Why do you want to be a non profit? Every network needs at least someone who knows and understands that network on a 24/7 full time basis. Lot of responsibility.
Why not run it as a business and build an asset that you can either sell or transfer to someone else if the financial burden becomes to much or takes up too much time? Most small wisps really don't make a "profit". They barely get paid a respectable salary or wage. If you have been following this list for a year or so, you must have more than an interest in rolling out a wisp. As for the equipment, check out star's Lucaya. We've used it for years and it does OLSR very well. Almost all of our network has migrated over to OLSR. Japhy Bartlett wrote: > Hi all- > > I'm finishing up a grant proposal to build a wireless network for a > smallish (2 sq. mile) neighborhood. My only real experience is having > read this mailing list for a year or so, and independently researching > via the internet, so I'm hoping some of you veterans can offer some > insight before I get in too deep! > > The basic, mile-high premise is to build a 2.4ghz mesh network, using > Linux, or at least Open Source Software, wherever possible. I'm > pretty comfy with Linux, and it seems like the route a non-profit > should take. > > Since the idea is to be providing access not only to locals, but also > to people visiting (it's a mixed commercial/residential area), > sticking to the 802.11b/g protocol seems like a good way to make sure > strangers can get on with whatever gear they've already got. > > Specifically, I'm looking at gear that would run olsrd > (http://olsr.org); more specifically, demarctech.com's RWR HPG units > (https://www.demarctech.com/products/reliawave-rwr/rwr-hpg-15a.htm). > > The "business" model is to offer capped speeds for free, and uncapped > speeds to subscribers. So, presumably I'm going to need to do some > traffic shaping. > > the RWR unit lists both "OLSRD Mesh" and "Bi-Directional Traffic > Shaping with QoS (VoIP) via IP or MAC" , so it would seem to be ideal! > But how do those features play together? Can I assume that the unit > is running some sort of *nix with a shell? More importantly, am I > going to be able to script something that will link the traffic shaper > with a database of MAC Addresses? (Or script something to assign IP > address subgroups based on MAC!) > > Anybody ever done this before, or have a better solution for a tiered network? > > I'm estimating that we'll have 100 users tops. A while back I looked > up ratios and figured that a T1 would probably be enough bandwidth for > something that size, but what else do I need in my NOC? Can I get by > with a Linux box, or do I need a heavy-duty router? > > I suppose a lot of this is best answered by the vendor, but it's nice > to hear from someone who isn't simultaneously trying to sell you > something. Any criticisms/anecdotes/advice are greatly appreciated! > Who's going to sue me and for what?! > > Cheers, > > Japhy > > Benton Harbor, MI > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
