[chat] (no subject)

[jon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

From: jon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [chat] Sydney Wireless Network

Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 01:34:18 GMT
X-Mailer: Endymion MailMan Standard Edition v3.0.24

On Sat, Nov 03, 2001 at 07:18:26PM -0500, Marcel Kunath wrote:
> Hello,
>
> well I am sure people are aware of the recent Telstra changes. I can live with
> 3 Gig but having to watch myself (and the other 5 people on this one cable
> modem) is not easy. At times I want to sporadically download a gig may it be
> KDE's new release or a distro or something.


Yeah, the new data charges are a bit of a pain, but not much we can do about
it... except start a wireless network.

> I have been reading about these localized wireless networks in metro areas for
> the past year and I find the idea very interesting. The most organized
> information and network seems to be seattlewireless:
>
> http://seattlewireless.net/
>

http://consume.net/ is pretty good too.
>
> There is mentioning of two networks in the Sydney area:
>
> http://hwy.com.au/~bigmoe/wlan/
>
> http://www.nepean.air.net.au (dead link)
>
> and a few more in Oz and around the world:
>
> http://www.wirelessanarchy.com/
>
>

Add to that list:

http://www.sydney.air.net.au/ - this should be up within a week or two, when we
get the delegation to filter through. The server was installed yesterday.
>
> I do not know where the Sydney based networks are in terms of development. I
am
> pretty much uneducated when it comes to wireless overall. I still have a keen
> interest to get access to data outside from the ISP network to be able to
> attain data and/or provide data and not pay my ISP for it. The Seattle network
> seems to have it figured out and be sound in their structure without risk of
> falling asleep/apart due to lack of human support.
>

I think you want the same thing I do. A big intranet, but not for sharing the
Internet.
> So basically I want to ask what people know about wireless in Sydney and if
> people are as frustrated as me and want a separated network from their ISP to
>
> - download data
Yes.
> - upload data
Yes.
> - play games
Yes.
> - share data (programs, source code, rpms, ftp servers with distros on them)
Yes.
> - connect their home network with their business network
Perhaps not, too many legal issues.
> - build a free network independent of Telstra (w/ with fully functional DNS
and
> DHCP ?)
Yes.

> I am aware that there are security issues and you can't protect a wireless
> network from being accessed and it would be open to any person who wants to
> access it. I still think its limited internal uses are great and would provide
> a good service for the Sydney area.

That's not entirely true. If you want to secure your data, you can. Just use
other things on top of the wireless infrastructure, like IPSec, PGP, etc.
>
> There are costs involved but I think it would pay off just as much as learning
> Linux paid off for me. Fact is though a network needs multiple nodes to
> function and make sense. Hence I am writing this if there are people who are
> curious and want to invest time, effort and a little money to have something
in
> addition to their ISP connection.

Well, hi :)
This project sounds right for you.


--Jon Teh - Sydney Wireless
Network