Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Sorry, I'm in no position to say which was the best www4mail service. I used the Bellanet server, until it became very unreliable. I was told they were just making changes to the software to stop people from using the service for downloading .mp3's but the service never improved. And I thought the .mp3 reason was just an excuse. There are many ways to limit file downloads. I tried 2 or 3 others (like the kabissa and trieste servers) but they were no better. I posted my note here in the hope that the operators of these services would at least offer a credible explanation, but they've been silent so far. Funds spent on maintaining such a service would be funds well- spent, because they would truly benefit users from low-bandwidth areas much more than most portals which generally only duplicate the functions of search engines. Roberto Verzola Philippines On 24 May 2004 at 18:34, Patrick O'Beirne wrote: At 15:36 20/05/2004, Roberto Verzola wrote: Unfortunately, the www4mail services I know have become flaky and unreliable, sometimes responding sometimes not. Google tells me about 13,000 references for www4mail .. which are the best, do you know, Roberto? ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
The question which seems not to be asked is what are the specifications? Low cost in the US can be commercial DSL at 128k for under USD 25/month with VOIP essentially free point-to-point. On the other hand 56kb can be below USD 10/month. It depends on whether you want service directly in your business or home or are willing to go to a telecenter. WiFi can reach very remote corners of the earth, today and include voip. Where you are, what you need, what your price point is and other factors affect the answers to the question- it is often site and situation specific with no generic solution which can be packaged in a one-size fits all configuration. But something has to be at the end of the access point. One can't just put the pipe into the room and walk out the door. Again, this takes careful consideration. One needs to take care when the ideal ( E-x, where x= democracy, education, commerce...) is being spoken, the expectation is not that of Captain Jean Luc Picard on the Star Ship Enterprise when he decrees, Let it be so... thoughts? tom abeles ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Roberto Verzola wrote: Speaking of low-cost access (to the Web, via email), the www4mail services have been one of the most appreciated. I considered it my lifeline when I stayed offline (but kept email) for more than a year, and would still use it for most of my Web access if it remained available. Unfortunately, the www4mail services I know have become flaky and unreliable, sometimes responding sometimes not. A pity. We keep talking of low-cost access, yet when one becomes available that is truly useful and appreciated, few want to maintain it. Roberto Verzola is right. I just can't seem to get through to the www4mail services these days. The services were very helpful for us in the bandwidth poor parts of the globe. FN -- - Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa, India f r e d @ b y t e s f o r a l l . o r g Ph 832.2409490 / 832.2409783 Cell 9822 122436 Phone calls: preferably from 1300 to 0500 (IST) Try landlines if mobile is temporarily unavailable JUST OUT: Goa photos http://www.goa-world.com/fotofolio - ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
At 15:36 20/05/2004, Roberto Verzola wrote: Unfortunately, the www4mail services I know have become flaky and unreliable, sometimes responding sometimes not. Google tells me about 13,000 references for www4mail .. which are the best, do you know, Roberto? http://www.www4mail.org/ http://www.netnormal.com/users/websitebyemail/ http://www.kabissa.org/members/www4mail/ .. etc... Patrick O'Beirne www.InformaticsDevelopmentInstitute.net or www.i-d-i.net FP6 Discussion group: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/FP6-help ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
At 20:26 30/04/2004, Steven Clift wrote: I am interested in learning about projects that have extended lower cost e-mail access into the remotest areas - particularly cheaper non-satellite options. There are cheaper, non-geostationary satellites. See www.InformaticsDevelopmentInstitute.net/welcome.html The Informatics Development Institute (IDI) is a not-for-profit company, established in Ireland, with the mission of furthering the global development of both information and communications technologies, and researching their socio-economic impact. Our continuing interest lies in the provision of cost-effective communications for remote regions of developing countries. Our FP6 project proposal was not accepted as it was deemed to be development rather than research, so we are still looking for partners to move this forward. Steven, I'll email you a document separately. Patrick O'Beirne www.InformaticsDevelopmentInstitute.net or www.i-d-i.net FP6 Discussion group: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/FP6-help ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Speaking of low-cost access (to the Web, via email), the www4mail services have been one of the most appreciated. I considered it my lifeline when I stayed offline (but kept email) for more than a year, and would still use it for most of my Web access if it remained available. Unfortunately, the www4mail services I know have become flaky and unreliable, sometimes responding sometimes not. A pity. We keep talking of low-cost access, yet when one becomes available that is truly useful and appreciated, few want to maintain it. I'm starting to suspect that some of these efforts are being tried mainly for their experimental and publication value. After the effort is published, or after presentations have been made in several