Such projects started to evolve in 2000 with the availability of 802.11 equipment, and are gradually spreading to cities and towns around the world. As of mid-2002, most such networks remain embryonic, with small groups of people experimenting and gradually interconnecting with each other and thus expanding the domain and utility of the networks.
These projects are in many senses an evolution of amateur radio and, more specifically packet radio, as well as an outgrowth of the free software community (which in itself substantially overlaps with amateur radio), and share their freewheeling, experimental, adaptable culture. The key to using standard wireless networking devices designed for short-range use for multi-kilometre linkups is the use of high-gain antennas. Commercially-available examples are relatively expensive and not that readily available, so much experimentation has gone into homebuilt antenna construction. One striking design is the cantenna[?], which performs better than many commercial antenna designs and is constructed from a steel food can.
Most wireless community network projects are coordinated by citywide user groups who freely share information and help using the Internet.
Some wireless community network projects are:
See also computer networks.
See the Personal Telco's list of Wireless Communities at http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/WirelessCommunities
See also Sam Churchill's Wireless LAN Revolution, http://www.teleport.com/~samc/psuwireless/
Search Encyclopedia
|
Featured Article
|