[wsfii-discuss] Wireless Network for Haiti - Question

Mon Oct 8 18:28:13 UTC 2007

You have a nice list of things you want on your technical list.  You are 
however missing the part about community, you need to build a network of 
people in your locals!  Sometimes that is harder to do and takes longer 
than the technological parts.  But without it you are alone and do not 
have local receptivity and champions. Many of the items on your list 
e.g. website can be done with members in your local communities, find 
them.  It is also good to have  few people to tinker with.  There is 
plenty to read online.

Sincerely
tracey

pascalmlaurent at optonline.net wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Thank you so very much for the info. First permit me to explain to you 
> what I trying to do. I live and reside in the US (Attleboro, 
> Massachusetts). I'm the owner of a CyberCafe (MartheCyberNet) in 
> Jeremie, Haiti (http://www.fallingrain.com/world/HA/8/Jeremie.html). I 
> used a high speed VSAT system to provide internet/voip/others services 
> to the city. I'm probably the only person in the city who has a 
> reliable system in place. Now I change my mind I want to give 
> everything away for the benefit of the community. I want to create a 
> community wireless business (that is non-profit) that would benefit 
> the whole community. My goal is connect schools, hospitals, community 
> members, to educate, and to create opportunities for everyone. All of 
> the proceeds will be used to educate, support and connecting more 
> schools, and as well as communities outside the city of Jeremie. If 
> you know or would like to help please let me know. I am not asking for 
> monetary help. I'm asking for your technical assistance and help to 
> educate others how to learn what you know. And to lead them in 
> becoming independent thinkers like you. If you could me achieve these 
> goals. You will make a great impact in their lives. If you have a 
> passion to help others please join me. Please help in creating a 
> community wireless called SuubiNet (Suubi for Hope and Net connecting 
> people).
>
>  
>
> Please understand my community needs lots of help when it comes to 
> technology, managing the technology, administer the technology, 
> designing businesses to make use of the technology, etc. Technical 
> speaking I'm looking for documents/helps from others to help me build 
> (outdoors) wireless nodes and design a mesh network. The mesh network 
> would connect schools, hospital, etc. I'm looking for Document on how 
> to design a mesh networking. How and the best way to assign things 
> like IP addresses to mobile users (dhcp), connecting the schools, 
> hospital, providing last miles connectivity to remote place, etc. If 
> you can help me find someone who has experience building such things 
> and who is very happy to share their experience with that would be 
> great. I didn't not want to spend to much time reinvent the wheel If i 
> could find someone/community that has done something like that already 
> to help me. I would/could duplicate their success, learning how they 
> do it, and in turn I implement it in my community. But I need to start 
> somewhere.
>
>  
>
> I would like to have a system/prototype working in my home first.  I 
> would like to turn my home into a learning lab. Where I built and 
> design the nodes/network. I welcome your advise on what I need to buy. 
> All I'm interesting in doing right now are the:
>
>  
>
> Please note: I would like to have something in place (Jeremie, Haiti) 
> by August 2008.
>
>  
>
> -- Need help creating a community website for the project 
> (suubinet.org). Should I use drupal? May I have you recommendations 
> please?
>
>  
>
> -- Should I use Kamikaze hoping by the time I have the project in 
> place Freifunk will be converted to Kamikaze. (Your help please)
>
>  
>
> -- Creating a simple mesh networking using Freifunk (4 nodes)
>
>     -- Installing Freifunk 1.6.X (done)
>
>             -- Testing Freifunk to browse the internet (done)
>
>     -- Configure Freifunk (OLSR) to create a mesh network (need help)
>
>     -- Configure Freifunk to automatically assign IP to mobile users 
> (need help... Don't if a good thing to do in a production environment)
>
>             -- Configure Freifunk to accept only authorize node (I 
> want to do that initially to control abuse)
>
>             -- How others have designed a mesh network around Freifunk 
> in a production environment? 
>
>             -- -- Prevent connections to specific nodes by members and 
> allow only authorize personnel to connect for maintenance purposes.
