Pietermaritzburg WUG (Wireless User Group)

_Mikie_

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Hi, a couple years ago there was talk of starting a WUG in PMB but it collapsed before it even began. I'd like to get this up and running but by taking a slightly different approach. I think for this to work it can't be one person doing all the work and everyone who's interested needs to get directly involved. So show your interest and lets meet up and get this online.


What is a WUG

Think of it as a LAN. Essentially that's all it is. Just wirelessly. Each user connects to a highsite and from there they are all connected together. Highsites create the backbone of the network so that everyone stays connected. However you do not need to connect to a highsite to connect to the network. You can link through another user. In order to connect you need to have LOS ( Line Of Site) to the highsite or user you are connecting to. The range of the wireless is about 10km ideally but can be pushed to 30km in perfect conditions. All these things are worked out before you buy anything.


What the WUG offers

Current WUG communities and users around the country offer the following things so once we set up you can look forward to the following, if we set them up and users are willing to host the services :

  • IRC Server
  • Windows Update Server
  • VOIP Services
  • Game Servers
  • 600 to 3000 KB/s Speeds.

Please note that the WUG does not provide internet access or any other commercial services at all.


What we need from you?

For this to work we need people to show interest and a willingness to get involved. You don't need to have any technical skills. The WUG is a place to learn about the tech as we go and keep improving. A WUG kit which you will need to connect to the highsite costs about R1800. So at some stage once we are running you will need to purchase this if you want to connect. We also need to fund highsites. These cost around R3000. These are not essential to begin with but as the network grows we need to put these up.


What can you do right now?

Post a reply in this thread. Let us know the following :

  1. Are you interested in helping instal the highsites or do you just want to connect?
  2. Do you already own a WUG kit?
  3. Do you see yourself buying a kit if the network start?
  4. Where about are you situated, area?
  5. Any other questions or comments.

You can also register at www.wug.za.net and on the left hand side you will see WugPlotter. Put your current location in there using Google Earth to find GPS co-ords and then download the KMZ file. This will allow us to see roughly who is situated where and whether LOS is possible. When selecting which Wug you belong to use DWC and not other as we might join with them so its easiest if we on the same KMZ file.

A bit of a bonus

The Durban Wireless Community has shown an interest in connecting the two WUGs if we can get up and running. They currently have +- 50 households connected so if we can start up we will have a nice big community to link into.


Places to read about current WUGs

www.wug.za.net
wiki.dwc.za.net
www.ptawug.co.za
www.ctwug.za.net
www.jawug.org.za

We will have a website up in the near future.

Hope to hear from you all soon.
Regards
 
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1. Yes very interested and willing to help.
2. No
3. Yes
4. Scottsville
 
The user base here in PMB I rate isn't large enough to justify a WUG.
 
Newcastle has a wug
Oudtshoorn has a wug
George has a wug

PMB is larger than the 3 of them - so why not
 
Even if there are just a few of us to start we have the possibility of connecting to Durban which means we connect to +- 40 people and I think that is way worth it.
 
I'm in Scottsville and would be glad to help, I'll print this article out and post at entrance of LAN's on campus by Friday. That should help get awareness.
 
Awesome! If you haven't already head over to http://www.wug.za.net/ and plot your location and then we can check if we have line of site. I'm in Scottsville too so we pretty close. Use DWC as your location just so we all use the same KZM file.
 
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Hi _Mikie_, If I can give you some advice don't wait till you have numbers to begin. If you and a friend have LOS, put up a wifi link. When you have a few guys connected to each other, then you can start looking for a few sites to put up a highsite and connect the lot of you together.

Best of luck :D
 
unfortunately i now live on the hill facing ahsburton so i literally can't see pmb at all
 
Hi _Mikie_, If I can give you some advice don't wait till you have numbers to begin. If you and a friend have LOS, put up a wifi link. When you have a few guys connected to each other, then you can start looking for a few sites to put up a highsite and connect the lot of you together.

Best of luck :D

Thanks! Currently looking for a friend with LOS! That is the plan though to get one connect and work from there.
 
Mikie will I be able to buy the kit in Pmb or would it be advisable to get it here in Jhb?

You can buy them here in Durban so probably best to wait and get it here. There doesn't seem to be any interest so don't even know if it'll get off the ground..
 
Mikie, maybe you should target some of the gamers in PMB as they may be interested. I know there are quit a few that play online and LAN as well.

Example, I know of a local PMB LAN "Legends LAN", bunch of guys n girls that LAN at the beginning of each month. You can contact the organizers, perhaps they can help spread the word.

Clive 079 503 9015
Jolene 079 503 9014

Hope this helps you.

Btw, I am also interested in assisting with setting up a PMB WUG especially if it can connect to the other WUG's e.g. DBN, etc... The problem is that I stay in Woodlands overlooking the Liberty Mall (no real LOS) :(
 
Mikie, maybe you should target some of the gamers in PMB as they may be interested. I know there are quit a few that play online and LAN as well.

Example, I know of a local PMB LAN "Legends LAN", bunch of guys n girls that LAN at the beginning of each month. You can contact the organizers, perhaps they can help spread the word.

Clive 079 503 9015
Jolene 079 503 9014

Hope this helps you.

Btw, I am also interested in assisting with setting up a PMB WUG especially if it can connect to the other WUG's e.g. DBN, etc... The problem is that I stay in Woodlands overlooking the Liberty Mall (no real LOS) :(


Thanks for the information. Do you maybe have email address's for them? After my initial enthusiasm I lost a bit of interest as nobody was keen but if I can find some people interested I'd still love to get it set up. I was hoping to get a high site up on worlds view which should give everyone LOS. If you know of anyone else who might be interested please contact them and send them here and if we can get a group of people maybe we can all meet up and try organize something :)
 
Thanks for the information. Do you maybe have email address's for them? After my initial enthusiasm I lost a bit of interest as nobody was keen but if I can find some people interested I'd still love to get it set up. I was hoping to get a high site up on worlds view which should give everyone LOS. If you know of anyone else who might be interested please contact them and send them here and if we can get a group of people maybe we can all meet up and try organize something :)

I would be interested if I don't have to pay for extra hardware so I can connect to it. I am in Athlone overlooking pietermaritzburg.
 
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