Mossel Bay WiFi Mesh Network

[ROUTER]

In November 2016, a one man community organization called Mossel Bay Initiative (MBI) started a pilot program for the Mossel Bay free wi-fi mesh network. A number of pilot mesh nodes are currently under test (not yet available to the general public) in Heiderand, Mossel Bay. If there is enough interest the Mossel Bay Initiative (MBI) will establish and maintain a free wireless mesh network (Mossel Bay Mesh Network) (@msbmesh #msbmesh) whereby the community will have free access to a wide range of information as well as local- and emergency communication services.

About Mossel Bay Mesh Network (MsbMesh):

The MsbMesh is now operated by a volunteer who use his technical skills and knowledge to assist the Mossel Bay community in times of need. The MsbMesh Network provide additional means of communication to the general public, sector agencies and emergency communication responders in normal, emergency and disaster situations.
The MsbMesh is independent of the public internet and therefore provides a resilient method of communication in the event of major outage of public systems.

MSBMESH DO NOT PROVIDE FREE WIFI INTERNET!!


Current active services available for users of the network:

Apache Web Server hosting the Mossel Bay Mesh Network web-pages.
Audio server for voice conferencing and voice chat (VOIP)
Current WiFi Access Points (MsbMesh3AP + MsbMesh4AP - Connect to AP's via WiFi if in range.
Secure File Transfers (SFTP Server)
Live Audio/Podcast Streaming (Currently only operational when activated by Administrator)
CW Mesh Server (CW mode room)
Digital Mesh Server (Digital modes room)
Citadel Email Server and Email Client (Send/receive free emails ONLY on the Msbmesh Network.

Future services to be implemented for users of the network:

Listen to Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Nets
Video surveillance for Heiderand Neigbourhood Watch
Free VoIP phone calls within Heiderand area
Access to Weather and Area Webcams
Hosting Wikipedia Pages
Gaming
Community Radio Streaming
MeshChat (Texting Service)
Online Backups
Home Automation Systems
Listen to Amateur Radio News Bulletins
Extending the Mesh Network to other neighbourhoods
Remote Desktop/VNC (Remote control of Workstation/Servers)
APRS-RX-iGate with DVB-T stick (PyMultimonAPRS)
Person Finder (Find lost people during emergencies and disasters)
Video server for MSBMESH-ATV (Icecast)
TeamTalk for audio, video, chat (TeamTalk)
VoIP server for MSBMESH telephony (Asterisk)
APRS server as gateway to the APRS-IS (aprsc)
SDR server with DVB-T stick (OpenWebRX)
Relay Control / EchoLink Gateway (SvxLink)
Relay networking via TCP / IP (SvxServer)
VPN client for MSBMESH connection (PPTP)
Winlink Radio Email
Any other useful public services

Updates to follow as and when available!

Johan Terblanche
Mossel Bay Initiative (MBI)
Administrator: Mossel Bay Mesh Network

 

[ROUTER]

Thanks and Appreciation to Rassie Erasmus

I would like to thank Rassie Erasmus from the Strand who donated a WiFi 24dbi 5.8 Ghz Grid Antenna and Mikrotik Groove Router Board to the MsbMesh Network. This equiment will be used to extend the mesh network in the Heiderand area. Rassie, I appreciate your kind gesture towards the Mossel Bay community.

Johan Terblanche
Mossel Bay Initiative (MBI)
Administrator: Mossel Bay Mesh Network

 

[Genisys]

Why not get in contact with the Peeps over at CTwug to peer with them? Maybe you can set up a link between yourself and CTWug?

 

[ROUTER]

Why not get in contact with the Peeps over at CTwug to peer with them? Maybe you can set up a link between yourself and CTWug?

Will be looking into that once we got our "house in order" down here. Once we happy with the network we will look into possible tunneling. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ROUTER]

I received a few enquiries about the type of equipment used by the Mossel Bay Mesh Network. I only use Ubiquity products as nodes due to 3rd party software compatibility. Currently D-Link and TP Link is used as access points. List of other equipment currently used:

Ubiquity Bullets, Nanostations, Netgear 24 Port Switch, 24dbi Grid Antennas, homebuilt 5.8 Ghz 10 turn Helical Antenna, Raspberry Pi's and Linksys Routers. (2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz)

 

[ROUTER]

MSBMESH DO NOT PROVIDE FREE WIFI INTERNET!! should read MSBMESH DO NOT PROVIDE FREE OR PAID WIFI INTERNET!!

 

[ROUTER]

Mossel Bay Mesh Network: Severe Weather and Fire Disaster Southern Cape

With fires still burning in parts of the Southern Cape we did have a reprieve of the disastrous gale force winds and raging fires that plagued the area. The Mossel Bay Mesh Network has prove it's worth during the past few weeks. Thought I would share some information of how the Mossel Bay Mesh Network assisted and operated:

https://mosselbaymesh.co.za/

SOUTHERN CAPE RADIO AMATEURS HEED THE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AS SOUTH AFRICAN FIRES RAGE

Emergency/Disaster After Action Report: AREDN – Mossel Bay Mesh Network Service

Request Equipment: AREDN: Mossel Bay Mesh Network

When all else fails AREDN: Mossel Bay Mesh Network does not!!!