conferences, the originators lose interest, and those who have grown to rely on the service are left on their own. Roberto Verzola Author, Towards a Political Economy of Information Philippines On 30 Apr 2004 at 14:26, Steven Clift wrote: I am interested in learning about projects that have extended lower cost e-mail access into the remotest areas - particularly cheaper non-satellite options. Articles, tutorials, and links to software, etc.. are of interest as well. ..snip... I am also interested in any options that include low-bandwidth store and forward mirroring of web content for remote use or one-way satellite downlink options that are cost-effective. I am working on some recommendations related to the use of the Internet in election administration and I'd like to include some pointers to lower cost e-mail solutions for communication among election officials and observers as well as remote printing of timely flyers and content delivered electronically to places off the communications grid. Also, I was recently in Mongolia where the first ISP in the country still relies on an expensive 256K satellite connection for all their users. They were looking for any ideas that would help them keep traffic in Mongolia (I suggested that they mirror http://tucows.com for example) whenever possible. A 32 KB direction connection costs a business/NGO something like $500 a month. I am interested in metropolitan wireless options like iBurst http://www.iburst.com.au or Wi-Fi (this is apparently licensed in Mongolia) options that have routed around monopoly telco infrastructures in an economically sustainable, lower consumer cost way. The issue of remote off the grid Internet/telephone access is huge as well and postal service is quite mixed. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Folks, This looks like a good case study for Stephen's enquiry. Bougainville is an island in the W. Pacific, scene of a ten-year conflict between the Papua New Guinea Government and secessionist movement the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. Peace has been regained in the last few years, but living standards and service levels still have a long way to catch up with those of even 30 years ago. NGO BRINGS EMAIL ACCESS TO ISOLATED CENTRE ON BOUGAINVILLE An isolated training centre in the mountains of Bougainville, Paruparu Education Development Centre (PEDC), can now talk to the world, thanks to an email link provided by the Melanesian Farmer First Network (MFFN). The PEDC training centre is far from power and telephone services. This may not sound remarkable but considering that PEDC is sending their emails from a saksak house in the mountains of central Bougainville, a full days walk from the nearest road, along which it is a further five hour truck trip to Buka, the only town on Bougainville with normal telephone lines and telecommunication, it has some significance as an innovative development project, said MFFN coordinator and TerraCircle member, Tony Jansen. The rest of Bougainville's approximately 150 000 people have no communication services to the outside world, he said. The email connection will enable PEDC development workers and trainers, as well as others, to communicate with the wider world and to share their experiences and learn from others. Communication is important to communities in isolated regions of Melanesia as they are far from the international telecommunications networks and information is more difficult to find than in the cities. In the absence of telecommunications services and grid electricity, the email system relies on transmission by high-frequency (HF) radio. HF radio is used by development agencies and other organisations in Melanesia for communications between isolated outposts. The Bougainville station uses a similar system to that installed at a number of the project bases of the Kastom Gaden Association in the Solomon Islands, some of which use power produced by photovoltaic panels to run a laptop computer, data modem and HF radio. The PEDC system was installed by Andrew Mears from the University of Technology, Sydney. Andrew is associated with the regional development agency, TerraCircle. The project was not without mishap. After a secondhand laptop computer was obtained by Sydney TerraCircle associate, Fiona Campbell, it was stolen by raskols (the PNG Pijin term for criminals) during a holdup in Port Moresby. Andrew donated a replacement laptop which he took to Bougainville without mishap. The laptop was connected to a HF radio using a data modem. This allows PEDC to connect to a base station in Goroka in the PNG Southern Highlands where a local development NGO, CRMF, has its headquarters. From there, messages are transmitted directly into the internet using the PNG telephone system. The isolation of Paruparu is not unusual in Melanesia, where most of the population is isolated to varying degrees, said Tony. Their connection to the internet, via email, is particularly notable given the recent history of Bougainville where there was a total destruction of communication infrastructure during the 10 year Bougainville crisis. The system is yet to be restored despite almost seven years of peace. The reality is that even in pre-crisis times, when Bougainville was considered one of the more developed provinces in PNG, communities like Paruparu still had very little in the way of services. The use of this type of communications technology, delivered through peoples' organisations like CRMF and PF Net (People First Networks, a telecommunications NGO) in Solomon Islands, is very exciting as it can be an important tool to help to break down the barriers and problems that have led to increasing conflict and frustration for rural communities across Melanesia. PEDC is part of the Melanesian Farmers First Network. The Network links NGOs in the Solomon Islands (Kastom Gaden Association/ Planting Material Network), the PNG Southern Highlands (Community-Based Health Care, Tari), Vanuatu (Farmers Support Association) and Bougainville. A number of participants in the Network are associates of TerraCircle, which is based in Australia and Solomon Islands. PEDC achieved remarkable feats during the Bougainville crisis, mobilising local communities to improve their health, agriculture and to make use of appropriate technologies at a time when they were totally isolated from the outside world and received virtually no assistance. During the conflict with PNG, PEDC's Linus Sia ran a communication workshop where he trained bush technicians to build and repair HF radios and other electronic equipment. It is important that PEDC's ideas, experiences and lessons learned are shared with Bougainville and other parts of the
