Wireless Community Network Harris

Wireless community network Wireless community networks or wireless community projects are the largely hobbyist-led development of interlinked computer networks using wireless LAN technologies, taking advantage of the recent development of cheap, standardised 802.11b (Wi-Fi) devices to build growing clusters (group of the same or similar elements gathered) of linked, citywide networks, or in rural areas where conventional DSL services are unavailable. Some are being used to link to the wider Internet, particularly where individuals can obtain unmetered internet connections such as ADSL and/or cable modem at fixed costs and share them with friends. Where such access is unavailable or expensive, they can act as a low-cost partial alternative, as the only cost is the fixed cost of the equipment. Most wireless community network projects are coordinated by citywide user groups who freely share information and help using the Internet. They often spring up as a grassroots movement offering free, anonymous Internet access to anyone with WiFi capability. Community networks differ from other wireless hotspots, which are usually put up for commercial purposes, often offering paid-for internet. They also differ from independent privately owned open wireless access points offering anyone within range free internet access. Many of these community networks are run on a voluntary basis and can be compared to other voluntary groups focussed around local issues. Like other voluntary groups they have sometimes found their greatest challenges are not technical (e.g. developing affordable internet access in a local area) but social; encouraging and sustaining volunteer input, a critical mass of users, and devising a sustainable organisational model. Some groups have splintered as individual participants follow their own goals, or found it difficult to maintain a user base when large corporate internet service suppliers have reduced the price of broadband connectivity and increased availability. An alternative to the voluntary model is to use a co-operative structure. This is the model which has been encouraged by Community Broadband Network in the UK. A successful example is the Alston Cybermoor in Alston, UK. It may be that community networks represent an alternative model to corporate broadband provision in niche markets, or that they represent the early adaptor phase of a new technology moving into the marketplace. The biggest community network is CZFree.NET, which connects more than 20,000 computers in Prague and other cities.

In the U.S. many government efforts to develop public-private partnerships or sole efforts in pursuit of the community wireless and wired network have ended in drastic failure. When initially voted in by the public they are sold as utopian endeavors. However, once financed they may fail to deliver due to poor implementation, competition and poor product offerings.[1] There are three distinct generations of wireless mesh networks being employed in community mesh networks today. In the first generation one radio provides both backhaul (packet relaying) and client services (access to a laptop). In the second generation, one radio relayed packets over multiple hops while another provided client access. This significantly improved backhaul bandwidth and latency. Third generation wireless mesh products use two or more radios for the backhaul for higher bandwidth and low latency. Third generation mesh products are replacing previous generation products as more demanding applications like voice and video need to be relayed wirelessly over many hops of the mesh network.