marine1
Honorary Master
Can anyone in JHB come and test my place please?
I am begging
I am begging
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WUGs for poor communities
I've been following the progress of the PTAWUG and the JHBWUG for some time now and I really like the idea. What I'm a bit concerned about is that not much effort is made to spread the success of this model to hi-density, low-income areas where users would derive enormous value from a free, open-access network. The fact that Dabba Communications (Orange Grove people that got smacked by ICASA recently) is finding value in targeting this severely underservice segment means it is not only worthwhile, but do-able.
I would like to see a move away from the current manual IP allocation of new nodes on the WUG as this creates a very restrictive method of network expansion.
I would also like to see a change in technology used by the PTAand JHBWUG as the Linksys router topology is a bit dated in comparison to the Open-Mesh solution which uses Accton routers and creates a mesh network in seconds, with intelligent routing; fault-tolerance and resource allocation.
I hereby propose the formation of a new WUG based on the open-access approach made popular by Open-Mesh, with unlimited usage (yes, even commercial services will be permitted on a best-effort basis). The only restriction will be that users will be restricted to 1MB connections max. In my opinion, real wild-west style WUGs that allow people to join the WUG as they wish...with IPs and routing tables dynamically updated would make for a much more expansive WUG which could potentially cover entire cities like the Fonera and Meraki system did...Businesses that wish to connect must be made to pay R500/month and allow their premises to be used as a gateway with an unlimited ADSL connection.
I've compared price and the Open-Mesh solution in conjunction with some high-gain omni-directional antennas is a much better solution to the current installation kit used by JHBWUG and PTAWUG.
Any takers for the formation of a new Open-Mesh based WUG?
I'm not dissing the PTAWUG and JHBWUGs at all guys, just proposing a new direction as the technology by Open-mesh.com allows for the creation of massive, expansive mesh networks in a matter of days...and in my view, that's what this country needs.
I've been following the progress of the PTAWUG and the JHBWUG for some time now and I really like the idea. What I'm a bit concerned about is that not much effort is made to spread the success of this model to hi-density, low-income areas where users would derive enormous value from a free, open-access network. The fact that Dabba Communications (Orange Grove people that got smacked by ICASA recently) is finding value in targeting this severely underservice segment means it is not only worthwhile, but do-able.
I would like to see a move away from the current manual IP allocation of new nodes on the WUG as this creates a very restrictive method of network expansion.
I would also like to see a change in technology used by the PTAand JHBWUG as the Linksys router topology is a bit dated in comparison to the Open-Mesh solution which uses Accton routers and creates a mesh network in seconds, with intelligent routing; fault-tolerance and resource allocation.
I hereby propose the formation of a new WUG based on the open-access approach made popular by Open-Mesh, with unlimited usage (yes, even commercial services will be permitted on a best-effort basis). The only restriction will be that users will be restricted to 1MB connections max. In my opinion, real wild-west style WUGs that allow people to join the WUG as they wish...with IPs and routing tables dynamically updated would make for a much more expansive WUG which could potentially cover entire cities like the Fonera and Meraki system did...Businesses that wish to connect must be made to pay R500/month and allow their premises to be used as a gateway with an unlimited ADSL connection.
I've compared price and the Open-Mesh solution in conjunction with some high-gain omni-directional antennas is a much better solution to the current installation kit used by JHBWUG and PTAWUG.
Any takers for the formation of a new Open-Mesh based WUG?
I'm not dissing the PTAWUG and JHBWUGs at all guys, just proposing a new direction as the technology by Open-mesh.com allows for the creation of massive, expansive mesh networks in a matter of days...and in my view, that's what this country needs.
redarrow
Expert Member
Hmm.. you're not badly positioned .. according to the Wug plotter LOS tool you would actually have clear LOS to Lovemore Heights. Except that you may be a bit too far south.
I'm no expert with this stuff though, so I couldn't say for sure one way or the other. At least there are a few other interested parties in your vicinity..
Kloon
Expert Member
The equipment used by wugs currently support MME (Mesh Made Easy) that is based on the same principles as Open-Mesh more info about MME can be found here http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/MME_wireless_routing_protocol so if infact wugs want to change to a mesh protocol it can be done easily.
Inadequate
Thanks for the reply Kloon.
So the facility for simplifying the mesh networking process is available...why isn't it utilised more then? Also, is there an online interface for managing the health of the network and adding new nodes? As a configuration-free solution, Open-Mesh is a brilliant solution for developing countries and emerging markets and one which I think should be more actively pursued by all future WUGs...hence, my proposal for a new WUG based on the Open-Mesh system with unlimited, free, open access for all...just the 1MB bandwidth restriction will apply.
