La Fonera

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

La Fonera is a WLAN - router , which by the Wi-Fi hotspot -Unternehmen Fon was offered a reduced price to a global network build. At the beginning of 2018, the production and sale of the devices was discontinued. Except for the first two models, all devices can still be used and give access to the Fon network.

hardware

Fonera (FON2100 and FON 2200)

La Fonera (FON2100 or FON2200)
La Fonera (FON2100) internal router, top side
La Fonera (FON2100) router internal, bottom

The router, released in October 2006, contains an Atheros chipset for WLAN, a 10 / 100MBit Ethernet port and an antenna that is connected via an RP-SMA socket.

System-on-chip Atheros AR2315
CPU clock 183 MHz
flash memory 8 MB
R.A.M. 16 MB

The device is operated with a 5 V / 2 A (FON2100) or 7.5V / 1A (FON2200) switching power supply and consumes around 7 W in practice (operated with the original power supply). There are three green light-emitting diodes on the top: WLAN, Internet (LAN port) and power. A flat network cable is also included in the scope of delivery. La Fonera supports the IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g standards with speeds up to 54 Mbps with a frequency of 2.4 GHz. WEP (64/128 bit) or WPA, WPA2 with TKIP, AES are used for WLAN authentication and encryption. The manufacturer of the Fonera is the Accton company .

There are further connections internally: Underneath is a serial interface with 3.3V level and another antenna connection.

These two models no longer work with FON (discontinued by the provider at the end of 2014).

Fonera + (FON2201)

The Fonera + model appeared in July 2007. This router differs from its predecessor in that it has two 10/100 Mbit Ethernet ports (one for internal (LAN) and one for external (WAN)). The device is operated with a 7.5V switching power supply.

Fonera 2.0g (FON2202)

The Fonera 2 model appeared in April 2009. Compared to the Fonera +, the RAM has been increased to 32 MB and the supply voltage reduced to 5V. This model also has a USB port.

Fonera 2.0n (FON2303)

The Fonera 2.0n model, released in July 2009, resulted in major hardware changes. This device has 4 internal 10 / 100MBit Ethernet ports and 2 fixed antennas. Ralink was installed here as the chipset. the main memory was expanded again and the supply voltage increased to 12V. Thanks to the support of 802.11n , the data throughput in the WLAN area could be increased to 300 Mbit.

System-on-chip Ralink
CPU clock 380 MHz
flash memory 8 MB
R.A.M. 64 MB

Fonera SIMPL (FON2305 / FON2405)

With this router, as the name suggests, the range of functions and hardware equipment was significantly reduced in favor of the purchase price. The device only has 4 MB flash memory and 16 MB RAM. In addition, there is only 1 internal 10/100 Mbit Ethernet port. You won't find a USB port on the small case.

Fon Wi-Fi Router (FON2601E)

In Japan, the Fon Wi-Fi Router was released in November 2013 in cooperation with the network operator SoftBank. The model with the designation FON2601E offers for the first time dual band support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz as well as support for 802.11ac , whereby the data throughput in the area of ​​WLAN could be increased to 866 Mbit. This model also has a USB connection and two Ethernet ports (an internal LAN port with 10 / 100MBit and an external WAN port with, for the first time, 10 / 100MBit / 1000MBit). The device is operated with a 12V power supply. In addition, the design of the antenna has been changed in this model so that it is now inside the housing.

Fonera Mini (FON2412)

Fonera MINI (FON2412)

In 2014 an updated version of the Fonera Simpl appeared in a smaller housing under the names FON2412A and FON2412B. The design and the technical data were largely retained.

Gramophone

The gramophone hardware was funded through Kickstarter and has been available since 2014. The device is an 8 × 8 × 4 cm small black box that is not only connected as a router, but also as a wireless jukebox with the stereo system or loudspeaker via a 3.5 mm jack plug. The first devices still have a public Fon WLAN. This is no longer the case with devices delivered later.

To play music, the device APP Allplay or Spotify can be remotely controlled. There is only a button on the device to start and stop playback. The status is indicated by a colored LED. As with the Fonera Simpl, the firmware updates automatically.

System on chip Qualcomm AR9341
CPU clock 530
flash memory 16 MB
R.A.M. 64 MB
Wifi 2x2 802.11bgn

Fonera for Business

A business version has been available since 2015. In terms of hardware, it is somewhat better equipped than the Fonera Simpl, but it differs fundamentally from the private version. With the operation of this Fonera, the owner no longer has access to the global Fon network. Fonera provides the operator with extensive statistics and analysis options.

software

A specially adapted variant of the open source software OpenWrt runs on the router together with the open source hotspot software CoovaChilli , to which users have to log in to use the hotspot.

