Tom Higgins and Family
- tom at personaltelco.net
- South East Regional Captian
- owner operator of ["Node236"]
PTP Projects
December 03 - Busy month..the PTP scored a major haul of gear from CTI..added to the NuCAB boxes there is an impressive amount of resources to build the PTPnet up with. Of the NuCabs Keegan is perfecting an install method by which folks will be able to get a NuCab up and part of the PTPnet with out much fuss. InstallFestWinter2004 has been scheduled to do some of that installation and education. The WeeklyMeetings are picking back up and lots of stuff is swirling from them. I purchased a wrt54g and am learning all the fun that can be had with it. It really does look like a simple solution to setting up some types of nodes, being on the edge though means stability is still a feature in the works.
Novemeber 03 - Maps maps maps . I have started using [http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html Radio Mobile] to create [http://www.personaltelco.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=node236 theoretical coverage maps of the PTPs spread across Portland.] As I get more [http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/nodeinfoscratchpad data] about other PTP the more detailed and inclusive the maps will become. Its my hope to have coverage maps for the next monthly meeting.The only thing stopping me is [http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/nodeinfoscratchpad data]. If you can fill in the blanks either head to the [http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/nodeinfoscratchpad data]sheet or email me.
October 03 - Enter the NewCloneArmyBox . From the 90 dontaed PCs to a fleet of ready nocat sporting PTPnet nodes these boxes are on the path to usefullness. NewCloneArmyInstallMethodology
Nearly 1 year after buying a new house, getting the gear and starting down the road to learning of community networking from the masters of the PTP I think ["Node236"] is ready for prime time use.
InstallfestFall2003. A gathering of folks wanting to build PTP nodes and others willing to help them do it. Images of the day can be found on the [http://www.personaltelco.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=Node236 Node236 Gallery Pages]
- August 03 - The first ["PTProactivism"] Lunchbreak..hand out flyers to the populace around the PSCarea and educate justplainfolks about the PTP and hte wifi services they are walking through.
May 03 - Short intro to BootableOS such as Knoppix at PlayDayFour.
April 03 - FundRaising ideas for PTP. Simple grassroots ideas for raising the nickles and dimes that could build up to cashito to grow the network.
March 03 - NewbieWorkshop03 was a hoot. The house was full of gears and good times. The back deck finaly got some good use.
Februrary 03 - NewbieWorkshop02 went off amazingly well. 5+ hours of tech, wireless and getting to know each other. Grassroots all the way. Check out the link for some pictures.
January 03 - NewbieWorkshop01 (yes this means there will be others). The outcome, a group of folks got to know one another and help each other out with wireless tech and other needed to know info. Read NewbieWorkshop01 for all the deatials
December 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.
WarStrollering -The act of searching 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. [http://www.personaltelco.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album07 Examples can be viewed in the PTP Gallery]
- Novemeber 02 - ["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 everything 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.
PTP activities I have stuck my nose in..