Community Wireless Networks Dave Phelan http://www.piertopier.net [email_address]

Dave Phelan

http://www.piertopier.net

[email_address]

Agenda Defining Wireless LANs What they are & what they are not Technology Overview Standards & Overview of IEEE 802.11b (Wifi) Community Wireless Why? How? Who? Piertopier.net History, Philosophy, Where, and What Next? The future?

Defining Wireless LANs

What they are & what they are not

Technology Overview

Standards & Overview of IEEE 802.11b (Wifi)

Community Wireless

Why?

How?

Who?

Piertopier.net

History, Philosophy, Where, and What Next?

The future?

Definitions WLAN Wireless Local Area Network WECA Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance WiFi “Wireless Fidelity” WECA brand signifying IEEE 802.11b interoperability testing has been passed.

WLAN Wireless Local Area Network

WECA Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance

WiFi “Wireless Fidelity” WECA brand signifying IEEE 802.11b interoperability testing has been passed.

Non-definitions Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN) Cable replacement Wide Area Network EU power restrictions 55km links in US Maximum legal reach is a couple of miles in UK GSM GPRS 3G (UMTS)

Bluetooth

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Cable replacement

Wide Area Network

EU power restrictions

55km links in US

Maximum legal reach is a couple of miles in UK

GSM

GPRS

3G (UMTS)

IEEE 802.11 2 Mbps, DSS or FHSS - original spec 2.4 GHz ISM band IEEE 802.11b 11/5.5/2 Mbps, DSS – interop with 802.11/DSS at 2 Mbps 2.4 GHz ISM band IEEE 802.11a 6-54 Mbps, OFDM 5 GHZ IEEE 802.11g 54 Mbps 2.4 GHz ISM band IEEE 802.11h 54 Mbps , OFDM with DCS/TPC. 5 GHZ HiperLAN 1 20 Mbps - European Standard 5 GHZ HiperLAN 2 54 Mbps - European Standard 5 GHZ Standards

IEEE 802.11 2 Mbps, DSS or FHSS - original spec

2.4 GHz ISM band

IEEE 802.11b 11/5.5/2 Mbps, DSS – interop with 802.11/DSS at 2 Mbps

2.4 GHz ISM band

IEEE 802.11a 6-54 Mbps, OFDM

5 GHZ

IEEE 802.11g 54 Mbps

2.4 GHz ISM band

IEEE 802.11h 54 Mbps , OFDM with DCS/TPC.

5 GHZ

HiperLAN 1 20 Mbps - European Standard

5 GHZ

HiperLAN 2 54 Mbps - European Standard

5 GHZ

Range 2.4 GHz is limited to 100mW output so range in limited. Card-to-card comms can probably do 200-300m in free space, less indoors. Suitable antennae can get you a few km without breaking the law. In the US 802.11b can reach >50km. 2.4 GHz is the frequency that baby monitors and microwaves emit at, so is prone to interference. Radio propagation at 5 GHz was expected to be lower for the same power output, but it is not clear if the emission regs are similar. Expect ranges to be about the same as for 2.4 GHz, but with better throughput at range. Used for satellite comms and military so more closely regulated than the ISM band.

2.4 GHz is limited to 100mW output so range in limited. Card-to-card comms can probably do 200-300m in free space, less indoors. Suitable antennae can get you a few km without breaking the law. In the US 802.11b can reach >50km. 2.4 GHz is the frequency that baby monitors and microwaves emit at, so is prone to interference.

Radio propagation at 5 GHz was expected to be lower for the same power output, but it is not clear if the emission regs are similar. Expect ranges to be about the same as for 2.4 GHz, but with better throughput at range. Used for satellite comms and military so more closely regulated than the ISM band.

