JHB WiFi mesh nets

Guys soz to jump the que like a stupid boi, but could someone gimme some answers in a PM

Is anyone in edenvale (closer to dowerglen) up and running?
How much filesharing and gaming takes place the mesh net?
Can someone help me with starting up as I am uber keen?
 
Nab, go and register on nodeb.com if you have not already done so...
This will allow you to see who is in your vicinity and also, for them to see you.

That is how I made my friends in here and am now part of a 4-way mesh.

I would say that there is a LOT of gaming / filesharing going on over mesh networks at the moment.
 
Anyone in the parkhurst area willing to join?

Hi,

I am in parkhurst, anyone is this area willing to join me. I will invest in the equipment but onyl if i can connect to someone!!
 
Join Jawug

If you have IRC logon to irc.jawug.za.net and join #wnet, have a chat with us. and also plot your point on nodedb.com. Can you see the Dawnview hill from your house (the hill behind bedfordview) drop me a mail xarion at xep dot co dot za maybe i can come a check out where you are, maybe explain how things work..

Xarion
 
I can't see Dawnview hill, as we are in Club Street, in Linksfield. The only thing I see is Linksfield ridge (the hill accross from Eastgate, next to Galoolies Farm)

I'm in Rustenburg ATM, will be back home in about two weeks time, maybe we can get together then?
 
Excuse my ignorance

But i'm new to all of this... But what are these meshes you guys are setting up?

I'm from Durban and need to set something up that's faster and more reliable than ADSL so if this could help, I'd like to know more.

Regards,

rEvOLt
 
LordMerlin said:
I can't see Dawnview hill, as we are in Club Street, in Linksfield. The only thing I see is Linksfield ridge (the hill accross from Eastgate, next to Galoolies Farm)

I'm in Rustenburg ATM, will be back home in about two weeks time, maybe we can get together then?
Click to expand...

I like you signature. It comes from hackers? (I hope I am right) but yes make sure it is spelt properly.

though = thought

Just helping... :)
 
Internet Connected Hotspot in the South

I am in the process of getting quotes for an Internet line which I then want to make available via wi-fi to my surroundings. With Skype now advertising in South African media, it is becoming more and more viable. If I get enough interest I will go ahead with the plans. I am hoping to provide always on Internet at less than R 300 p/m. That would be in the region on a cheap 3G connection with the exception of being permanently on.

As soon as I have this up and running, I will post the location on Nodedb.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to who I should/could go to for an internet connection? So far I thought of Telkom (if I have to), Sentech (Vstar), or MTN (I know they do a couple of banks Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) networks in South Africa, so they have the capability.

As for wi-fi, I'm a little new. All the specs mention a 150 meter range indoors. If I place my access point outside and high enough, I could probably cover an entire block (even if the range is only 80 meters). Is this viable or am I expecting too much in the real world?

I am situated fairly high up in relation to my surroundings, so expanding the hotspot would be real easy from here.

Any additional info and/or help, suggestion etc... would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Gineer
 
Well, I suggest you think about this clearly.

It's not just about the line & bandwidth. You'd need:
1) a Radius server to do the autentication
2) I suggest going for a big (18 / 24 dbi) antenna - to startoff with, it should give you much more coverage than 150m. I think the 24dbi will give you about 4KM radius, depending on it's location.
3) You'd need to know quite a bit about routing, DNS, DHCP, firewalling to name but a few
4) To sell this you'de need a VANS licence else you'll run into big trouble
5) I would suggest getting two / even three pipes in, for reduncy. You could get this from Telkom, SAIX, IS, UUNet, Mweb, etc etc. 64K is a good start, but might soon run out of bandwidth. For this you also need to know a bit about bandwidth throtelling else someone will take all the bandwidth for himself on P2P etc, and other users won't get non.
6) Make sure you have a good support structure. If you want to loose business and build a bad name like some other wifi proders did in the past, then don't offer support. Support is almost your biggest worry.
7) I take it you already got the money for this opp. And you'll need a lot. Remember, you could run months without anyone signing up. So you need to advertise and that'll cost a lot.

If these seem too daunting, get yourself a 18Dbi arael - might get about 800m radius out of it. Then, get a 64k diginet from SAIX / IS / UUNet / etc, and start running with it, see how much interest you get and how well it runs. Bear in mind, a 64K line could cost about R4500 pm
 
There must be a way.

:confused: I read the hole long post by John about ICASA and the rest. The thread was last updated in December 2004.

I will let you know what the outcome of any discussions with Telkom/Sentech/MTN are.

Do you think they would have any issues if I set the network up as a 0 profit implimentation. I.E. As far as the bandwidth goes, Everyone would purely be contributing to covering the Internet bandwidth costs.

I'll post updates as and when I get any.

Thanks
Gineer
 
a Quick question on range

LordMerlin said:
Well, I suggest you think about this clearly.

