deal extreme have moderate gain directional antennas for ~$20
Don't believe their stated gain figures but
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.33016
might be worth evaluating as a quick n easy way to get some longer
connections.
I wonder if it would be feasible to offer access to it on a commercial
short term basis think wifi hotspot to help offset costs or some such.
Alternately for a "social good" system give low speed access to anybody
(1-3kb/sec or so), enough to check your email but not to leach lots of
stuff.
On 11/06/10 11:08, Richard Hayes wrote:
Dear list.
Parramatta council is keen on e-government (Don't laugh they are
willing to spend money to do it) and minimising the Digital Divide.
So, I am proposing to create a Mesh for disadvantaged people.
Optus is offering to pay for a number of DSL connection into the mesh
but volunteers would design and build the network.
Customers would pay a small fee maybe $10-15 per month to get a
computer, printer and 1Mb wireless connection.
I think a group of the usual suspects, SLUG, Sydney Wireless, Computer
Bank etc with some funding from Parramatta could build a 500 node MAN
covering lots of Parramatta and give access to many disadvantaged groups.
Hardware: Donated WRT54s or Refurbished PCs with Linux
Cheap wireless cards with large antenna (7db gain) or Cantenna??
The Council is keen and willing to spend some money but it needs
technical help from geeks.
Any thoughts / suggestions??
Regards,
Richard Hayes
0414 618 425
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