|
CollegeTerrace.net
College Terrace Internet Cooperative
About the Network
Getting Connected
Services
Show me the Money
More Details
Finally
More Detailed Technical Information
The Answers:
About the Network
What is the College Terrace Internet Cooperative?
We are teaming up to build a network to provide internet service to everyone in College Terrace, with maximum benefit for least cost. The network is being set up by neighbors in the College Terrace neighborhood. The goal is to cover College Terrace with a high-speed wireless network (802.11b), allowing easy access, and the freedom to roam and connect within the Terrace. The network will operate under a non-profit structure. There will be a low monthly fee for high-speed users, but modem-speed users may use it for free (except for the cost of their own hardware).
Who can participate?
Any resident of College Terrace can participate, and the more the better.
Here are ways you can participate:
- Use the network and support it!
- Extend the reach of the network by siting a wireless node at your property (see "What do I need?")
- Subscribe to the broadband service. This allows us to cover our costs.
- Help spread the word to your friends and neighbors in College Terrace.
- Provide time or networking expertise to help build the network.
- Contribute accounting or other professional services.
- Anything else you can think of that would help!
What is 802.11b?
802.11b (also called WiFi, pronounced like "Why-fy") is a way to network computers (and other devices) without wires. Most computers can be networked this way, but need some hardware to do it. The range of 802.11b depends on lots of things which may affect the radio signal, but is basically a little better than line-of-sight.
802.11b is being used in numerous places to set up community networks because it is relatively inexpensive, reasonably fast, and easy to set up.
Where does the network connect to The Internet, and how fast is it?
The co-op subscribes to a
high-speed DSL service which is installed at one of the member's houses.
For this "business DSL" service that will initially feed our network,
the bandwidth is 8Mbps down and 1Mbps up.
It costs $180 per month, and that will be split among all participating
neighbors. The 802.11b wireless network will limit the bandwidth to something
like 5 Mbps each way, depending on how well the nodes between you and our
gateway node are communicating. So at your house you might see a limit of
5Mbps down and 1Mbps up. This is much faster than a dial-up modem, and should
also be faster than a home DSL or cable connection.
Eventually, it might make sense to connect to the Palo Alto Fiber Loop,
but that is complicated - see further details on the website for that.
If you can help to make that happen sooner and at a lower price, let us know.
Is it available at my house?
Maybe. It depends on how close you are to the nearest node. If you are too
far away, then one or more neighbors between you and the nearest node need to
add nodes.
This page shows the approximate coverage of the network.
If you have neighbors on your
street who might be interested, then it will be easier to get the full
block connected. Ask them to get in touch with us (through the website) or let us know who we should contact.
Is it secure?
It is no more secure than any other method of accessing the internet. Basically, if you are not using encryption with your email or web browser now, then it is easy for someone to "listen in." The CollegeTerrace.net network will be no different. If your browser is working in encrypted or locked mode (as it probably does when you connect to your bank, for example), then it is the same whether it is over DSL, cable, dial-up, or wireless. If you are doing things online for your work, you might want to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which sets up an encrypted connection - but this is something which must be arranged with your company. Although all CollegeTerrace.net wireless traffic will go through our central internet feed, there is no monitoring of that traffic by the network administrator.
I don't live in College Terrace, but can I connect anyway?
Our major focus is to get College Terrace up and running. However, you might have other neighbors within radio range who would be willing to do this in your area. Maybe you can start your own informal co-op using the same OpenAP hardware we use. We would be happy to describe what we are doing.
We'd encourage you to get in touch with Palo Alto Freenet which has more of a citywide focus at the moment.
Back to the top
Getting Connected
What do I need?
At minimum, you need a wireless card for your computer; any 802.11b card will do. You can get these at most computer stores.
Ideally, you will "host a node", which means locating a WiFi
access point specially set up to work with CollegeTerrace.net
at your property.
This will let you connect, and it can also serve as a repeater so that the
network can be further extended. This allows more of your neighbors to
connect.
Let us know that you want to get one, and we'll include you in the next group
buy, and take care of setting it up to work with our network.
The price for the node depends on how good a deal we can find,
and is typically between $120 and $150. There is no cost for configuring the
node.
Do I need to install an antenna on my roof in order to host a node?
Absolutely not, in fact we discourage it. We encourage those hosting a node to do so in the easiest way possible. This usually
means setting the node on the inside of a front window. If you prefer not to have the node in a
front window, it can be mounted outside under your front eaves for weather protection, but this
will require running power to it (power-over-ethernet is recommended to avoid outdoor AC
extension cords). This is relatively easy and we're happy to show you how
to do this.
Installing an antenna on your roof will require extra expense and skill.
You will either need to put your node into a special weather-proof enclosure
and mount it on the roof (using power-over-ethernet to power it) or mount the
node in a weather-protected spot (under eaves or indoors) and use special
"low-loss" microwave cable to connect to an antenna mounted on the roof.
In the latter case there will be some signal loss in the cable anyway.
In many cases due to the tall trees in our neighborhood, a roof installation
may not serve as many homes as would two easier installations at the
same cost. We also discourage neighbors from climbing on roofs
for safety reasons. If you insist on mounting an antenna on your roof,
and we can't talk you out of it, we can give you some technical advice.