It's not just about the line & bandwidth. You'd need:
1) a Radius server to do the autentication
2) I suggest going for a big (18 / 24 dbi) antenna - to startoff with, it should give you much more coverage than 150m. I think the 24dbi will give you about 4KM radius, depending on it's location.
3) You'd need to know quite a bit about routing, DNS, DHCP, firewalling to name but a few
4) To sell this you'de need a VANS licence else you'll run into big trouble
5) I would suggest getting two / even three pipes in, for reduncy. You could get this from Telkom, SAIX, IS, UUNet, Mweb, etc etc. 64K is a good start, but might soon run out of bandwidth. For this you also need to know a bit about bandwidth throtelling else someone will take all the bandwidth for himself on P2P etc, and other users won't get non.
6) Make sure you have a good support structure. If you want to loose business and build a bad name like some other wifi proders did in the past, then don't offer support. Support is almost your biggest worry.
7) I take it you already got the money for this opp. And you'll need a lot. Remember, you could run months without anyone signing up. So you need to advertise and that'll cost a lot.

If these seem too daunting, get yourself a 18Dbi arael - might get about 800m radius out of it. Then, get a 64k diginet from SAIX / IS / UUNet / etc, and start running with it, see how much interest you get and how well it runs. Bear in mind, a 64K line could cost about R4500 pm
Click to expand...

Quick (stupid) question: If i set up a 24dbi antena and now I have this fantastic 4km range, would the wi-fi adapters in the client machines on the outer reaches of the 4km radius, also require stronger antenas or would the 24dbi antenna on the AP be able to allow connectivity to them?
 
Gineer said:
Quick (stupid) question: If i set up a 24dbi antena and now I have this fantastic 4km range, would the wi-fi adapters in the client machines on the outer reaches of the 4km radius, also require stronger antenas or would the 24dbi antenna on the AP be able to allow connectivity to them?
Click to expand...

I have picked up signals with a lousy USB wifi dongle from over 5km away :-).
The signal was weak, but since it was picked up, it should work at a closer distance.
 
global webintact has coverage in the south www.globalwebintact.com . setting up wireless infrastructure costs $$$$ and needs to be properly planned and implemented if you are to be sucesfull :o
 
eagle-slayor said:
im in bedfordview. i have wifi on my laptop. is that enough or do you recommend some proper antenna setups?
i dont really have much money to spend or anything
Click to expand...

A Dedicated setup is really prefered for best performance. join the IRC channel irc.jawug.za.net #wnet - thats where the gurus are. And yes, most of Bedfordview and edenvale is covered from the tower.
 
LordMerlin said:
Well, I suggest you think about this clearly.

2) I suggest going for a big (18 / 24 dbi) antenna - to startoff with, it should give you much more coverage than 150m. I think the 24dbi will give you about 4KM radius, depending on it's location.


If these seem too daunting, get yourself a 18Dbi arael - might get about 800m radius out of it. Then, get a 64k diginet from SAIX / IS / UUNet / etc, and start running with it, see how much interest you get and how well it runs. Bear in mind, a 64K line could cost about R4500 pm
Click to expand...

Be careful about giving advice on things you aren't sure on, LordMerlin... especially when it comes to ISM band wifi...

Some more accurate info:
With a 100mW (20dBm) radio and
A 14dBi Sector antenna will give you a potential range of around 25km, depending on client equipment.
A 15dBi omni-directional will give a similar potential.

If you intend for your customers to connect at short range in, say a complex, then scattered 8dBi Omni directional antennas will enable laptop wireless coverage.

Another example: A 3 dBi Omni provides coverage to the entire Lonehill Shopping centre parking lot from a restaraunt - about 200m at its widest point

And a better (mostly cheaper) alternative to a 64k Diginet is 1 or 4Mbps uncapped ADSL from IS...

And MikroTik with user manager can do it all... RADIUS, accounting, reports, shaping, etc etc
 
Last edited:
I see a tendency developing here where people attempt to build something that will get them to violate the regulations before they realise it.

May I humbly remind everyone of the fundamental limitations imposed by ICASA in the 2.4 GHz spectrum - maximum EIRP of 20dbm (or 100mw).

EIRP is measured at the antenna output - it is "Effective Isotropical Radiated Power" and means the power transmitted out of the antenna in all directions.

If you take a 100mw transmitter (already at the limit) then every gain that you add to that contraption will see you exceeding the permitted power.

If you want to use an antenna that provides gain - be it Omni- or Uni-directional - then you need to reduce the transmitted power with the amount that you gain in the antenna, less the losses in the antenna cable and connectors.

As an example - just one of the possible formulas - you can take 15.2dbm transmitter (33mw), incur loss of 2.2dbm in the connectors on both sides and the coax cable and add antenna with maximum gain of 7 dbi so to stay within the 20dbm limit.

33mw is not a lot, I must say... For this reason, many people who operate in the 2.4 GHz specrum stay with the original formula of 100mw-2.2dbm in connectors+2.2dbi ruberduck antenna. That's legal but unfortunately gives very short range.

So, if anyone takes the advise that LordMerlyn and Web Intact offer, eventually it is going to get you into trouble, I am afraid.

And, please don't shoot the messenger - I don't work for the government, nor am I associated with any of the local Internet association bureaucrats and likes.

Allow me this small punt though - if you want to get involved with Wi-Fi mesh stuff, look elsewhere on this froum for an announcement that I made - legal, but still exciting way to fight the monopolists...
 
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