Technology Infrastructure mode Requires an Access Point Equivalent to a Hub in wired networks Ad-Hoc (peer-to-peer) mode All nodes must see each other Manual config Equivalent to a back-to-back cable in wired networks CSMA/CA Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance

Infrastructure mode

Requires an Access Point

Equivalent to a Hub in wired networks

Ad-Hoc (peer-to-peer) mode

All nodes must see each other

Manual config

Equivalent to a back-to-back cable in wired networks

CSMA/CA

Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance

Regulation 802.11b & 802.11g WLANs operate over 2.4 GHz radio frequencies This is the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band Available as “unlicensed” in most of the world, ie free to use for anyone In the UK the position has been more complex

802.11b & 802.11g WLANs operate over 2.4 GHz radio frequencies

This is the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band

Available as “unlicensed” in most of the world, ie free to use for anyone

In the UK the position has been more complex

Regulation In the UK (before 31st July 2002) the ISM band was not “unlicensed” but rather was covered under a class license allowing free use without applying for a license from the Radio Authority EXCEPT where the operator was using the band to provide a telecommunications service 'by way of business to another person' . In which case, it was no-go… This even ruled out the coffee-shop model, as even giving free wireless internet access in exchange for buying a cup of coffee was strictly speaking a BWOB transaction!

In the UK (before 31st July 2002) the ISM band was not “unlicensed” but rather was covered under a class license allowing free use without applying for a license from the Radio Authority

EXCEPT where the operator was using the band to provide a telecommunications service 'by way of business to another person' . In which case, it was no-go…

This even ruled out the coffee-shop model, as even giving free wireless internet access in exchange for buying a cup of coffee was strictly speaking a BWOB transaction!

What changed? Announcement from the DTI on 10th June 2002, following a consultation exercise Permits the operation of commercial telecommunication services in the ISM band without the need for a Wireless Telegraphy Act license. Still need to be licensed under the Telecommunications Act though

Announcement from the DTI on 10th June 2002, following a consultation exercise

Permits the operation of commercial telecommunication services in the ISM band without the need for a Wireless Telegraphy Act license.

Still need to be licensed under the Telecommunications Act though

Community Wireless So, you could not offer a commercial service, so why not do it for free? Consume.net Register of open access points Greater ambitions to route around the wired net of telcos & ISPs Kickstarted the idea of free wireless in the UK

So, you could not offer a commercial service, so why not do it for free?

Consume.net

Register of open access points

Greater ambitions to route around the wired net of telcos & ISPs

Kickstarted the idea of free wireless in the UK

US Pioneered BAWUG Bay Area Wireless Users Group Seattle Wireless Seattle Personal Telco Oregon NYC Wireless New York

BAWUG

Bay Area Wireless Users Group

Seattle Wireless

Seattle

Personal Telco

Oregon

NYC Wireless

New York

Freenetworks Arwain Leeds & Area Consume free2air.org freenetworks.org Luton and Dunstable Community Network Club And many more… See http://www.wlan.org.uk/operational_wlan_sites.html

Arwain

Leeds & Area Consume

free2air.org

freenetworks.org

Luton and Dunstable Community Network Club

And many more…

See http://www.wlan.org.uk/operational_wlan_sites.html

Not all free… “Wireless Broadband” Essex Broadband Digital Dales EdenFaster Digital Parish But – BT’s enhanced broadband roll-out is hitting these initiatives

“Wireless Broadband”

Essex Broadband

Digital Dales

EdenFaster

Digital Parish

But – BT’s enhanced broadband roll-out is hitting these initiatives

Devil’s Dyke Objective Provide wireless broadband internet access to specific areas of West Sussex Reach Tested to 14+ km Environment Radio kit is located in the weather proof housing at the rear of the antenna (right) Community project run by enthusiasts Non-profit http://www.btinternet.com/~ddwlanproject/photos.html

Objective

Provide wireless broadband internet access to specific areas of West Sussex

Reach

Tested to 14+ km

Environment

Radio kit is located in the weather proof housing at the rear of the antenna (right)

Community project run by enthusiasts

Non-profit

Devil’s Dyke http://www.devilsdyke.net/coverage.htm

Feeed Sussex based group Not for profit club Subscription-based Hastings St. Leonards Bexhill Eastbourne Reading Northampton Rayleigh, Essex. http://www.feeed.net

Sussex based group

Not for profit club

Subscription-based

Hastings

St. Leonards

Bexhill

Eastbourne

Reading

Northampton

Rayleigh, Essex.

