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Hi all, As you may know, the MIT Roofnet project http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/roofnet/ has been developing and testing an open source wireless mesh network in Cambridge. This Saturday, the developers are hoping to test their open source mesh network system in the context of a housing development in Boston, with most of the nodes/antennas placed indoors. Their software relies on Roofnet Linux, a pared down version of Pebble, which is derived from Debian. To date, most of their testing has been done in the lab or with all antennas placed on roofs outdoors. How well will it work in a high density housing complex? Please help us find out this Saturday. Volunteers are needed to tend the nodes, which they hope to place in 18 entryways throughout the development, as well as several to a floor in the main highrise here: http://www.ctcnet.org/wireless/TentCityEntrance1.jpg http://www.ctcnet.org/wireless/tentcitydrawingd.jpg http://www.ctcnet.org/wireless/TentCityFromT1.jpg As you can see in the last of those pictures, it's across the street from the T... that's the Back Bay stop on the Orange Line on Dartmouth street just outside Copley Square. Some of you attended a Linux Installfest held at that location a few years ago (the South End Technology Center). Volunteers will be asked to arrive at the South End Technology Center at 11:00 am. The test itself will run from noon to 1:00 pm. We'd need to hear from you in advance if you might be available. If you think you'd be available to help, please drop me a line (sronan at ctcnet.org) or give me a call (617-354-0825 x11) today, providing your contact info. And it would help to know if you might have a long (20+ foot) extension cord that you can bring (though that's not required by any means). The test itself would just require your going to a pre-assigned hallway or entranceway in the complex, plugging in two or three of the nodes and hanging out with them for an hour while tests are done... Not very exciting but very helpful indeed. While the mesh researchers have to date been using fairly expensive equipment, with nodes costing something like $250, they're now porting the software to $75 Netgear routers. And they're eager for its use to be expanded. In May there'll be a Boston WiFi summit at Boston City Hall and the Boston Foundation is funding a study of WiFi possibilities for the city. If any of you can make it, I'd also be pleased to show you around an existing Cisco-based WiFi WAN that is providing steady service in the area on an on-going basis already. - Steve Ronan
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