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Steven, Our NGO has experimented with a variety of technologies in Uganda over the years, including HF radio data for email (using Codan and Pactor II) and GSM data. We are now testing a hybrid solution that uses a PCI receive-only satellite card, together with GSM data, using an Ericsson Fixed Cellular Terminal FCT 221m for connecting rural schools. To make the most efficient use of such a connectivity solution there should be a server with good web caching. We are using SchoolAxxess www.advancedinteractive.com/schoolweb/. If you will check back with me in a few weeks I may be able to give you some results of our testing, and costs involved. Daniel Stern www.uconnect.org Steven Clift [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am interested in learning about projects that have extended lower cost e-mail access into the remotest areas - particularly cheaper non-satellite options. Articles, tutorials, and links to software, etc.. are of interest as well. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
Steven, It is good of you to highlight this often forgotten communication mode! In Eastern and Southern Africa there are at least two commercial companies who will receive Pactor radio messages and put them out on the Internet. BushLink operates in Tanzania and BushMail is a South African based company working in the countries around South Africa. BushLink: http://www.bushlink.co.tz/ http://www.habari.co.tz/node/radio.html (older version) BushMail: http://www.bushmail.co.za/ This link from May 1998 indicates the existence of other commercial providers in Africa: http://www.nsrc.org/wireless/HF-radio.html I will send you separately a copy of an NGO report on what it meant for a remote village, Wino in South West Tanzania to get Email over HF Radio. Wino lacks electricity and until a couple of years ago, any form of communications facilities. Also refer to: http://www.stonepower.se/Images/WINO_ICT.pdf Check these photos to see, how Karl B. Staddon, VE6KBS, sent emails around the world while climbing Kilimanjaro: http://winlink.org/stations/images/ve6kbsPix.htm Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology has installed Email over HF Radio to the Urambo Power Cooperative and might have some information (Refer Dr Richard Masika): http://www.dit.ac.tz/ Regards Ralph Karhammar ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] RFI: Low-Bandwidth Long Distance Wireless E-mail
I am interested in learning about projects that have extended lower cost e-mail access into the remotest areas - particularly cheaper non-satellite options. Articles, tutorials, and links to software, etc.. are of interest as well. Here are a few resources of which I am aware: Digital Messaging for Amateur Radio http://winlink.org/ E-mail at Sea http://www.hffax.de/html/email_at_sea.html http://www.sailmail.com/ http://www.scs-ptc.com/news.html http://www.airmail2000.com/ http://www.airmail2000.com/pprimer.htm http://www.yachtcom.co.uk/SSB-email/index.html Radio E-mail network in Congo http://www.worldcom.nl/worldcom/congo.htm Radio E-mail in West Africa: The Complete Version http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6299 Indian Wireless Village Internet Cafes ~ 56K up to 25km - with special optimized software/tech to support video conferencing, a telephone, etc.. (this is not wi-fi) http://www.n-logue.com/technology.htm I am also interested in any options that include low-bandwidth store and forward mirroring of web content for remote use or one-way satellite downlink options that are cost-effective. I am working on some recommendations related to the use of the Internet in election administration and I'd like to include some pointers to lower cost e-mail solutions for communication among election officials and observers as well as remote printing of timely flyers and content delivered electronically to places off the communications grid. Also, I was recently in Mongolia where the first ISP in the country still relies on an expensive 256K satellite connection for all their users. They were looking for any ideas that would help them keep traffic in Mongolia (I suggested that they mirror http://tucows.com for example) whenever possible. A 32 KB direction connection costs a business/NGO something like $500 a month. I am interested in metropolitan wireless options like iBurst http://www.iburst.com.au or Wi-Fi (this is apparently licensed in Mongolia) options that have routed around monopoly telco infrastructures in an economically sustainable, lower consumer cost way. The issue of remote off the grid Internet/telephone access is huge as well and postal service is quite mixed. Thanks, Steven Clift Steven Clift - http://publicus.net - Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Join DoWire: http://e-democracy.org/do Speaking requests: http://publicus.net/speaker.html Watch my BBC World interview: http://publicus.net/media.html ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
