View Full Version : metropolitan area wireless network anyone?
StephanB
06-09-2003, 07:05 PM
would anyone be interested in trying to create a metropolitan wireless network? I've been playing around a lot with normal off the shelf stuff & it manages links of 5km quite well with a good antenna. It seems to be quite popular overseas. here is a link to such a community for those interested in reading up: http://melbourne.wireless.org.au
Thimee
07-09-2003, 11:52 PM
Sounds like a fun idea, dunno how legal it is what with Telkom's monopoly on data transmission across public space. But if it's a smallish number of users, using legal power outputs of devices (such as the network that CB operators set up a few years ago) then i'm sure you'd get several users to participate.
What you are suggesting is not legal...
Thimee
08-09-2003, 11:15 AM
AFAIK, if you are a non profit organisation or user (such as Radio Ham) then it actually is legal to transmit data over a public space using public frequencies (such as 27Mhz for garage door openers, car alarms etc, then 2.4-2.7 GHz for the newer wireless stuff). It becomes illegal the moment money is charged, or a profit is made.
It's very interesting to read the article about regulations surrounding wireless technology, mentioned elsewhere on the forum. For example, a cafe could legally provide wireless networking for it's customers, provided the service is not charged for. Same applies to enthusiasts setting up a wireless network with in the power output specifications stipulated by law.
Solar
13-09-2003, 06:24 PM
Well... at the moment we are running such a connection. We've got about 20 users with 2 AP's covering a radial area of about 2 km's. Lekka for gaming and sharing mp3s... (my own legal mp3s of course ;) )...
SATRA on the other hand told us that it is illegal to broadcast over property lines.. even if you don't charge money for the service.
StephanB
17-09-2003, 12:45 AM
hi Solar
you should list yourself on http://www.nodedb.net and encourage other users to do it aswell, that way interested ppl can locate nodes near them and the networks can expand.
Drusky
16-12-2005, 01:05 PM
Pity this never made it past one page. It's a damn good idea.
RichardP
16-12-2005, 03:37 PM
There are a few up... Jawug is one, myself is online (stand alone tho... trying to justify the cost for 5Ghz hardware to do a long distance link) ... people in benoni are welcome to link in my way. There are several points of view, but I stand by my view that its not Illegal to do wifi links for non-profit use.
antowan
16-12-2005, 05:43 PM
www.jawug.za.net
Drusky
16-12-2005, 05:47 PM
Thats cool
And good ol' Port Elizabeth?
MyDraadloos
16-12-2005, 06:35 PM
Thats cool
And good ol' Port Elizabeth?
You have sufficient wind ..... just throw a CD up into the air and the wind will carry your data.
peered95
16-12-2005, 10:18 PM
hehehe...good one :)
skydog
16-12-2005, 10:44 PM
just for anyone that is reading this thread and doesn't know.
http://www.jawug.za.net - JHB
http://www.dwc.za.net - Durban
http://www.pwp.za.net - Pretoria
http://www.ctwug.za.net - Capetown
for Free Metropolitan Broadband and beyond