>
>            
>
> -- Installing Wifidog gateway/Auth
>
>    -- Installing Wifidog Gateway
>
>       -- Freifunk (done and it works)
>
>       -- Testing connecting to wifidog auth (done and it works)
>
>       -- MS explorer works fine
>
>       -- Firefox don't work and only work after I sign up using IE
>
>       -- I don't know what else I need to do to support my project 
> goals  
>
>    -- Installing Wifidog Auth
>
>       -- Debian etch (done)
>
>               -- Creating a dev node (done)
>
>               -- Choosing French don't work
>
>               -- Redesign the login page to be more user friendly 
> (don't know how)
>
>               -- Removing creating account (I would like to disable 
> that feature to control abuse) and but will be added in the future
>
>               -- Setup up prepaid/postpaid (need to do that to support 
> the project financially)
>
>               -- Setting up timeout idle time
>
>               -- Bandwidth assignment to users (to prevent abuse)
>
>               -- Need ways to warn/ban users download large files 
> (such movie, music, etc, I need to do that at the beginning of the 
> project to boost member confidence to support the project)
>
>  
>
> -- Build wireless node (using WRT54GL and/or board such miniboard/Soekris)
>
>    -- Purchasing outdoor enclosures (what I need to buy)
>
>    -- How to build POE (don't know how)
>
>    -- Type of Wireless card to buy   (please advise)
>
>    -- Others (Your suggestion  please)
>
>   
>
> -- Services to be offered (at the beginning of the project)
>
>    -- Internet browsing
>
>    -- Email
>
>    -- VOIP (may be using asterisk)
>
>  
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Pascal
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tracey P. Lauriault"
> Date: Sunday, October 7, 2007 10:28 am
> Subject: Wireless Network for Haiti - Question
> To: Ottawa-Gatineau WiFi , Discuss list on the World Summit on Free 
> Information Infrastructure , Benoit Gregoire , 
> pascalmlaurent at optonline.net
>
> > Greetings Pascal;
> >
> > I am passing you onto the *World Summit on Free Information
> > Infrastructure (WSFII)* list. Here you will find international
> > experts
> > who have experience in what you requesting. Also on this list
> > there are
> > many Freifunkers. I also recommend that you look at the
> > following book
> > - Wireless Networking in the Developing World -
> > http://www.wndw.net/index.html - which you can read free of
> > charge on
> > their wiki.
> >
> > I am also CC'ing you to *Benoit Gregoire* the key developer for
> > wifidog
> > who should be able to help you with questions pertaining to
> > security and
> > prepaid servicing. Although i most of the community wireless
> > networks
> > in north america as far as I know provide the service for free.
> >
> > Finally, *JP* who is a memver of ogWiFi may also have some
> > answers
> > regarding security for you.
> >
> > Good luck with your project.
> >
> > Tracey
> > Ottawa-Gatineau WiFI
> > ogwifi.ca
> > http://ogwifi.blogsome.com/
> >
> > PS-no need to donate a router to me/us, however, you may
> > consider
> > donating some of your routers and services to community groups
> > in Haiti
> > in exchange for information if you like!
> >
> > pascalmlaurent at optonline.net wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > My name is Pascal. I live and work in the US. But I'm
> > originally from
> > > Haiti. I found your web site while perusing google looking for
> > > turn-key doc on wifidog gateway/auth server. I'm working on a
> > project
> > > (using my own fund) to bring internet connectivity to home
> > town in
> > > Jeremie,Haiti. I would like to create a non-profit community
> > wireless
> > > that I hope would benefit everyone.
> > >
> > > I have setup a few linksys WRT4GL node in my home using
> > freifunk. I
> > > have setup both wifidog gateway and the auth server. Due to
> > lack of
> > > doc I can't do much. Here is what I would to do:
> > >
> > > 1) Setting up bandwidth management
> > > 2) Setting prepaid/postpaid time services (to support
> > financing the
> > > project)
> > > 3) Secure wifidog to prevent abuse
> > > 4) and others
> > >
> > > For your help I will donate two WRT54GL routers to any member
> > of your
> > > organization. If you would like to get in contact with me
> > please call
> > > me at 732.991.1747.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for your help,
> > > --Pascal
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Ottawa-Gatineau WiFi (ogWiFi)'s mailing list
> > > ogwifi at floral.org
> > > http://list.flora.ca/mailman/listinfo/ogwifi
> > >
> >
> > 