Creating a non-profit wireless mesh network on Oahu

[Robert Carleton]

I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today and
was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community action to
build public networks. I've spent way too much time away from IP
networks...

Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting used
as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards. The non
backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network using a backbone
access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds pretty neat. I bet
even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would work pretty well for peer
to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable modems.

A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
established a non-profit, wireless network in Brisbane Australia:

http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html

It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access to
their network members. The network is private (IP routing that is) to
the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own equipment and
having the expertise to set it up.

I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is interested
in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts? Anyone already
busy doing it?

--Bruce

[Robert Carleton]

I thought of something else to add here. Local ISP's could sell access
to the Internet via VPN connections across a mesh, and bypass cable and
telco last mile issues.

--Bruce

Post by Robert Carleton
I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today and
was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community action to
build public networks. I've spent way too much time away from IP
networks...
Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting used
as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards. The non
backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network using a backbone
access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds pretty neat. I bet
even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would work pretty well for peer
to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable modems.
A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html
It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access to
their network members. The network is private (IP routing that is) to
the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own equipment and
having the expertise to set it up.
I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is interested
in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts? Anyone already
busy doing it?
--Bruce

[Robert Carleton]

I put up a Dell TruMobile Wireless broadband router as a start.

It is located in Honolulu tower in downtown Honolulu at the intersection
of Maunakea and Beretania. It is at an elevation of approximately 180
feet. The antenna has direct line of sight from Honolulu Park Place to
Maunakea street.

The network is 10.1.1.0. The SSID is broadcast as HonoluluTowerSouth.
There is no encryption. There is a DHCP server running. It's not
connected to other networks right now. The router IP is 10.1.1.1.

If you are into this kind of thing and in downtown Honolulu you can
connect and ping the router at 10.1.1.1. I'm curious to hear who can do it.

Aloha,

--Bruce

Post by Robert Carleton
I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today and
was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community action to
build public networks. I've spent way too much time away from IP
networks...
Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting used
as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards. The non
backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network using a backbone
access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds pretty neat. I bet
even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would work pretty well for peer
to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable modems.
A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html
It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access to
their network members. The network is private (IP routing that is) to
the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own equipment and
having the expertise to set it up.
I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is interested
in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts? Anyone already
busy doing it?
--Bruce

[Michael Painter]

Post by Robert Carleton

It's not connected to other networks right now.<<

Aye...there's the rub.

Have you heard of these guys?

http://www.firetide.com/

They have some kind of presence in, or are connected to, Honolulu in some
way I believe.

--Michael

Post by Robert Carleton
I put up a Dell TruMobile Wireless broadband router as a start.
It is located in Honolulu tower in downtown Honolulu at the intersection
of Maunakea and Beretania. It is at an elevation of approximately 180
feet. The antenna has direct line of sight from Honolulu Park Place to
Maunakea street.
The network is 10.1.1.0. The SSID is broadcast as HonoluluTowerSouth.
There is no encryption. There is a DHCP server running. It's not
connected to other networks right now. The router IP is 10.1.1.1.
If you are into this kind of thing and in downtown Honolulu you can
connect and ping the router at 10.1.1.1. I'm curious to hear who can do it.
Aloha,
--Bruce

I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today and
was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community action to
build public networks. I've spent way too much time away from IP
networks...
Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting used
as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards. The non
backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network using a backbone
access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds pretty neat. I bet
even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would work pretty well for peer
to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable modems.
A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html
It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access to
their network members. The network is private (IP routing that is) to
the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own equipment and
having the expertise to set it up.
I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is interested
in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts? Anyone already
busy doing it?
--Bruce

[Robert Carleton]

Hi Michael,

I haven't heard of them before, though I knew there was a lot of buzz
about commercial use of mesh networking.

I'm mostly interested in some kind of technical community thing. I'm a
sometimes ham operator. I see setting up a metro based network on
wireless LAN technology in the same way.

--Bruce

Post by Michael Painter

Post by Robert Carleton

It's not connected to other networks right now.<<

Aye...there's the rub.
Have you heard of these guys?
http://www.firetide.com/
They have some kind of presence in, or are connected to, Honolulu in some
way I believe.
--Michael

Post by Robert Carleton
I put up a Dell TruMobile Wireless broadband router as a start.
It is located in Honolulu tower in downtown Honolulu at the intersection
of Maunakea and Beretania. It is at an elevation of approximately 180
feet. The antenna has direct line of sight from Honolulu Park Place to
Maunakea street.
The network is 10.1.1.0. The SSID is broadcast as HonoluluTowerSouth.
There is no encryption. There is a DHCP server running. It's not
connected to other networks right now. The router IP is 10.1.1.1.
If you are into this kind of thing and in downtown Honolulu you can
connect and ping the router at 10.1.1.1. I'm curious to hear who can do it.
Aloha,
--Bruce