Thanks for the reply Kloon.
So the facility for simplifying the mesh networking process is available...why isn't it utilised more then? Also, is there an online interface for managing the health of the network and adding new nodes? As a configuration-free solution, Open-Mesh is a brilliant solution for developing countries and emerging markets and one which I think should be more actively pursued by all future WUGs...hence, my proposal for a new WUG based on the Open-Mesh system with unlimited, free, open access for all...just the 1MB bandwidth restriction will apply.
Hmm.. you're not badly positioned .. according to the Wug plotter LOS tool you would actually have clear LOS to Lovemore Heights. Except that you may be a bit too far south.
I'm no expert with this stuff though, so I couldn't say for sure one way or the other. At least there are a few other interested parties in your vicinity..
mmm, with line of sight it might be feasible to use the roof of flat as a high point, will just need to get the body corporate to play along which might take a bit of work.
Kloon
Expert Member
I think in a way each wug wants some control over their network and to know whats going on where. Just letting people connect without knowing opens up risk in your network. And whats more fun then meeting the people sharing the passion for free communications like yourself. Wugs isnt just a network its a community of people/friends sharing a common interest.
spiderz
Honorary Master
As soon as you start charging for anything related to the Wug, you're a WISP and need to have all the correct licenses. The WUG is free and open.
Cadavre777
Expert Member
Exactly, and why would a company want to join a WUG when they would have to fork out R500 per month including an uncapped DSL connection for leechers to use as this guy proposes?
I'm busy looking at the open-mesh website. They've got a nifty network planning guide.
In the guide they say that the nodes need to be about 100ft (~30m) apart. Off the top of my head the average distance between nodes on the JAWUG network are somewhere between 2km and 5km. Will the meshing still work at those kind of distances?
And when a company is paying R500 a month, and it takes 2 months to replace a broken node?
I'm pretty sure they're not going to be too happy when their link is down that entire time.
And TBH, if someone phoned me up in the middle of the night to crap me out because a link has gone down, I'd be explaining to them in obscene detail what they can do with their phone.
If I was earning money for it, fine. But if its for a non-profit, it would get old very quickly.
I'm pretty sure they're not going to be too happy when their link is down that entire time.
And TBH, if someone phoned me up in the middle of the night to crap me out because a link has gone down, I'd be explaining to them in obscene detail what they can do with their phone.
If I was earning money for it, fine. But if its for a non-profit, it would get old very quickly.
Drunkard #1
Expert Member
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Since the article is about the WUGs peering with other networks, what would it take to set up an asterisk server for VOIP (WUGer to WUGer initially) and then peer to the other (commercial) VOIP providers. There are two network tasks I want to get done at some point. 1. Get connected to JAWUG and 2. Set up an asterisk server (dedicated PBX networks are so 90s, not to mention restrictive). How many calls could my old P1 (1GHz!) handle.
Keep up the good work WUGs, soon you'll have your own independent countrywide network, even better if it's peered a few forward thinking commercial networks. Should be great.
Keep up the good work WUGs, soon you'll have your own independent countrywide network, even better if it's peered a few forward thinking commercial networks. Should be great.
We already have an Asterisk instance running on the Jawug network. With a custom web interface for adding/deleting extensions.
tjunyat
Senior Member
As soon as I have the cash, I'm so connecting to JAWUG
CritiKill you are forgetting a few things:
1. ICASA regulations
2. Wugs arent businesses, we do not charge anything, everything is done by volunteers in their spare time - scouting for new sites, putting up new sites, maintaining highsites, etc. No one makes any money.
3. We use Mikrotik hardware on all highsites and 95% of users do too, not Linksyses.
4. Limits can easily be implemented using Mikrotik in anycase.
5. We already use OSPF routing which automatically routes packets via the best route.
"I've compared price and the Open-Mesh solution in conjunction with some high-gain omni-directional antennas is a much better solution to the current installation kit used by JHBWUG and PTAWUG."
In theory or in practice ?
LOL
1. ICASA regulations
2. Wugs arent businesses, we do not charge anything, everything is done by volunteers in their spare time - scouting for new sites, putting up new sites, maintaining highsites, etc. No one makes any money.
3. We use Mikrotik hardware on all highsites and 95% of users do too, not Linksyses.
4. Limits can easily be implemented using Mikrotik in anycase.
5. We already use OSPF routing which automatically routes packets via the best route.
"I've compared price and the Open-Mesh solution in conjunction with some high-gain omni-directional antennas is a much better solution to the current installation kit used by JHBWUG and PTAWUG."
In theory or in practice ?
LOL