Add the auto option to the mesh bridge to let the bridge come up even if the ethernet interface is not activated https://lists.open-mesh.org/pipermail/b.a.t.m.a.n/2011-December/005872.html

root_file_system/default/etc/config/network

@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ config 'interface' 'loopback'
 
 config 'interface' 'wlanmesh'
         option 'ifname' 'ath1'
-        option 'mtu' '1527'
+        option 'mtu' '1528'
 
 config 'interface' 'mesh'
         option 'type' 'bridge'
         option 'ifname' 'eth0.1 ath0 bat0 tap0'
+	option 'auto' '1'
 
 config 'switch' 'eth0'
         option 'name' 'eth0'

root_file_system/dir300/etc/config/network

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ config 'interface' 'wlanmesh'
 config 'interface' 'mesh'
         option 'type' 'bridge'
         option 'ifname' 'eth0.1 ath0 bat0 tap0'
-	option 'stp'	'1'
+	option 'auto' '1'
 
 config 'switch' 'eth0'
         option 'name' 'eth0'

root_file_system/fonera/etc/config/network

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ config 'interface' 'wlanmesh'
 config 'interface' 'mesh'
         option 'type' 'bridge'
         option 'ifname' 'ath0 bat0 tap0'
+	option 'auto' '1'
 
 # To get Freifunk on the ethernet port (for a desktop pc for example), comment out
 # the lan interface section and add eth0 to the ifnames of the mesh interface.

root_file_system/wr1043nd/etc/config/network

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ config 'interface' 'wlanmesch'
 config 'interface' 'mesh'
         option 'type' 'bridge'
         option 'ifname' 'eth0.1 wlan0 bat0 tap0'
+	option 'auto' '1'
 
 config 'interface' 'wan'
         option 'ifname' 'eth0.2'

root_file_system/wr741nd/etc/config/network

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ config 'interface' 'wlanmesch'
 config 'interface' 'mesh'
         option 'type' 'bridge'
         option 'ifname' 'eth0 wlan0 bat0 tap0'
+	option 'auto' '1'
 
 config 'interface' 'wan'
         option 'ifname' 'eth1'