Wireless community network

The cluster and mesh approaches are more common but

rely primarily on the sharing of unmetered residential
and business DSL and cable Internet. This sort of usage might be non-compliant with the Terms of Service
(ToS) of the typical local providers that deliver their service via the consumer phone and cable duopoly. Wireless
community network sometimes advocate complete freedom from censorship, and this position may be at odds
with the Acceptable Use Policies of some commercial
services used. Some ISPs do allow sharing or reselling
of bandwidth.[2]

1 History
Setting up a Wi-Fi connection

Mesh: Technology groups which coordinate building a mesh network to provide Wi-Fi access to the
internet

These projects are in many senses an evolution of amateur

radio, and more specically packet radio, as well as an
outgrowth of the free software community (which in itself substantially overlaps with amateur radio). The key
to using standard wireless networking devices designed
for short-range use for multi-kilometre Long Range WiFi linkups is the use of high-gain directional antennas.
Rather than purchasing commercially available units,
such groups sometimes advocate homebuilt antenna construction. Examples include the cantenna, which is typically constructed from a Pringles potato chip can, and
RONJA, an optical link that can be made from a smoke
ue and LEDs, with circuitry and instructions released
under the GFDL. As with other wireless mesh networks,
three distinct generations of mesh networks are used in
wireless community networks.[3][4] In particular, in the
2004 timeframe, some mesh projects suered poor performance when scaled up.[5][6]

WISP: A mesh that forwards all trac back to consolidated link aggregation point(s) that have centralized access to the internet

2 Organization

Wireless community networks or wireless community projects are the organizations that attempt to take
a grassroots approach to providing a viable alternative to
municipal wireless networks for consumers.
Because of evolving technology and locales, there are at
least four dierent types of solution:
Cluster: Advocacy groups which simply encourage
sharing of unmetered internet bandwidth via Wi-Fi,
may also index nodes, suggest uniform SSID (for
low-quality roaming), supply equipment, DNS services, etc.

WUG: A wireless user group run by wireless enthusiasts. An open network not used for the reselling
of internet. Running a combination of various o
the shelf WIFI hardware running in the license free
ISM bands 2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz

Organizationally, a wireless community network requires

either a set of aordable commercial technical solutions
or a critical mass of hobbyists willing to tinker to maintain
operations. Mesh networks require that a high level of
community participation and commitment be maintained
for the network to be viable. The mesh approach currently requires uniform equipment. One market-driven
aspect of the mesh approach is that users who receive a
weak mesh signal can often convert it to a strong signal by
obtaining and operating a repeater node, thus extending
the mesh network.

Certain countries regulate the selling of internet access,

requiring a license to sell internet access over a wireless network. In South Africa it is regulated by the
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
(ICASA).[1] They require that WISPs apply for a VANS
or ECNS/ECS license before being allowed to resell internet access over a wireless link.
Such volunteer organizations focusing in technology that
1

is rapidly advancing sometimes have schisms and mergers. The Wi-Fi service provided by such groups is usually free and without the stigma of piggybacking. An alternative to the voluntary model is to use a co-operative
structure.[7]

EXTERNAL LINKS

[4] Free Culture, Free Software, Free Infrastructures!, Interviews with Klohjschi, Jrgen Neumann (Freifunk Germany), Kurt Jansson (Wikimedia Germany), Rishab
Aiyer Ghosh (United Nations University), Lawrence
Lessig (Creative Commons), Allison, Benoit (Montral
Wireless Community) October 18, 2006
[5] Analysis of Mesh Architectures December 8, 2004

See also
Community Broadband Network

[6] Ugly truth about mesh networks June 28, 2004

[7] Easier said than done: Second thoughts about municipal
Wi-Fi May 25th 2007

Computer network
List of wireless community networks by region
Multiple-input multiple-output communications
(MIMO)
Meraki - Google-funded startup to provide aordable equipment
Neighborhood Internet Service Provider
Netsukuku
Optimized Link State Routing Protocol
Wireless LAN Security
Wirelesspt.net Portugals national opensource community mesh network
Ninux mesh networking community based in Italy
Gui.net community network in Spain, and probably the worlds largest
Wireless Nodes Database open-source WiND
project
nodewatcher open-source node database project
Freifunk mesh networking community based in
Germany
Wireless Belgi Community-based free access internet network in Belgium
WLAN.org.uk - Original community wireless internet promoting site

References

[1] OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop (July 24, 2008). OECD Economic Surveys: South
Africa 2008: South Africa - Economic Assessment. OECD
Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-92-64-04692-4.
[2] Wireless-Friendly ISPSs Electronic Frontier Foundation
accessed 4 May 2011
[3] Talkin' 'bout my generation November 16, 2006

5 Further reading
Rob Flickenger (2003). Building wireless community networks (2nd ed.). O'Reilly Media. ISBN 9780-596-00502-3.

6 External links
FunkFeuer
FreeNetworks
Mesh Cities
Free Global Wireless: syndicating the free wireless
communities and blogs of the world
Wireless user groups (WUGs) of South Africa
WLAN.org.uk: Original community wireless internet promoting site

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

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Wireless community network Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_community_network?oldid=685832035 Contributors: AxelBoldt, Timo Honkasalo, Waveguy, Chuq, Lorenzarius, Patrick, Theresa knott, Glenn, Skyfaller, Charles Matthews, Omegatron, Joy,
Gentgeen, Cirrus, Wildcat dunny, Drewzhrodague, Tagishsimon, Pgan002, Bug~enwiki, Bumm13, Daniel11, Grstain, Brianhe, Charm,
Mwanner, Cmdrjameson, Husker007, WaveRider, Andrewbadr, Mrzaius, Mgaved, Kiri~enwiki, Seans Potato Business, RHaworth, Xiong
Chiamiov, Winged-stone, Oliversl, T34, Agorf, Macoukji, Aapo Laitinen, FlaBot, Danaspiegel, Dbpigeon, Costas Skarlatos, Gaius Cornelius, Keithonearth, Yusufk, PanchoS, TransUtopian, Tobixen, Veinor, Sjsv~enwiki, SmackBot, Leandro.navarro, Irab, Cylik, Unforgettableid, Phlash~enwiki, Jnavas, Midnightcomm, Mitar, Cxxx999, Achachej, Henry otani, Mightyfastpig, Rendsworld, Dicklyon, TastyPoutine, CmdrObot, Nnp, Cydebot, Kozuch, Cain Mosni, A100024~enwiki, Dawnseeker2000, Saschameinrath, Txomin, Cjkeeme, Drstuart,
Mikebb, Jim.henderson, Peter Chastain, Ipo232323, VolkovBot, Philip Trueman, Nikalexis, CLazop, Fdacosta, Biasoli, Steven Weston,
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