[CUWiN] Slate on community wireless networks

[Sascha Meinrath]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, Todd Boyle wrote:

>>> CUWiN has multiple links that are way over 300 feet and can make solid 
> links through trees of several hundred meters....
>
> Sascha,
>
> Just briefly, like one paragraph, could you update us on the present 
> cost of hardware/antenna etc. for one complete node? Has it come down at 
> all?  Also-- is the software proving robust in operation i.e. once the 
> thing is setup does it crash from time to time (and if so, does it 
> startup ok without a "truck roll" when the node's owner repower it??)

Very briefly: we've been buying our nodes from Metrix (which I recommend 
highly) -- the website for our base node is: 
http://metrix.net/metrix/products/packages We use the Mark I ($330 -- less 
for Community Wireless Groups), then add PoE Injectors ($30), 8-9dbi omni 
antennas ($50), and patch cables ($25).  After you add masts, chimney 
mounts, ethernet cable, etc. it's about $450-500.  CUWiN also has a CD-ROM 
bootable image that can run on an old (recycled) desktop; in that case 
your only expenses are the wireless card, antenna, and patch cable 
(~$150).  The software is extremely robust -- but the system will not 
scale beyond several dozen nodes until January 2005.  We've had complete, 
network-wide power-failures -- the system is entirely self-configuring, so 
when the power comes back on, all the nodes start up, self-configure, and 
form the network without any need for human intervention.

--Sascha

> At 12:27 PM 9/14/2004, Sascha Meinrath wrote:
>> On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, Paul Smith wrote:
>> 
>>> http://slate.msn.com/id/2106657/
>>> 
>>> I'm composing a response to Paul emphasizing emerging spectrum management 
>>> methods that mitigate interference.
>> 
>> This is a pretty shoddy piece of work.  I wonder how much of it was written 
>> in consultation with Ron Resnick of the WiMax Forum and where they're 
>> getting their information on Wi-Fi capabilities (since they are clearly 
>> incorrect -- CUWiN has multiple links that are way over 300 feet and can 
>> make solid links through trees of several hundred meters before things 
>> become marginal).  I do agree that city-wide WiFi systems won't be "free", 
>> but they'll be "free to the end-users" if they're municipally supported 
>> (thus helping to eliminate the digital divide and allowing _all_ users to 
>> get online, not just the priviledged few who can afford it).
>> 
>> More importantly, the cost of municipally-funded networks are an order of 
>> magnitude less than the profit-driven business models that Paul Boutin 
>> supports.  In addition, drawing up a false dichotomy, "there will soon be 
>> two options for wireless -- spotty coverage that's free or a strong signal 
>> that could cost as much as your cell phone plan" completely ignores the 
>> fact (which we've all seen or personally experienced) that cell phone 
>> signals are themselves quite spotty -- the real breakdown is between 
>> low-cost wireless networks and high-cost wireless networks, both of which 
>> can be spotty or good depending on how well they're built.  Finally, Paul 
>> Boutin completely ignores the possibility that parts of the Public Airwaves 
>> should be made available by the FCC to provide a leve playing field between 
>> major telecomm companies and Community Wireless Networks. Given that the 
>> Public Airwaves exist to serve _the public_ -- it is logical that 
>> municipally-supported networks have access to them in order to build 
>> networks that serve the public.
>> 
>> --Sascha
>> 
>> --
>> Sascha Meinrath
>> Project Manager & Pres.  *  Project Coordinator  *  Project Manager
>> Acorn Worker Collective *** CU Wireless Network *** Eggplant Active Media
>> www.acorncollective.com  *  www.cuwireless.net   *  www.eggplantmedia.com
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>

-- 
Sascha Meinrath
Project Manager & Pres.  *  Project Coordinator  *  Project Manager
Acorn Worker Collective *** CU Wireless Network *** Eggplant Active Media
www.acorncollective.com  *  www.cuwireless.net   *  www.eggplantmedia.com