workbench has dropped through the years, from $150.00 in the year 2008 to $15.00 at present. The main purpose of the laboratory has been teaching basic computer networks concepts, wireless networks configurations, industrial protocols, cross compiling, Linux scripting, mesh networks and so on. This modest laboratory is powerful enough to allow some basic research on hardware and software components for very hot topics like Internet of Things and Industrial Internet. We believe this ultra low-cost laboratory, not necessary based on D-Link DIR-300, could be very useful for universities in developing countries.