I have a home network - can I connect that?
Yes. You can replace your DSL or Cable Modem with the wireless node. Then, whatever you have connected to it (such as a router or server) will see it as the internet connection.
Can I use my existing access point with the College Terrace network?
Only access points running
OpenAP
currently can act as nodes in the CollegeTerrace.net network.
Unless you happen to have an SMC 2652W access point which you would like
us to upgrade to OpenAP, your access point will not work as a node in our
network.
We will be happy to buy and configure nodes for members at no extra charge,
in fact we urge you to let us do this for you to ensure that the access
point hardware is properly working.
If you have one of the few models of access points that are able to run
as an "access point client" (such as certain Cisco APs),
you can use your access point as a bridge to
connect a wired network or a computer to our network via ethernet.
However, this will not act as a repeater to extend the range of our
network to your neighbors, so it is less useful than an OpenAP node.
However, you may use an AP you already own to provide coverage for your own
home network, behind your own router/firewall or hub/switch
(See "I have a home network - can I connect that?"
).
Please make sure to use another channel than the College Terrace
network for your existing AP (not channels 1 through 5) to avoid radio
interference.
Can I connect my DSL service to this network to provide bandwidth?
No, although we appreciate the spirit of cooperation with which neighbors ask
this question.
Firstly, this would probably violate the terms of your DSL service
service contract which is for personal use only. Secondly, connecting
another internet feed to our network without the right
technical coordination could prevent our network from functioning properly.
When the co-op is ready for more bandwidth, we will add more ISP connections
in a legally and centrally administered way. If you are willing to host
some equipment at your property for this purpose, please let us know.
Will this be as reliable as the broadband internet service I get from SBC/ATT?
Our goal is to reach a level of reliability that is satisfactory for the
low price participants pay. Reliability of our network, unlike a
commercial service, is reliant on equipment being hosted by individual
participants. On the other hand, commercial broadband service in College
Terrace has become notoriously unreliable in recent months so it may not be
too difficult to match or exceed the reliability of commercial broadband.
If you are dependent on internet service at all times we urge you to maintain a dial-up ISP as a backup.
If even occasional loss of broadband service would be a disaster for you, we would recommend that you not participate in CollegeTerrace.net.
Can I give up my DSL or Cable Modem supplier?
That is your choice.
We recommend that you try the network for a little while first to be sure that
it will meet your needs for broadband internet service.
Our goal is to give better speed than they do, at a lower price.
However, there are certain aspects of an ISP (internet Service Provider)
that CollegeTerrace.net will not provide, such as an email address,
web space, or extensive troubleshooting.
You can still use Yahoo, Hotmail, or similar for email.
This may allow you to change to a lower-cost dial-up account if you want to
keep an email address.
In any case, if you are dependent on reliable internet service, we urge you
to maintain at least a dial-up service at all times as a backup.
A free dialup service, or trial usage of a service like AOL might suit your
needs as a backup.
Back to the top
Services
Will the Co-op provide an ISP and email addresses?
The Co-op is only providing access to the internet, but will not provide the
extra services that some ISPs provide such as an email address.
You will need to arrange for an email address through other
channels, such as your work, Stanford, Yahoo,
Hushmail, FindLaw,
Apple (Macs only), MusiciansFriend (and many others who
offer free email), your own domain registration, or a low-cost subscription
(such as AOL or AT&T, which have low-cost options for people who will not
use them to connect).
Will I lose my current email address?
In most cases, you will not. However, if you obtain your current address from your
DSL or Cable Modem provider (Earthlink, PacBell, ATTBI, etc.), then you may.
Many providers have lower-cost plans which do not include high-speed access,
but will allow you to hold on to your address. Contact them to find out your
options.
Will the co-op help me to host a webpage?
If you have a commercial server, please see the questions
about that. If you want to create a personal webpage, the Co-op does not
provide server space or assistance in setting up the page. However, there are
many, many services which do that, such as Geocities, Tripod, FreeTown, Linux Web Host, and many can also help
you to get your own domain name. Please contact these services for information
and help; many have both free and premium services.
Who do I call if I have a problem?
Because the network is the work of volunteer neighbors, there is no one who is paid to solve problems. A few of us are volunteering to do support, and we are hoping to set up neighbors who can help with problems in a reasonable time. If you can be one of these neighbors, that would be great! Please let us know.
Back to the top
Show me the Money
How much does it cost?
This is a non-profit cooperative, so the goal is to split expenses across the members. The final cost will depend on the number of paying neighbors, but broadband
speeds (about 5 Mb/sec downstream - internet to you - and about 1 Mb/sec
upstream - from you to internet) will be about $20/month initially,
and may drop over time.
If you want to just use modem speeds (below 28.8Kbps), then that is free,
though we may be requiring a nominal activation fee.
In either case, you will need to buy your own hardware. That is about
$50 - $90 for a WiFi card, or about $130 for an access point.
Is that price for each computer, or can I share it among all computers in my house?
The price is for each login account. You can have several computers at your residence using the same account, no matter how they are connected to the network.
