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Re: [school-discuss] wireless school/community network



I have started playing around with having a sustainable desktop solution that I can carry around with me.  My Android phone has a hot spot capability.

Are you in California?  I ask because of your email - if you are maybe you can visit an REI and pick up a couple of these:  http://www.rei.com/product/814774/goal-zero-nomad-7-foldable-solar-panel

It comes with a 12volt output.  I've been trying to run that through a low powered inverter, but it looks right now like that will only deliver a trickle charge.  I think that there are many other configurations though, the power inverter may be just adding a ton of inefficiency. 

To run a hot spot. I am reading that some routers such as the WRT54G (not sure if it does what you want, but is a classic because of the firmware hackability) it will run on as low as 4.5volts, and reportedly has high tolerances for more volts https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?pid=19578

I think a standard USB charging cable puts out 5 volts.  You may need more power for the hot spots though, which is why the 12volt panel might be a good option.  You will need to spend some time figuring out good ways to wire up the power.

For my own purposes, I use Laptop -> USB to Arduino -> and then I use the arduinos power outs to power small devices ...but that involves pulling out the electronics kit.


On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 9:43 AM, j. Tim Denny <johndenny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
thanks Rukshar and Yishay



From Tim's explanation, I can understand that he wants to provide internet access.

focus on intranet  but surely internet is to come... the focus would be to provide a wireless mesh network on the cheap and covering a community.

 

How many users will pass through simultaneously through the wifi?

again this is a project idea aimed at a future network... at present there are few devices in such communities...    It would be great to have such a network set up on the forthcoming 802.11 ac standard with something like 1gb throughput   probably something like half that in reality so lets say 250 up and 250kbps down...   I would guess about 25-40 devices per wifi node may and more like 10 on average...

 

Do you already have the solar inverters?

I do not have anything... just thinking out  loud...
 

If you answer my questions above , I can provide some solution.

are you familiar with any cheap wifi routers that are easy to hack in a firmware with captive portal?

Cheers
Tim

 

Thank you.



On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 3:05 AM, Yishay Mor <yishaym@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think Omo Oaiya (cc-ed) has some experience in this area.

Yishay
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On 19 May 2012 10:27, j. Tim Denny <johndenny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
friends

I was just thinking about how to setup an 802.11 bgn network for a school and the neighboring community in rural/remote areas...   

here is what I would like to see....
  • $100 solar powered wifi access points with hotspot capability -  web based authentication
  • $20 normally powered access points - where stable electricity is available

This Tenda wifi router sells for $15 in Hanoi...   http://www.tenda.cn/tendacn/Product/show.aspx?productid=353  but I cannot find a way to reliably hack a WRT firmware with chilispot in there...  then again that is above my paygrade...

I am guessing that for about $500-$1000 we could make a 1-2km school wifi zone thus enabling a move to the next stage of blended learning where students and the community could access digital materials 24/7  no need for internet  but that surely would be nice...

Does  anyone have experience with ideas such as this?   do you know experienced wifi router hackers that could do an open source project to develop wifi router packages for the future?

Cheers
Tim
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