Hey a new forum! (congrats TechSoup)
Wireless networking seems to have matured into three generic markets:
1) Home and office users seeking to better enable a LAN to support mobile computing (or to just replace those ageing Cat 5 runs!)
2) The provision of Internet and other services to densely populated although geographically small districts (WISP - Wireless ISP configurations etc.)
3) Large coverage rural applications for the provision of basic ICT communications services (a local closed-loop WAN or for the provision of a specific service such as DSL for people otherwise unable to access broadband etc).
My interest is in the later usage (3) and I am very keen to hear feedback from others using Wireless as a WAN solution, particularly for the provision of services to rural NGO's.
My own WiFI runs for 3.5 kilometres (point-to-point) on 802.11bE equipment (22mbps). At one end of the WiFI is my home (with DSL access), at the other end my place of work (without DSL access). The WiFI provides a low-cost means of distributing DSL to my workplace as well as an excellent 'hot' means of backing-up data off-site. Our Council also runs an 802.11b WiFi with one point-to-point connection of 31 kilometres, and provides an overall coverage for an area greater than 1,500 square kilometres. Our plan is to combine these WiFi's; move Council onto a commercial frequency and to make the WiFI available for free public access... is anyone doing similar work who would be interested in sharing ideas and challenges?
Rgds, Don
hey Don
I am working with a group at www.uhab.org and one of the projects is blasting out the internet via wireless. I ma not in that loop that much but one of the guys in the teams play with the " wan / long distance" type wireless stuff.
I will see if I can get him to come over and share some thoughts
Don,
One of my clinics uses #3. We have a wireless bridge from the Clinic to the High School. Distance is short, less than a kilometer over an 802.11b point to point connection. We use it to share the High School's T1, so our throughput is capped at a fraction of the capacity of the wireless bridge. It works great. This is the second wireless install I've used. We selected this option because it was significantly cheaper than getting our own T1 fraction. This delivers broadband to the clinic in a neighborhood with no DSL, no ISDN and no cable providers.
[wr]
I recently wrote up some thoughts on using Wi-Fi for rural access. It's geared to the development community, non-technical people as an introduction. The set-up is applicable to first-world rural as well.
http://simonwoodside.com/projects/ict/ruralwifi.html
simon
( removed by TechSoup Admin in order to fix this thread; an existing bug with X-Code URLs had broken it. The same link in the above post should be working now. )
Hi all,
Thanks for the feeback; I'm checking-out a few of the references provided (PS - Simon, your link doesn't seem to work?)
Rgds, Don
to help folks unfamiliar with wireless, here's a
picture of an antenna we use for point-to-point wireless internet access in a small rural town of 500 people. there is no phone line or cable tv circuit bringing the internet into this building. instead, this antenna communicates with another antenna on another building about a half mile away. the other building has broadband internet access, some of which is beamed our way by the wireless antenna bridge. this antenna is capable of delivering substantial bandwidth over several miles as long as there is line-of-sight between the two antennas. the installation cost was about $2,000. there are no recurring monthly charges for this wireless bridge, we own it.
[wr]
Fantastic Will!
I really like your tripod mast - looks good for areas experiencing high winds... With the interest in this topic I wandered around my own setup today with a digital camera and will try and get some pics of aerials and equipment up on a site tonight.
Rgds, Don
Hi Will and all,
Some pics of my WiFi are available
here ... a very rough draft but I'll try and tidy it up a bit.
The link doesn't work? It works for me -- email me please with more info
sbwoodside@yahoo.com
simon
Hi Simon,
It must have been a DNS issue on my side of the world... the link works fine now (a great site!)
Rgds, Don
Joined on 06-04-2003
TechSoup Member
Hi Don and all,
That's exactly the focus of our organization. We are currently using 802 for community networks, and to feed organizations, groups, retreats, etc.in need of connectivity in remote or poorly served locations.
Our mobile unit can provide multi-user networks for sports teams, racing teams, pretty much anything or anywhere you might think of. Similar static units can be cost effective permanent community resources. We like to think of them as "drinking fountains".
We are now preparing to leave for Mexico to help set up 1500 satellite fed wireless networks in rural areas. We believe, at this time, that the combination of wireless and satellite are unbeatable technology combinations to help conquer the digital divide.
Michael Lewis
redbaloon
Hi Michael,
I would love to touch-base further on what you are doing (PS - 'Dinah' is a doll!)
Rgds, Don
--------- original message ------
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 14:13:39 -0400
From: S Woodside
To: wireless@lists.bawug.org
Subject: [BAWUG] rural wireless takes off in india
http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/news/index.cfm?key=893
Over 200 rural villages in India''s Maharashtra state have formed a
wireless Internet cooperative, establishing 50 wi-fi "hotspots" in
their communities. The co-op has managed to raise more than $400,000
(RS20 million) to expand the reach of wireless Internet locally.
Maharashtra is not alone, however; communities across rural India have
begun embracing wi-fi, recently legalized by India''s government. At a
recent technology conference in Bangalore, India, speakers suggested
that these rural communities were actually ahead of the curve in terms
of wi-fi deployment when compared to their urban Indian counterparts.
Given the lack of communications infrastructure in much of rural India,
wi-fi is quickly filling a niche as more villages desire to go online.
Some Indian companies, though, have invested in deploying fiber optic
lines to rural areas, but much of this bandwidth is unused; experts
suggest that these companies should partner with communities to further
expand "last mile" Internet connectivity throughout rural India.
SOURCE: InfoChange India; AUTHOR: The Hindu Newspaper
simon
--
www.simonwoodside.com -- 99% Devil, 1% Angel
--__--__--
Joined on 05-02-2005
TechSoup Member
Want a solution myself.My situation is: I am remotely located. 4 months ago, I got a loan which I invested to purchase an install a VSAT. Now I have internet. The challenge now is, how to share the bandwidth with others in the area. This would help me cut down on the monthly bandwidth charegs- as these would be shared out with others.
I have not heard of a cheaper alternatives of dispersing and sharing the bandwidth untill I read your article. Can you send me more information please about the topic and how to go about this.
Joseph Sekiku
FADECO
P.O.Box 223
Karagwe- Kagera
Tanzania