I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today and
was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community action to
build public networks. I've spent way too much time away from IP
networks...
Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting used
as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards. The non
backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network using a backbone
access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds pretty neat. I bet
even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would work pretty well for peer
to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable modems.
A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html
It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access to
their network members. The network is private (IP routing that is) to
the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own equipment and
having the expertise to set it up.
I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is interested
in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts? Anyone already
busy doing it?
--Bruce

[Robert Carleton]

For anyone interested, here is a link to some line of site pictures
taken from my WAP location:

http://home.hakuhale.net/rbc/HonoluluTowerSouth/HonoluluTowerSouth.html

Aloha,

--Bruce

Post by Robert Carleton
Hi Michael,
I haven't heard of them before, though I knew there was a lot of buzz
about commercial use of mesh networking.
I'm mostly interested in some kind of technical community thing. I'm a
sometimes ham operator. I see setting up a metro based network on
wireless LAN technology in the same way.
--Bruce

Post by Michael Painter

Post by Robert Carleton

It's not connected to other networks right now.<<

Aye...there's the rub.
Have you heard of these guys?
http://www.firetide.com/
They have some kind of presence in, or are connected to, Honolulu in
some way I believe.
--Michael

Post by Robert Carleton
I put up a Dell TruMobile Wireless broadband router as a start.
It is located in Honolulu tower in downtown Honolulu at the
intersection of Maunakea and Beretania. It is at an elevation of
approximately 180 feet. The antenna has direct line of sight from
Honolulu Park Place to Maunakea street.
The network is 10.1.1.0. The SSID is broadcast as
HonoluluTowerSouth. There is no encryption. There is a DHCP server
running. It's not connected to other networks right now. The router
IP is 10.1.1.1.
If you are into this kind of thing and in downtown Honolulu you can
connect and ping the router at 10.1.1.1. I'm curious to hear who can do it.
Aloha,
--Bruce

I was checking out wireless mesh networks for the first time today
and was kind of floored by the possibilities for some community
action to build public networks. I've spent way too much time away
from IP networks...
Some of the examples I saw use commodity wireless devices to create
networks in a metro area. Linux and BSD boxes appear to be getting
used as the router backbones using the IBSS mode of wireless cards.
The non backbone clients use BSS mode to connect to the network
using a backbone access provider. I've never tried it but it sounds
pretty neat. I bet even running the older 802.11b at 11Mb/s would
work pretty well for peer to peer gaming compared to DSL or Cable
modems.
A good example of this is Brismesh. They are an association that has
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/faq.html
It looks like they gave it some thought. They chose IPv6. It's
interesting to note they specifically don't provide Internet access
to their network members. The network is private (IP routing that
is) to the membership. The cost of entry is buying your own
equipment and having the expertise to set it up.
I thought I'd stir the soup a little bit and see if anyone is
interested in setting up this kind of thing on Oahu. Any thoughts?
Anyone already busy doing it?
--Bruce

[Michael Painter]

Article on mesh networking:
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/issue/editor.asp?trk=nl

Meshes lack standards, too: low-bit-rate mesh networking has a standard
called ZigBee that is supported by around 100 companies, including
Motorola, Mitsubishi, Phillips, and Samsung, but high-bit-rate
communications have no such standard (although the 802.11 committee of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers hopes to create one by
next May). <<

For anyone interested, here is a link to some line of site pictures taken
http://home.hakuhale.net/rbc/HonoluluTowerSouth/HonoluluTowerSouth.html
Aloha,
--Bruce

[Robert Carleton]

I'm actually thinking about something a little more conventional. I
want to see how BGP and/or OSPF do as routing protocols for the core. I
guess I should'nt be calling it a mesh. I've been looking at Seattle
Wireless for ideas. Here is their break down of their routing nodes:

http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/ListOfDefinitions

They say they're using directional antennas to glue the linux/bsd based
routers together. The clients connect using standard access points or
linux/bsd servers configured as an access point.

Aloha,

--Bruce

Post by Michael Painter
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/issue/editor.asp?trk=nl

Meshes lack standards, too: low-bit-rate mesh networking has a standard
called ZigBee that is supported by around 100 companies, including
Motorola, Mitsubishi, Phillips, and Samsung, but high-bit-rate
communications have no such standard (although the 802.11 committee of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers hopes to create one by
next May). <<

For anyone interested, here is a link to some line of site pictures taken
http://home.hakuhale.net/rbc/HonoluluTowerSouth/HonoluluTowerSouth.html
Aloha,
--Bruce