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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 of linked, citywide networks. Some are being used to link to the wider Internet, particularly where individuals can obtain unmetered ADSL and/or cable modem internet connections 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.
Such projects started to evolve in 1998 with the availability of 802.11 equipment, and are gradually spreading to cities and towns around the world. As of mid-2002, most such networks remain embryonic, with small groups of people experimenting and gradually interconnecting with each other and thus expanding the domain and utility of the networks.
These projects are in many senses an evolution of amateur radio and, more specifically packet radio, as well as an outgrowth of the free software community (which in itself substantially overlaps with amateur radio), and share their freewheeling, experimental, adaptable culture. The key to using standard wireless networking devices designed for short-range use for multi-kilometre linkups is the use of high-gain antennas. Commercially-available examples are relatively expensive and not that readily available, so much experimentation has gone into homebuilt antenna construction. One striking design is the cantenna, which performs better than many commercial antenna designs and is constructed from a steel food can.
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 by region
Some wireless community network projects are:
North America
United States
- Atlanta FreeNet, Atlanta, GA - http://www.atlantafreenet.org
- Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois - http://www.cuwireless.net/
- BARWN, Bay Area, California, http://www.barwn.org/
- BAWUG, San Francisco - http://www.bawug.org/
- DetroitCONNECTED, Detroit, Michigan, USA - http://www.detroitconnected.org/
- Detroit Wireless Project, Metropolitian Detroit, Michigan, USA - http://www.dwp.org/
- Dowza Directory & Community, Global Listings - http://www.dowza.com/
- GuerillaNet - http://205.159.169.11/
- Newbury Open, Boston, Massachusetts, http://www.newburyopen.net/
- NoCatNet, Sonoma County, California, http://nocat.net/
- NYCWireless, New York, New York, http://nycwireless.net/
- PDX Wireless, Portland, Oregon - http://www.pdxwireless.org/
- Personal Telco, Portland, Oregon - http://www.personaltelco.net/ (wiki)
- PGHWireless, Pittsburgh, PA - http://www.PGHWireless.net
- Seattle Wireless - http://www.seattlewireless.net/ (wiki)
- SFLAN, San Francisco - http://www.sflan.org/
- SoCalFreeNet, San Diego, CA - http://www.socalfreenet.org
- Toronto Wireless Community Network - http://www.esoterraka.com/twcn/
- Wireless Community Networks, Chicago, IL - http://wcn.cnt.org/
- Wireless Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA - http://www.phila.gov/wireless/
See also:
Canada
Europe
Austria
Czech Republic
Croatia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Netherlands
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Other
See also:
Australia & Oceania
South Australia
Victoria, Australia
New South Wales, Australia
Queensland, Australia
Canberra Territory, Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania, Australia
New Zealand
Africa
External links
See also
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