Chris Kelley: Open Public Networks

Why Open Spectrum Matters: The End of the Broadcast Nation

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 14:29:21 GMT

An addition to the Open Spectrum FAQ: Why Open Spectrum Matters: The End of the Broadcast Nation. Also, check out my list of articles relating to Open Public Networks.

Building wireless communities in the UK

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 14:19:10 GMT

The Register article Become a wireless ISP: for £300 discusses using the Locustworld MeshBox to build mesh networks.

Its simplest form is with a single antenna, which works on WiFi (802.11b) standards anywhere in the world, and provides shared access to the PC, but also looks for other Meshbox installations in the neighbourhood. There's a second option; an additional, long-range antenna, which you can mount on the roof of your house, to pick up signals from other Meshboxes further away - across the village, perhaps.

What is really neat this that you can combine several broadband feeds (albeit at a 10% increase in wireless load).

There's a pioneer network at Kingsbridge in Devon, and there are trial sites in Macedonia, India, USA, the Netherlands, and of course, in several UK counties.

And the software is open source!

Open Spectrum FAQ

Mon, 20 Jan 2003 08:57:53 GMT

There seems to be no technical reason for the strict regulation of radio spectrum that we currently have. This idea dovetails quite nicely with the StupidNet idea.

Bird? Plane? UFO? No, Stratellite

Mon, 23 Dec 2002 16:01:31 GMT

Giant, ball-shaped airships called stratellites may soon glide along in the stratosphere carrying transmitters that beam broadband wireless signals to the earthlings on the ground. By Xeni Jardin. [Wired News] - A way to connect the dots in Africa?

Being Wireless

Tue, 17 Dec 2002 08:44:50 GMT

Back in Wired magazine's heyday, I especially enjoyed Nicholas Negroponte's back-page articles. I was especially annoyed when they were replaced by an advertorial. I'm sure this changed around the time of the :CueCat debacle. Anyway, David F. brought this article by Negroponte to my attention. The lily pad metaphor perfectly illustrates how open public networks will be built. Thanks David!

Artlington Wireless: growing the StupidNet

Fri, 13 Dec 2002 15:12:42 GMT

Artlington Wireless is a "free wireless Internet project for Arlington, Massachusetts, using 802.11 "wifi" technology." The issues page lists problems as we progress down the road to the StupidNet.

More on the StupidNet

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 20:24:03 GMT

An example of how the StupidNet may be built: The WiFi Boom:

"These days, Pioneer Courthouse Square is but one of some 140 public spots across Portland with free Internet access using a high-speed wireless technology known as Wi-Fi. The network of such Wi-Fi "hot spots" throughout the city was developed by Personal Telco, a grass-roots, nonprofit group devoted to blanketing the city with free access points."

I've started a new category dedicated to Open Public Networks.