Free networks gain ground

Ryder_JHB said:
You chaps know that you can get away with a Linksys / Asus / etc etc access point too?
It's even possible to use an old pc (P1, P2, P3) with a cheapish pci wifi card installed.
My main router (inside my ceiling) is actually a small form factor motherboard from a NAS (Network Attached Storage) server! It had three mini-pci slots on, so it was ideal!

Just wanted to add to the above... A lot of us have been doing this for a while, and have built up quite a lot of experience with most things wifi, and you may very well find that, after chatting to us in irc (irc.jawug.za.net #wnet) that you may have something lying around at home that can be used, or adapted to get you connected.... The key is to chat to us!
Click to expand...

I have a Gigabyte Access Point...
 
jak3 said:
I have los but i cant say i feel like spending R1800 at the moment. What the absolutely cheapest way to connect?
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A R200 pci-wifi card, a R100 length of cable, and a Pringles Can!

It is possible, but as I was explaining to another user the other day, if everyone used their laptops, or pc's, rather than dedicated routers, it would seriously hamper other interested people's ability to connect via you!

Each and every user ideally has a permanent 24/7 active kit on their roof, and in so doing, expand the network for others to connect via them!
 
Hi. ok... firstly, does anyone know the hill just east of Hatfield, next to N1, is there good signal there? (pardon my ignorance). Also, I would like to try to talk with the IT management of Pretoria university to join their residence network (a pioneer res network of over 1000 pc's) to this wireless network. Not sure what the advantages, disadvantages would be, as well as any possible security breaches? can someone PM me? shot
 
tco21 said:
Hi. ok... firstly, does anyone know the hill just east of Hatfield, next to N1, is there good signal there? (pardon my ignorance). Also, I would like to try to talk with the IT management of Pretoria university to join their residence network (a pioneer res network of over 1000 pc's) to this wireless network. Not sure what the advantages, disadvantages would be, as well as any possible security breaches? can someone PM me? shot
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have a look on google earth and on their site you can download all the users info.
 
tco21 said:
Hi. ok... firstly, does anyone know the hill just east of Hatfield, next to N1, is there good signal there? (pardon my ignorance). Also, I would like to try to talk with the IT management of Pretoria university to join their residence network (a pioneer res network of over 1000 pc's) to this wireless network. Not sure what the advantages, disadvantages would be, as well as any possible security breaches? can someone PM me? shot
Click to expand...

plot your location on www.wug.za.net and do a line of sight calculation to the Groenkloof Highsite, if u are on a hill it should be fine.

check www.ptawug.co.za getting started section for a step to step guide
 
jak3 said:
I have los but i cant say i feel like spending R1800 at the moment. What the absolutely cheapest way to connect?
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The R1800 you spend will be the absolute cheapest connection you have. Cause you will never pay a cent from thereon :)

Do the math :cool:
 
I'll be moving into a new flat and will get some equipment soonish. this looks promising!
 
TheRoDent said:
The R1800 you spend will be the absolute cheapest connection you have. Cause you will never pay a cent from thereon :)

Do the math :cool:
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But most connections i have had up to this point connect me to billions of pc's in the form of the real internet.

R1800 is alot if you don't know what u are going to get when u connect. Generally the answer is something in the line of "what do you want to get from it". That simply isnt good enough.

I would like a list of activities. What is there to do? What will this R1800 get me. A detailed list is the only thing which will convince the average user,and i think someone needs to make one.

E.g

What websites are hosted within the network?
How up to date are the p2p networks?
What games exactly are popular, and how many people play them during peak times?

What other cool things are done with the network?

i think you can understand where i am going here. If you want the network to grow you will have to sell the experience a little better.
 
jak3 said:
But most connections i have had up to this point connect me to billions of pc's in the form of the real internet.

R1800 is alot if you don't know what u are going to get when u connect. Generally the answer is something in the line of "what do you want to get from it". That simply isnt good enough.

I would like a list of activities. What is there to do? What will this R1800 get me. A detailed list is the only thing which will convince the average user,and i think someone needs to make one.

E.g

What websites are hosted within the network?
How up to date are the p2p networks?
What games exactly are popular, and how many people play them during peak times?

What other cool things are done with the network?

i think you can understand where i am going here. If you want the network to grow you will have to sell the experience a little better.
Click to expand...


A trip to our IRC channel should answer most questions. Also, you will meet us freaks, and see if you like us.
 
jak3 said:
But most connections i have had up to this point connect me to billions of pc's in the form of the real internet.

R1800 is alot if you don't know what u are going to get when u connect. Generally the answer is something in the line of "what do you want to get from it". That simply isnt good enough.

I would like a list of activities. What is there to do? What will this R1800 get me. A detailed list is the only thing which will convince the average user,and i think someone needs to make one.

E.g

What websites are hosted within the network?
How up to date are the p2p networks?
What games exactly are popular, and how many people play them during peak times?

What other cool things are done with the network?

i think you can understand where i am going here. If you want the network to grow you will have to sell the experience a little better.
Click to expand...

In terms of websites, there's our internal WUG resources pages and things like our Wiki (containing various articles such as some knowledge on Squid cache peering, squid cache optimization, routing, firewall setups), and then I know one of our members runs a quote-db on his one box, I have a bot there getting us some IRC stats..in the end, it's like a large LAN. Metropolitan Area Network, actually.

Popular games I know of are COD4, TF2, Quake3, CS:S, DOTA...(not too much of an online gamer myself, so don't really keep tabs)
p2p: dunno, don't care

What cool things? Well, anything. At the moment we're busy rolling out IPv6, and also playing with MPLS somewhat. Also got some VOIP servers internally, and we have our own DNS setup, a collection of linux repos...in the end, anything cool you can think of you can get going there.

About the R1800: it's worth every cent. You gain access to a network where you DO NOT pay for any sort of bandwidth, and as you guys probably know from the recent thread and article by rpm, our coverage now spans from Krugersdorp to Pretoria! Can still game on the WUG when your ADSL line gets rained down!

Join us on irc.wug.za.net // #wnet if you have any questions, we're always around (kinda..if it's a bit quiet, just hang around till someone pops in)

Disclaimer: all things said above are about open networks. We do not want any WISPs trying to punt their services on the network, please.
 
Break out

I didn't really pick up if there was any form of breakout to the internet offered or if it was a closed network? It would be nice even if it was a very slow link.

@Jak3...these things are all about users offering services so maybe you could also think about doing 'stuff' on the network. If everyone thought your way these things would never get started.

We have a similar thing going in Muizenberg W.Cape with about 30 nodes and Scarborough has about 150, both have internet access too butt we use linksys routers (54gl) and the only cost about R800 now. The good thing is its a once off cost.

The potential for services is great and our nodes talk at anywhere between 1 and 20Mb/s
 
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