Tom Higgins and family -tom@wsmf.org -node236
01/26/03- PTP NewbeWorkshop Part The First (yes this means there will be others)
When: Sunday Jan 26th starting at 12 Noon running until no latter than 7pm
Where: The WSMF Compound (aka the Higgins House)
- 2924 se alder st Portland OR
Who: If your new to the PTP, need help in getting your computer set up, connected to the wireless net, using software to do the above or just have questions and need some guidence. Id like to keep it to 10 folks, anymore than that and the place is going to get crowded, the outlets will fill up and the wife will get cranky. RSVP if you want to "reserve" a spot. If not, stop by and if we have room you are more than welcome.
What:
- Tech: Computers, power cords, POWER STRIPS (we need those!) and your
wifi gear. If you cant or dont want to bring your rig you can watch as others learn the ropes. .
Food: I will set up a PotLuck Table that folks can get to all day, so
bring something you like to eat and drink. The only thing I ask is no liquor and if you drink beer do so responisbly. I did some bouncing work in my youth and will remove anyone who puts my house or family at risk. Not that I expect anyone will.
My wife says she will make a crock pot full of sloppy joes and I will try to pull togther something meatless. If everone brings something we will be golden.
Setup: I have a family room in the basement that can hold about 10 people and some gear. I have a big (54incher) TV I can hook my laptop to so we can give some demos. If your computer has a TV out and you want to give a demo or show folks something we can do that too.
Tentative Events.
12noon-1pm - set up, meet and greet 1pm-1:30pm - PTP 101 (this will basicaly be a beta test of the article
- I am doing for the zine)
1:30pm- - Questions, Answers, Ad Hoc Demos, what ever folks need to
- know. We can spill up to the living room/dinning room if we need more space for work on gear.
- - 7pm - Final clean up and farewells.
I will try to have printed copies of PTP literature, te zine articles I am working on and maybe a few other things that will help out.
(rsvp to tom@wsmf.org if you plan to attend or just stop by:)- )
12/18/02 QuarterlyZine time, wifi style. PTP has enough action packed stuff going on to not only warrant a zine, it will be a great way to show off other talents as well.
12/14/02 WarStrollering -
http://208.151.246.210/pictures/PersonalTelco/thumbs/WarStrollering-Ben.JPG
- The act of seaching for hotspots via a wifi rig mounted,howerver flimsily, atop an infant stroller. Great for nieghborhood walk about, nights out on the town with the family and as yet another excuse to go out with the younguns.
An example can be seen here http://208.151.246.210/pictures/PersonalTelco/
11/14/02
http://208.151.246.210/pictures/PersonalTelco/thumbs/Node236-WSMFcomound.JPG Node236 - The WSMF Compound
Having found ptp about a month or two ago I have spent much of that time reading up on the particulars and moving into my new house. The new house has, of course, a new roof from which many of the ideas I have read up on will be put to use.
Some of the things I find most interesting about wireless community networks so far...
() Network clouds - The idea of a mesh or cloud type network seems to be the best fit for forming community networks. They allow growth from small beginings and scale up nicely.
() Internet independence - Not everythign need go thru, on or into the internet. I think community networkclouds can, and should, be used to house lots of the infromation and resources folks are currently paying usage fees to get to or to make avialble.
() Clouds merging with clouds - Connecting the various community networks togther , at first over the internet and over time thru non internet connectivity, seems the best way to utilize the power of localized netowrking over a global scale
() Using gnutella / freenet over the clouds - These apps have proved themselves viable methods to both offer up and retrive items across a dynamic network structure. Its a damn near perfect fit for the clouds.