Difference between revisions of "Mesh"

227 bytes removed ,  15:18, 22 September 2013
Updated page with more current info
(Added sticker design page)
(Updated page with more current info)
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A mesh network is, in essence, free as in freedom alternative internet. Using low-cost routers (often donated or recycled) mounted on rooftops, we're currently building the backbone of the mesh throughout downtown Oakland, from West Oakland to the Fruitvale BART and beyond!
A mesh network is, in essence, free as in freedom alternative internet. Using low-cost routers (often donated or recycled) mounted on rooftops, we're currently building the backbone of the mesh throughout downtown Oakland, from West Oakland to the Fruitvale BART and beyond!


Mesh networks are awesome because they don't depend on the existing centralized Internet Service Providers to function. Though they can be connected to the Internet as we know it now, a mesh provides a decentralized means of communication with our local community. We view mesh networks as a means of reconnecting to our neighbors, supporting local businesses, and enabling grassroots community collaboration. In the event of disaster or government censorship, an active mesh network is a resilient means of communication and sharing of information.
Mesh networks are awesome because they don't depend on the existing centralized Internet Service Providers to function. Though they can be connected to the Internet as we know it now, a mesh network provides a decentralized mode of communication with our local community. We view mesh networks as a means of connecting to our neighbors, supporting local businesses, and enabling grassroots community collaboration. In the event of disaster or government censorship, an active mesh network is a resilient means of communication and sharing of information.


= Meetup Info =
= Meetup Info =
*Join the [http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/mesh Mailing List!]
*Join the [http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/mesh Mailing List!]
*We have weekly hack nights on Thursdays, 7:30-10pm at [[Getting_there|Sudo Room]]. The first three Thursdays of the month are work nights - so come by and jump in! General meetings for discussion and planning are Last Thursdays of every month. We plan to have Community Outreach planning meetings in the near future - watch this space or join the mailing list for details.
*We have weekly hack nights on Thursdays, 7:30-10pm at [[Getting_there|Sudo Room]]. The first three Thursdays of the month are work nights - so come by and jump in! General meetings for discussion and planning are Last Thursdays of every month. We plan to have local focus groups in the near future - watch this space or join the mailing list for details.
*Find us on IRC: #510pen on [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=510pen Freenode IRC]
*Find us on IRC: #510pen on [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=510pen Freenode IRC]


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*Support us with a small weekly donation on [https://www.gittip.com/sudomesh/ Gittip].
*Support us with a small weekly donation on [https://www.gittip.com/sudomesh/ Gittip].
*Send bitcoins to our wallet address: 12RxU4DpLpdWcmEBn7Tj325CCXBwt5i9Hc
*Send bitcoins to our wallet address: 12RxU4DpLpdWcmEBn7Tj325CCXBwt5i9Hc
*Help promote our [https://www.wepay.com/xtewtey crowdfunding campaign] by sharing far and wide.
:[https://www.facebook.com/praveen.sinha.121/posts/10151391425741191 On facebook], [https://twitter.com/tunabananas/status/344558747605159936 twitter] and [http://www.reddit.com/r/darknetplan/comments/1g90fu/bootstrapping_the_oakland_community_mesh_network/ reddit].
*Come to our work meetings in Oakland! (listed above).
*Come to our work meetings in Oakland! (listed above).
*Form a project and/or a neighborhood working group to create new and locally-relevant ways of plugging into the mesh.


= Mesh pages =
= Mesh pages =
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*[http://meshmap.sudoroom.org Map] - of potential nodes.
*[http://meshmap.sudoroom.org Map] - of potential nodes.
*[[Mesh/MeshApps]] - Local applications to run on the mesh!
*[[Mesh/MeshApps]] - Local applications to run on the mesh!
*[[Mesh/Swag]] - Research on custom-printed t-shirts and other swagr
*[[Mesh/Swag]] - Research on custom-printed t-shirts and other swag.
*[[Mesh/Stickers]] - Sticker design
*[[Mesh/Stickers]] - Sticker design


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==Building a backbone of point-to-point line of sight rooftop wifi mesh nodes to bootstrap the reach of the network==
==Building a backbone of point-to-point line of sight rooftop wifi mesh nodes to bootstrap the reach of the network==
*The mesh right now has very few nodes that are directly connected (as opposed to connected over the Internet), which makes the usefulness of the mesh questionable in disaster and extreme censorship scenarios.
*The mesh right now has very few nodes that are directly connected (as opposed to connected over the Internet), which makes the usefulness of the mesh questionable in disaster and extreme censorship scenarios.
*We've been focusing on finding a simple and inexpensive solution for point to point rooftop nodes in order to create a far reaching backbone of high-bandwidth interconnected nodes. Currently we're testing a solution using recycled small satelitte dishes with cheap usb wifi adapters mounted and weatherproofed at the dish's point of focus. Inexpensive computers such as a raspberry pi can then, when hooked up to one or more of these nodes, connect rooftops more than a mile apart. Finding people willing to host rooftop equipment and others willing to donate unused satelitte dishes has become another way we engage with the local community.
*We've been focusing on finding a simple and inexpensive solution for point to point rooftop nodes in order to create a far reaching backbone of high-bandwidth interconnected nodes. Currently we're testing a solution using recycled small satellite dishes with cheap usb wifi adapters mounted and weatherproofed at the dish's point of focus. Inexpensive computers such as a raspberry pi can then, when hooked up to one or more of these nodes, connect rooftops more than a mile apart. Finding people willing to host rooftop equipment and others willing to donate unused satellite dishes has become another way we engage with the local community.
      
      
==Mesh coverage of local areas from connected nodes using powerful omnidirectional wifi equipment==
==Mesh coverage of local areas from connected nodes using powerful omnidirectional wifi equipment==
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*[[Mesh/04_July_2013|2013-07-04]]
*[[Mesh/04_July_2013|2013-07-04]]
*[[Mesh/11_July_2013|2013-07-11]]
*[[Mesh/11_July_2013|2013-07-11]]
*Hack night: Flashing, firware (July 18, 2013)
*Hack night: Flashing, firmware (July 18, 2013)
*[[Mesh/25_July_2013|2013-07-25]]
*[[Mesh/25_July_2013|2013-07-25]]
*[[Mesh/31_July_2013|2013-07-31]]


=Web Resources=
=Web Resources=
*[http://510pen.org 510pen] - East Bay community wireless mesh network spawned in 2009 by [[User:mfb|Mark Burdett]]
*[http://510pen.org 510pen] - East Bay community wireless mesh network spawned in 2009 by [[User:mfb|Mark Burdett]]
*[http://wiki.tidepools.com Tidepools] - [[User:tunabananas|Jenny Ryan]] is designing local use cases for a community mobile mapping application built to run on mesh networks.
*[http://wiki.tidepools.com Tidepools] - [[User:tunabananas|Jenny Ryan]] designed local use cases for a community mobile mapping application built to run on mesh networks.
*[https://wiki.projectmeshnet.org/Main_Page Project Meshnet] - Extensive wiki on the /r/darknet project, including extensive list of [https://wiki.projectmeshnet.org/Projects projects coordinating with them].
*[https://wiki.projectmeshnet.org/Main_Page Project Meshnet] - Extensive wiki on the /r/darknet project, including extensive list of [https://wiki.projectmeshnet.org/Projects projects coordinating with them].
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_Wi-Fi#Notable_links Long Range Wifi] - Info on the longest-range wifi connections ever made.
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_Wi-Fi#Notable_links Long Range Wifi] - Info on the longest-range wifi connections ever made.
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