Sam Churchill

I'm a LAN enthusiastic and live downtown near Portland State University (11th & Market). I want to do live webcasts of weddings (a church is right across the street). I don't have an Access Point, DSL or Cable Modem yet. Damn. I have a Sharp Tripad, a nifty little Windows CE machine and a FreeGeek box with Mandrake. BTW, the Tripad works great but I'm selling it for $250 if anyone's interested (503.228.6459).

Here are some related links:

• [http://www.sdots.com/wireless The Community LAN Revolution] - A 12 page (and counting) resource, spun off from an Article in [http://www.computerbits.com/archive/20010100/communitylan.htm Computer Bits] (Jan, 01).

• [http://www.universitypark.org/hope/index.html Proposal for North Portland Wireless Network] This web presentation describes a proposed wireless system for North Portland. A rooftop antenna on University Park Community Center would provide wireless "last mile" service using the 5 Ghz band (prefered). I may submit the proposal (if it's viable) for a Mt. Hood Cable Grant. Is it workable? Please give me your opinions on this proposal. Thanks.

• [http://www.sdots.com S Dot S Publishing] is a publishing business I share with my mom (Dorothy), and sister (Sue).

• [http://home.teleport.com/~samc/index1.html My current homepage] sucks. All my web pages on Teleport were erased by Earthlink when they moved servers. Earthlink is awful. I'm bailing.

• [http://www.sdots.com/telecom/ The Oregon Telecommunications Atlas], researched Oregon Telecommunications infrastructure for the Oregon Economic Development Office. That prompted my interest in the "last mile".

• PgePark wireless lan proposal. Why not? [http://home.teleport.com/~samc/wireless/map.html Here's more on my web page]

• ChurchLan is a wireless LAN webcasting proposal for [http://www.oldchurch.org/ The Old Church]. They offer a community space for performances and weddings. I live kitty-corner from them and their director seems open to the idea. This project might provide a good showcase and offer publicity for anyone who wants to get involved.

• InteractiveSculpture. Constructing some sort of mobile, interactive sculpture for neighborhood celebrations intrigues me. A Calderesq sculpture might have movement and sound built with PVC pipe, small motors and other junk for $100 or so. It interacts with passersby. The idea here is to make people smile. A liberating, self-actualized theme, it would work on the sub-conscious with stylized simplicity and innocence.

• I think it would be cool to webcast the Rose Parade. From a float. This would use a laptop like Sony's Picturebook runing webcam software and linked with 144 Kbps Sprint or Voicestream 3G cellular. [http://www.home.teleport.com/~samc/wireless/webcasting.html Here's more on Webcasting]

I'm basically a writer and web designer focused on content issues. I'm one of these people who likes to embed [http://www.vgmusic.com/ Video Game Midis] in web pages (don't you just that).

• [http://www.sdots.com/wireless/map.html An Oregon Information and Entertainment Network]

http://sdots.com/wireless/onscene.jpg

Broadband can multicast to tens (or hundreds) of thousands of digital cable boxes and internet appliances. Faster, cheaper, better. Here's how:

Neighborhood nodes might use 5 Ghz to deliver "the first mile". The [http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/16/ 802.16 Metropolitan Wireless LAN standard] is optimized for the "first mile" while 802.11a is optimized for use inside the home or office.

Five Gig LANs include Enterasys [http://www.enterasys.com/products/items/RBTR2/ RoamAbout2] which [http://www.crn.com/Components/Search/Article.asp?ArticleID=26138 combines 2.4 and 5 GHz Access Points], [http://home.intermec.com/eprise/main/Intermec/Content/About/NewsPages/pressRelease?section=about&pressID=306 Intermec's MobileLAN 2106], [http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-7093015.html?tag=prntfr Intel 54 Mbps access points] or [http://www.Avaya.com/ Avaya Wireless Access Point-3] ($1,295) which supports a 802.1X port authentication.

[http://www.citynettelecom.com/index.swf CityNet Fiber] goes the last mile and links those neighborhood nodes -- through the sewer system.

[http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/prod_100201.html Cisco's 12404, 10Gbps router] integrates Ethernet with voice and video. Their 10720 router ($43,300) is expensive but delivers multiple, simultaneous IP services and has a self-healing mechanism for automatic fiber cut repair using SONET fiber rings.

[http://www-4.ibm.com/software/speech/enterprise/ep_8.html IBM's WebSphere Translation Server] delivers Web pages, e-mail messages and chat conversations in multiple languages, in real time and is teaming with [http://www.akamai.com/ Akamai] to deliver streaming video.

[http://www.enreach.com/Products/ EnReach] says, "IP based broadband is the most cost-effective and fastest way to launch combined video and data services to the home." Their [http://www.enreach.com/Products/demotrialsys.htm rack-mount IP VOD system] supports 20 simultaneous streams and can deliver IP-based video to apartment buildings using switched Ethernet to bring broadband access to each home.

[http://www.techtv.com/siliconspin/features/story/0,23008,3346050,00.html Five major studios will deliver VOD to computer users](Sony, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and MGM). Disney and Fox, may also have their own VOD service in the works. Streaming content available from satellite includes [http://www.ibeam.com/ iBeam] and [http://www.net-36.com/ Net-36].