DIY? Expensive hardware Expensive services No coverage Broadband roll-out Grassroots Fun!

Expensive hardware

Expensive services

No coverage

Broadband roll-out

Grassroots

Fun!

Infrastructure Linux on old laptops 2nd hand WLAN cards Host AP on Prism/2 cards homebrew antennae The NoCat Night Light http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/h/352

Linux on old laptops

2nd hand WLAN cards

Host AP on Prism/2 cards

homebrew antennae

Mmm, Homebrew Pringles cans Coffee can Waveguide (Cantenna) Whiskey tin Omnis Sector Caveat: There are regulations about both maximum output power in the 2.4GHz band, and about the testing process radio transmission equipment must go through. Homebrew antennae may breach these regulations.

Pringles cans

Coffee can Waveguide (Cantenna)

Whiskey tin

Omnis

Sector

Caveat:

There are regulations about both maximum output power in the 2.4GHz band, and about the testing process radio transmission equipment must go through. Homebrew antennae may breach these regulations.

Pringles Cans Famous… Complex to build But they work! Source: BBC http://www.netscum.com/~clapp/wireless.html Source: Arwain

Famous…

Complex to build

But they work!

Cantenna Coffee Can Waveguide Really easy to make Directional Element at 0.25 wavelengths from can base Element is N-connector & copper wire http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Coffee Can Waveguide

Really easy to make

Directional

Element at 0.25 wavelengths from can base

Element is N-connector & copper wire

Whiskey Tin Similar to the Cantenna, but more gain Directional Equally easy to make Retain whiskey for later use http://flakey.info/antenna/waveguide/

Similar to the Cantenna, but more gain

Directional

Equally easy to make

Retain whiskey for later use

Omnidirectionals Quarter-wave Omni http://flakey.info/antenna/omni/quarter/ Vertical Collinear Omni http://www.tux.org/%7Ebball/antenna/

Quarter-wave Omni

http://flakey.info/antenna/omni/quarter/

Vertical Collinear Omni

http://www.tux.org/%7Ebball/antenna/

Satellite Dishes… Biquad Antenna Feeds into satellite dish http://trevormarshall.com/biquad.htm http://martybugs.net/wireless/biquad/ Using an Airport and a cantenna as a dish feed http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/Airport/Primestar/Primestar.html

Biquad Antenna

Feeds into satellite dish

http://trevormarshall.com/biquad.htm

http://martybugs.net/wireless/biquad/

Using an Airport and a cantenna as a dish feed

http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/Airport/Primestar/Primestar.html

Opensource tools Kismet NoCatAuth NoCatSplash Linux/*BSD drivers Host AP Hermes AP Netstumbler

Kismet

NoCatAuth

NoCatSplash

Linux/*BSD drivers

Host AP

Hermes AP

Netstumbler

Netstumber

consume-brighton http://www.radiolink.net/consume-brighton Original intent Distributed nodes The dyke project Mailing list (defunct) Led directly to Piertopier.net

http://www.radiolink.net/consume-brighton

Original intent

Distributed nodes

The dyke project

Mailing list (defunct)

Led directly to Piertopier.net

Piertopier.net Objectives Provide WLAN to the beach between the Piers Test out mesh networking Organically grow a network Do cool stuff Tech Locustworld Meshbox NoCat Auth/Splash xDSL links Mini ITX PC hardware

Objectives

Provide WLAN to the beach between the Piers

Test out mesh networking

Organically grow a network

Do cool stuff

Tech

Locustworld Meshbox

NoCat Auth/Splash

xDSL links

Mini ITX PC hardware

Piertopier.net Longevity As long as it is used As long as sites are willing to host the hardware Usage 1000+ unique users since May 2004 Peak of 50 users in one day