The special features of the OpenWrt version used are:

  • The configuration is only possible via the Fon web interface or partly via the Fon account.
  • A "heartbeat" signals to FON that the router is online. The status at http://maps.fon.com/ will be adjusted accordingly.
  • The router automatically downloads and installs firmware updates from FON.
  • The firmware prevents the technically possible, exclusive operation according to 802.11b. The technically less favorable mixed operation of 802.11b + g, however, is supported.

With the help of signed firmware, FON wants to prevent other firmware from being downloaded to the router. In the meantime it is still possible to install an unsigned OpenWrt or DD-WRT with a little effort.

history
version Code name publication Comments / innovations
Older version; no longer supported: 2.3.6.0 Gari the Hummingbird April 8, 2010
Older version; no longer supported: 2.3.6.1 Gari jr August 25, 2010 Bug fixes
Older version; no longer supported: 2.3.7.0 Paco the alpaca December 28, 2012 u. a. Support of large USB hard drives, improved WLAN and network functionality
Current version: 2.3.7.1 Paco Jr December 26, 2013 Bug fixes
Future version: trunk
Legend:
Old version
Older version; still supported
Current version
Current preliminary version
Future version

The original FON firmware can be downloaded from the fonosfera website.

From the Fonera Simpl onwards, the firmware is no longer updated by the user, but is done automatically by FON.

Networks

Two SSIDs are active, a private one with WPA2 encryption and a public one with the prefix “FON_”. The private SSID is intended for private use by the operator. All Fon users can use the public SSID. In addition, the hotspot operator can use his Fon account to set up five special accounts whose users can go online indefinitely using the public SSID. In addition, access to the Internet offers of various FON partners is possible without registration. In addition, the hotspot operator has the option of approving a website or IP address of his choice for use without registration.

Firmware

The firmware developed by FON for the “La Fonera” router is always only delivered signed, so that it is not possible to use the router with unsigned firmware. Due to various gaps in the CGI-BIN server extension "Haserl" used by FON for firmware versions 0.7.0r4 to 0.7.1r1 and based on PHP, special commands can be introduced into the router through which SSH access to the router is possible and the lock can be deactivated. Since the firmware update versions 0.7.1r2 or higher, which FON has automatically installed on all routers accessible via the Internet since the beginning of January 2007, close these gaps, a different approach must be taken. With a simple reset (see links), all changes made since the last full version of the firmware was installed, including the firmware updates, are deleted and the router is thus reset to an earlier firmware. However, if the last full firmware version is more recent than 0.7.1r1, a reset will of course not help in this case. However, if you log on to a manipulated DNS and RADIUS server with such a device, such as the one that has become known as the "Rosin Hack", the Fon firmware will use its own auto-update function to command Activation of SSH access pushed under.

There is a serial interface on the board, but it is not routed to the outside. Since this interface works with 3.3V level, a level converter must be interposed in order to be able to connect the router to a normal serial interface. This can be used to access the Redboot bootloader, which can then be slipped with a different image (e.g. older firmware version).

So far it has been possible to install the following firmware on the La Fonera router:

Hardware extension

The La Fonera has seven GPIOs (General Purpose Input / Output), which allow various hardware extensions. The first model (La Fonera 2100) has four of these GPIOs next to the LAN socket. On the following model (La Fonera 2200) on the underside of the circuit board. For example, an SD card, external sound card or extended electronics for controlling various other electronic devices can be connected to these GPIOs. However, since GPIOs are only designed for simple control tasks, the data transfer rate to the SD card is no more than approx. 150KB / s.

The current version of OpenWrt includes a driver for controlling SD cards via GPIO.

Heat issue

The first hardware revision of the La Fonera (La Fonera 2100) can get so hot when operated in poorly ventilated rooms and at high ambient temperatures that the housing can be deformed and the electronics damaged. This problem was eliminated with the next hardware revision (from La Fonera 2200). This model also manages without the passive heat sink, which was located above the CPU in the previous model.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ "Manufacture and sale of Foneras has been discontinued" I have an old Fonera. Where can I find support documentation? Retrieved January 1, 2019 (American English).
  2. ↑ http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/fon/fonera
  3. ↑ Accton Technology (English) - manufacturer of the router hardware, (among others) for La Fonera
  4. ↑ Fon switches Foneras off . In: blogdoch reloaded . December 5, 2014 ( online [accessed July 15, 2018]).
  5. ↑ Email list: [fonosfera] Fwd: the end of our old "foneras"? December 5, 2014, accessed July 15, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Fonera with OLSR ( Memento from April 7, 2013 in the web archive archive.today )
  7. ↑ http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/fon/fonera2
  8. ↑ fonera2.ON Hardware ( Memento from December 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ gramophone. Retrieved June 9, 2015 .
  10. ↑ CoovaChilli (English) - website of the free access controller software, for La Fonera
  11. ↑ http://dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/LaFonera_Software_Flashing
  12. ↑ http://stefans.datenbruch.de/lafonera/#kolofonium
  13. ↑ FoneraTTY ( Memento from February 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  14. ↑ http://www.larsen-b.com/Article/262.html