[http://www.polycom.com/products/video_family.html Polycom] and [http://www.radvision.com/f_products/f1_platformvip.php3?prod=Platform%2BOverview RadVision] offer teleconferencing with Voice and Video over IP. Apartment buildings and condominiums might profit from distance learning rooms. With [http://www.polycom.com/products/viavideo.html Netmeeting on a laptop] and Wireless LAN or 3G cellular connectivity, mobile, adhoc teleconferences might be practical.

[http://www.nokia.com/multimedia/mediaterminal.html Nokia's MediaTerminal settop box] ($350) or [http://www.digitalnetworks.philips.com/InformationCenter/PhilipsInternet/FArticleWithDomains.asp?lArticleId=1109&lNodeId=13 Philips MHP platform] can receive (and record) video on demand.

[http://www.pace.co.uk/paceproducts/index.asp The Pace set-top box] works with cable or "wireless cable" while [http://www.ncube.com/internet/index.html nCUBE provides VCR controls for the client] using servers in the network. One [http://www.ncube.com/vod/architecture.html nCube server] can stream RealVideo 8 content to as many as 200,000 customers simultaneously.

[http://www.pocketpc.com Microsoft's PocketPC] can receive Wireless LANs and live television with [http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/pocketpc2002/mediaplayer.asp streaming Media Player]. Handhelds can also [http://www.snapstream.com/news/pr09/Default.htm record video programs] for later playback. [http://www.fathammer.com/company/index.html Mobiletainment] is enabled with [http://developer.intel.com/design/wireless/pca/pca.htm Intel Client Architecture].

I figure in 2-3 years, handheld players (with goggles) may be cheaper than a 25" television. And two-way. Are you ready?

I think the solution to ubiquitious broadband may be to buy a UhfTelevision channel! Channels 50-69 go up for auction this June. Here's how to buy a UhfTelevision channel for 2-way internet access.

• http://sdots.com/wireless/3view.jpg

Here are some of my related web sites

• [http://www.sdots.com/seas/ The Subduction Zone] - I think oceanography is interesting and I trek down to Astoria every summer and see what's up with Alvin.

  [http://www.universitypark.org/proposals/ University Park Community Center] - I make web pages (and proposals) at University Park.

  • These web sites might not work; I'm relocating them

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/wap/ Bluetooth Article] - Here's a short article I did on BlueTooth. I talked with Nigel Ballard of [http://www.cerulic.com/ Cerulic], located in SE Portland. They are major providers of both 802.11b and [http://www.Bluetooth.com/ Bluetooth] in public places such as airports and hotel lobbies.

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/telecom/ The Oregon Telecommunicatins Atlas] - A comprehensive survey of telecommunications infrastructure in the state.

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/bike/ Sam's Webcam Cookbook] - The honest truth is I don't know what I'm talking about. It reads nice, though, and got some recognition. You might note I don't have any webcams working. Couldn't figure out how to do it.

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/sc/ Portland Supercomputer Conference '99] - Nobody EVER visits this site but I think it's cool. Maybe it's the [http://www.tombrusky.com/ Polka music].

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/robots/ Robots in Portland] - Robots are cool. I want to put one inside Mt St. Helens. Controlled by Wireless LAN, of course.

  [http://www.teleport.com/~samc/hdtv/ebook/ Sam's Digital Television Report] - It's The End for local broadcasters. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Adventures in Homelessness

My unemployment is running out. I'm a decent web designer and writer but looking for a job has never been my forte.

If I can't pay my rent, then I'm out on the street. Really. I've done it before for almost a year. It's not that big a hardship. There's plenty of free food in Portland and you can stay at the emergency shelter and you have plenty of free time.

If I DO become homeless, how could I survive? If I had a cell phone/PocketPC perhaps I could continue making web pages. Meeting clients might be difficult but, hey, that's what e-mail and cell phones are for.

Here's the proposition: I'll put everything into storage for 6 months. Then I'm on the street for real. I have virtually nothing in the bank so I'll have to live on my wits. I'll create a daily journal that includes photos and stories of the people I meet and the places I'll go. Sort of a low-budget Steve Roberts journey. You could have the marketing rights in exchange for a 2.5G cell connection and hardware like a [http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/products/pc/notebook/pcgc1xs.html Sony Picturebook] with a [http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/1,1298,0-0-1_1-1627,00.html Xircom GPRS PC Card]. If I last 6 months (without a job offer) I get to keep it. I already have a Nikon digital and a $30 mini-cassette recorder. They would be my only material possessions except the clothes on my back.

This is a real proposition. I don't have anything to fall back on except my own wits. I'm not after a "big break". I tend to take the easy way out and this is it. I don't have any legal, emotional or chemical show stoppers. It seems like an interesting and useful endeavor.

I'm 53 and should know better. But here I am. I want to write good stories but I'm not good at marketing. What would you do?

- Sam Churchill samc@teleport.com 503.228.6459

• I wish I had some ideas Sam, but I'm afraid I don't. I admire your courage though and that you see this as the "easy way". If you can think of anyway I can help, let me know. -- AdamShand

Hey, thanks, Adam. It's just an idea that seems worthwhile. I'll probably take the easy way out -- and get a job!

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