Longevity

As long as it is used

As long as sites are willing to host the hardware

Usage

1000+ unique users since May 2004

Peak of 50 users in one day

Total Users Node 1 (Riptide) 228 Node 2 (Sailing Club) 663 Node 3 (Fishing Museum) 415 Node 4 (Granville Reception) 43 Node 5 (Granville Upstairs) 34 Node 6 (Audio) 6

Node 1 (Riptide) 228

Node 2 (Sailing Club) 663

Node 3 (Fishing Museum) 415

Node 4 (Granville Reception) 43

Node 5 (Granville Upstairs) 34

Node 6 (Audio) 6

History February 2003 Initial email, followed by pub meet Bounded problem June 2003 Node 1 operational July 2003 Media Frenzy BBC online, 6 o’clock news Guardian G2 October 2004 Node 2 Wind Sensor

February 2003

Initial email, followed by pub meet

Bounded problem

June 2003

Node 1 operational

July 2003

Media Frenzy

BBC online, 6 o’clock news

Guardian G2

October 2004

Node 2

Wind Sensor

History February 2004 Node 3 March 2004 Node 4 Node 5 May 2004 100+ unique users June 2004 300+ unique users July 2004 Node 6 September 2004 Wifi Surfboard

February 2004

Node 3

March 2004

Node 4

Node 5

May 2004

100+ unique users

June 2004

300+ unique users

July 2004

Node 6

September 2004

Wifi Surfboard

Technology MeshAP Mini-ITX motherboards Netgear MA311 802.11b cards Omnidirectional antennae and… PC/104 Linksys WRT54G

MeshAP

Mini-ITX motherboards

Netgear MA311 802.11b cards

Omnidirectional antennae

and…

PC/104

Linksys WRT54G

MeshAP Locustworld Meshbox/Meshbook hardware MeshAP code – based on Slackware Linux NocatSplash captive portal Adhoc On-demand Distance Vector routing Algorithm Very hackable

Locustworld

Meshbox/Meshbook hardware

MeshAP code – based on Slackware Linux

NocatSplash captive portal

Adhoc On-demand Distance Vector routing Algorithm

Very hackable

Hacks Customised Captive Portal Piertopier.net look and feel Rotating banners for sponsors (shell script & cron) Added pass-through for windsensor Shell scripts for user-data collection Linux iptables firewall Peer-to-peer bandwidth abuse Static devices (like webcams)

Customised Captive Portal

Piertopier.net look and feel

Rotating banners for sponsors (shell script & cron)

Added pass-through for windsensor

Shell scripts for user-data collection

Linux iptables firewall

Peer-to-peer bandwidth abuse

Static devices (like webcams)

WIANA

Initial Sponsors Dataline Software Contributed PierToPier.net domain name, Web hosting and site design Custom code for Wind Sensor Microexpert Contributed the hardware for node 1 Moving-Edge.net Contributed a high-speed SHDSL line Riptide Fitness Centre Provided the physical location for node 1

Dataline Software

Contributed PierToPier.net domain name,

Web hosting and site design

Custom code for Wind Sensor

Microexpert

Contributed the hardware for node 1

Moving-Edge.net

Contributed a high-speed SHDSL line

Riptide Fitness Centre

Provided the physical location for node 1

Further Sponsors Amplicon Liveline Contributed the Moxa NPort 4511 Programmable Communication Gateway and the wind sensor. The Brighton Centre Provided an Axis wireless webcam Brighton Fishing Museum Provided the location for node 3 Brighton Sailing Club Contributed the location and hardware for node 2 & first webcam Cecil House Hotel Contributed the location and hardware for node 5

Amplicon Liveline

Contributed the Moxa NPort 4511 Programmable Communication Gateway and the wind sensor.

