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In South Africa we've got a completely free, community driven and supported Wireless User Group comprising of ~2000 nodes. Whilst it's certainly not the Intern

In South Africa we've got a completely free, community driven and supported Wireless User Group comprising of ~2000 nodes. Whilst it's certainly not the Internet I've seen a marked improvement and understanding in creating large, relatively free networks. (You still have to buy your own equipment.) One can only hope that by 2025 the technology will have increased to such a point that it'll be powerful (no line of site required), cheap and abundant. (And in effect, uncontrollable by a single entity, corporation or organization.) A bit more about the WUG: (http://ptawug.co.za http://ptawug.co.za) They use standard 802.11g/n (5.8/2.4 GHz) Wi-Fi equipment. And mostly Mikrotik router hardware and software. I'm just a user - So my information might be a bit wrong...

alex_c 16y ago
(You still have to buy your own equipment.) If a society has regressed as much as the one depicted in the article, it's not inconceivable that the necessary equipment would be made illegal (or at least require a license).
jeebusroxors 16y ago
A friend of mine has been interested in setting something like this up in the states. Is there a website documenting the process/pitfalls?
- pistoriusp 16y ago
  I'm just an end user - So I don't know much about the process. Here's the project's website: http://ptawug.co.za http://ptawug.co.za
  - jeebusroxors 16y ago
    Thanks. These types of things always hit that "this is awesome" spot due to both the engineering and community aspects.
- Hoff 16y ago
  Search the googlephant for wifi mesh setup or related terms.
- Zaak 16y ago
  Take a look at http://www.personaltelco.net/ http://www.personaltelco.net/ It may not be exactly what you're interested in, but they have set up a large amount of equipment and may have information that would be useful to you.
mortenjorck 16y ago
This is utterly fascinating to me. What kind of protocols does it use? What kind of use cases have sprung up around it and what roles is it playing in peoples' lives? Is it more of a ham radio kind of enthusiast thing or is it working its way into the general community?
- pistoriusp 16y ago
  It's standard 802.11g/n (5Ghz antennas) - check out http://ptawug.co.za http://ptawug.co.za for more information.

alex_c 16y ago

(You still have to buy your own equipment.) If a society has regressed as much as the one depicted in the article, it's not inconceivable that the necessary equipment would be made illegal (or at least require a license).

jeebusroxors 16y ago

A friend of mine has been interested in setting something like this up in the states. Is there a website documenting the process/pitfalls?

pistoriusp 16y ago
I'm just an end user - So I don't know much about the process. Here's the project's website: http://ptawug.co.za http://ptawug.co.za
- jeebusroxors 16y ago
  Thanks. These types of things always hit that "this is awesome" spot due to both the engineering and community aspects.
Hoff 16y ago
Search the googlephant for wifi mesh setup or related terms.
Zaak 16y ago
Take a look at http://www.personaltelco.net/ http://www.personaltelco.net/ It may not be exactly what you're interested in, but they have set up a large amount of equipment and may have information that would be useful to you.

mortenjorck 16y ago

This is utterly fascinating to me. What kind of protocols does it use? What kind of use cases have sprung up around it and what roles is it playing in peoples' lives? Is it more of a ham radio kind of enthusiast thing or is it working its way into the general community?

pistoriusp 16y ago
It's standard 802.11g/n (5Ghz antennas) - check out http://ptawug.co.za http://ptawug.co.za for more information.