metropolitan area wireless network anyone?
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
Pity this never made it past one page. It's a damn good idea.
from movie Galaxy Quest"NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!"
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.
Thats cool
And good ol' Port Elizabeth?
from movie Galaxy Quest"NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!"
You have sufficient wind ..... just throw a CD up into the air and the wind will carry your data.Originally Posted by Drusky
Hydrofoil Supported Catamaran http://www.hysucat.co.za for speed on the water
FJSS http://www.fjss.co.za for custom stainless steel
hehehe...good one
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
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