The Brighton Centre

Provided an Axis wireless webcam

Brighton Fishing Museum

Provided the location for node 3

Brighton Sailing Club

Contributed the location and hardware for node 2 & first webcam

Cecil House Hotel

Contributed the location and hardware for node 5

Further Sponsors Face Media Group Kindly produced 5000 full colour A6 flyers The Granville Hotel Donated the bandwidth, equipment and location for node 4 The Sussex Sign Company Contributed the banner which hangs at the Riptide Fitness Centre. The Surfing Museum Contributed the hardware for node 3 Audio Donated the equipment and location for node 6

Face Media Group

Kindly produced 5000 full colour A6 flyers

The Granville Hotel

Donated the bandwidth, equipment and location for node 4

The Sussex Sign Company

Contributed the banner which hangs at the Riptide Fitness Centre.

The Surfing Museum

Contributed the hardware for node 3

Audio

Donated the equipment and location for node 6

Nodes Node 1 Riptide Mini-ITX Node 2 Sailing Club Standard PC Node 3 Fishing Museum Mini-ITX Node 4 Granville Hotel Mini-ITX

Node 1

Riptide

Mini-ITX

Node 2

Sailing Club

Standard PC

Node 3

Fishing Museum

Mini-ITX

Node 4

Granville Hotel

Mini-ITX

Nodes Node 5 Granville Hotel Mini-ITX Node 6 Audio Mini-ITX Node 7 Public House (TBC) Linksys WRT54G

Node 5

Granville Hotel

Mini-ITX

Node 6

Audio

Mini-ITX

Node 7

Public House (TBC)

Linksys WRT54G

Webcams

Windsensor

Network Map

Network Details

Need Assistance Sponsorship Money Hardware Bandwidth Locations for nodes Volunteers Enthusiasm & Spare time Technical ability optional Good ideas to use the network Art? Community? Geek-outs Social software? Location-based apps?

Sponsorship

Money

Hardware

Bandwidth

Locations for nodes

Volunteers

Enthusiasm & Spare time

Technical ability optional

Good ideas to use the network

Art? Community?

Geek-outs

Social software? Location-based apps?

What's Next? Applaud Looseconnection Grand Central Black Lion Bar de la Mer Riki Tiks Sidewinder Pavilion Gardens Horse and Hounds Expand initiatives Out-compete pay hotspots You can’t get cheaper than free

Applaud Looseconnection

Grand Central

Black Lion

Bar de la Mer

Riki Tiks

Sidewinder

Pavilion Gardens

Horse and Hounds

Expand initiatives

Out-compete pay hotspots

You can’t get cheaper than free

What’s Next? Mesh networks Do they work? Will they scale? AODV OSPF OLSR New standards 802.11g? 802.11a? Proprietary (22 Mbps, 108 Mbps) Ultrawideband Looks like noise to regulators, radio operators

Mesh networks

Do they work?

Will they scale?

AODV

OSPF

OLSR

New standards

802.11g?

802.11a?

Proprietary (22 Mbps, 108 Mbps)

Ultrawideband

Looks like noise to regulators, radio operators

What’s Next? Innovative uses of the network(s)… Community Location The network vanishes Stations Trains Airports Planes Offices Pubs But…

Innovative uses of the network(s)…

Community

Location

The network vanishes

Stations

Trains

Airports

Planes

Offices

Pubs

But…

Questions?

Links http://www.weca.net/OpenSection/index.asp http://www.wi-fizone.org/ http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/ http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448 http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna2.html http://www.netscum.com/~clapp/wireless.html

http://www.weca.net/OpenSection/index.asp

http://www.wi-fizone.org/

http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/

http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna2.html

http://www.netscum.com/~clapp/wireless.html

Links http://www.consume.net/ http://www.kentwireless.net/ http://www.arwain.net/arwain.htm http://www.wlan.freeuk.com/ http://www.wlan.org.uk/ http://www.free2air.org http://www.bawug.org/ http://www.seattlewireless.net/ http://www.nocat.net/ http://www.freenetworks.org/ http://www.locustworld.com/

http://www.consume.net/

http://www.kentwireless.net/

http://www.arwain.net/arwain.htm

http://www.wlan.freeuk.com/

http://www.wlan.org.uk/

http://www.free2air.org

http://www.bawug.org/

http://www.seattlewireless.net/

http://www.nocat.net/

http://www.freenetworks.org/

http://www.locustworld.com/