[Cu-wireless] FAQ Additions

[Sascha Meinrath]

i've added these FAQs...  keep 'em coming.

--sascha

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004, Stephane Alnet wrote:

> Since I've no idea who maintains the website, sending to the list.
>
> Here are some suggestions for additions to the FAQ. Also we need to
> update the map on the site to add the two nodes done last week-end.
> Also I think we should mark the nodes on the map that are connected to
> the Internet (for example use a square instead of a circle) for
> everybody's sake. Just ideas..
>
> Also I'm planning to take pictures & videos of the existing ten nodes
> over the next few days (i.e. as soon as the sun re-appears) to help
> people picture what a node looks like and how visible they are, etc.
>
>
> New FAQ entries (proposal):
>
>
>
> * How do I get connected to the network?
>
> You can participate in the CU-Wireless network in either of two modes:
> <ul>
> <li>as a node providing broadband Internet access in an area without
> existing nodes;
> <li>as an edge node; in that case you will need to be close to the
> existing network.
> </ul>
> <p>
> Both types of nodes are important to the development of the network!
> Even if you do not have broadband access that you can share with the
> community, installing a new node helps extend the service area!
> <p>
> Currently the CU-Wireless network covers an area around downtown
> Urbana. You can look at the <a
> href="http://www.cuwireless.net/images/wirelessmap.jpg">map of existing
> wireless nodes</a> to find out whether you are close to the current
> network.
>
>
> * What hardware will I need?
>
> A CU-Wireless node basically consists of the following components:
> <ul>
> <li>a computer acting as a software node;
> <li>a wireless card installed in that computer;
> <li>an antenna installed as high as possible outside of the building.
> </ul>
> <p>
> There are two basic setups we are currently using:
> <ul>
> <li>generic computer system: if you have a spare computer available
> that could be used as a node; this doesn't have to be the latest and
> greatest, since we are otherwise using systems that are equivalent to
> 486 computers. However your system must be able to host a wireless card
> (via a PCI interface) and boot from CD-ROM. The operating system for
> the node is provided in the form of a bootable CD.
> <br>
> The main problem with using a generic computer is that since the cable
> between the antenna and the wireless card should be as short as
> possible, but that a generic computer can not realistically be
> outdoors, the quality of the signal is degraded.
> <li>Soekris 4521 or 4511 boards: these cards are available from <a
> href="http://www.soekris.com">Soekris</a> and host a CPU similar to a
> 486, 64MB of RAM, one (or two) PCMCIA slots, a CompactFlash slot (used
> for storing the operating system on a 64MB CF card), and a mini-PCI
> slot; they also provide two Fast-Ethernet ports and a console port.
> <br>
> We have developed housing and water-proofing solutions that allow for
> the node to be mast-mounted outdoors, and using Power-over-Ethernet, a
> single Category-5 cable is all what is required to connect the outside
> node to the inside of the building.
> </ul>
>
>
> * Location, location, location.
>
> The antenna for the node must be located outside the building. It must
> also be located as high as possible, and preferably above the roof or
> higher structure of the building. Generally this means that the antenna
> will end up on the roof, attached to the chimney or a mast. This means
> you must have access to the roof and be willing to have the antenna (&
> node) installed up there. (We will install the antenna!)
> <p>
> If you are renting, the antenna can be installed on a mast on a
> balcony. However since this strongly reduces the field available to the
> antenna, this is not an optimal solution.
> <p>
> Installing indoors antenna is not a viable option for the project.
>
>
>
>
> --
> Mayotte - http://stephane.alnet.free.fr/
> No nospam
>
> _______________________________________________
> CU-Wireless mailing list
> CU-Wireless at lists.groogroo.com
> http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/cu-wireless
> Project Page: http://cuwireless.ucimc.org
>

-- 
Sascha Meinrath
Project Manager & President      *      Project Manager
Acorn Active Media Foundation   ***     Eggplant Active Media
www.acornactivemedia.com         *      www.eggplantmedia.com