However, each computer sharing the same login will use a portion of that account's bandwidth.
Back to the top
More Details
May I run a web server on this network?
If you need a static IP address, not yet. We will try to arrange for a block of addresses, and will also likely have a small additional cost to pay for it. We hope to have this available by the end of August. In addition, if reliability is critical for your server, you should think about whether you want it on a network which is not guaranteeing "five nines."
May for-profit commercial entities use the network?
Yes, we hope to resolve this to allow use as a normal user. Since we will operate as a non-profit entity, there may be some limitations on the member uses. If you need to run a server, please see the questions above regarding this and reliability.
Do you plan to use 802.11a?
The faster wireless is just coming to market, and its prices are still relatively high. This may be a future consideration. We are watching other future technologies as well, and keeping them in mind for possible migration when they make sense.
Back to the top
Finally
Who can I talk to for more information?
Please read this FAQ carefully to see whether your question is already
answered here. If not, contact
Scott Ashkenaz (sashkenaz at attbi dot com ) or Earl Levine (earl at stanfordalumni dot org).
Great. How do I get rolling?
- Let us know that you want to join in. We need your name, address, and
email address and/or phone number.
Let us know how you want to participate: hosting a node (preferred) or just
connecting via neighbors' nodes.
We will help you determine whether you are within range of the network,
or notify you when the network has reached you.
- To host a node, contact
us about purchasing the hardware through us.
- Plug it in, and configure - we should be able to help you with that.
- Before you can log in to the network, you need to pay for the
service so we can activate your account.
- Surf away
Back to the top
More Detailed Technical Information
What basic protocol is used?
The most commonly used protocol for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is IEEE 802.11b. 802.11b is also known by its more
consumer-friendly name, "WiFi".
Briefly, it defines the protocols for wireless network connections in the license-free 2.4GHz range, with a maximum
speed of 11Mbps. Hardware using this protocol was widely popularized through the introduction of Apple Computer's
AirPort system in 1999. The protocol is system independent; TCP/IP connections should work from
Macs, PCs, or Unix/Linux systems over any wireless access point (AP).
Why can only certain access point hardware can be used
to connect to CollegeTerrace.net?
Most APs only connect with "clients" such as laptops with 802.11b cards.
These APs do not communicate with other APs, so using multiple APs to
create a larger wireless network coverage requires connecting all APs to
a wired network. On the other hand, the CollegeTerrace.net network uses
APs that work together in a "mesh" in which the APs can also act a repeaters
that forward traffic on to other APs in the network.
The repeating protocol that
is used is known as the 802.1d "spanning tree protocol". 802.1d is an
established networking standard but so far is only supported by APs using
OpenAP firmware.
Currently, a few companies offer APs able to act in a similar bridging mode. Unfortunately, those solutions are based on
non-interoperable legacy protocols.
The clever people from the OpenAP
project have developed Linux-based access point firmware, which currently can only be installed on access point based on the Eumitcom WL11000SA-N board:
- US Robotics (USR 2450)
- SMC EZconnect (2652W); discontinued, but still possible to find (this is the one we are using)
- Addtron (AWS-100)
Due to bugs in OpenAP that only affect newer revisions of the Eumitcom hardware, currently we only
use the SMC 2652W access points as they are unlikely to use the newer
problematic hardware.
For installation of the OpenAP firmware, the onboard flash memory has to be reprogrammed using a SRAM card containing the server software. The co-op will
reprogram and configure the APs with OpenAP for use in our network. In
fact we urge members not to try this at home! For that matter, we are
happy to purchase the APs for members in one of our group buys.
What is the range and transmission speed of those access points?
The nominal maximum throughput of 11Mbps is above the standard 10 Base-T Ethernet connection. In practice, TCP/IP (internet) traffic experiences an
actual limit of around 5 Mbps over 802.11b.
Data rate slows down with increasing distance between the access points/clients. For the current hardware, an operating range from 30-100m (100-300ft) is described for 50% or greater throughput speed.
Will sharing of the internet service by many users slow down the
connection speed?
In many cases, probably not.
Most of the network access happens in very short "bursts" of
activity; this is especially true for web browsing etc. Because the
bursts usually do not occur at the same instant for all users online at
this moment, the connection speed won't be impaired even with many
subscribers active at the same time.
Is the transmission affected by blocking the line of sight?
Yes, microwaves (the name for radio waves at 802.11b's 2.4GHz spectrum) are highly susceptible to reflection by solid and liquid matter. For
the transmission range mentioned above, a clear line of sight is required. Leaves or even rain will reduce it. As do walls; and especially stucco walls with integrated chicken wire. For this reason, a dense and redundant AP coverage will be required.
Can the efficiency be improved by using antennas and amplifiers?
For an explanation of why we normally discourage special antenna installations,
see
"Do I need to install an antenna on my roof in order to host a node?".
In theory, yes. Narrow beam antennas (Yagi or parabolic dishes) are especially useful for transmitting over long
distances (point to point connections). But one has to remember that the gain on one side will lead to a loss for the other directions!
The FCC limits the maximum peak output power of "intentional transmitters" in the 2.4GHz band to 1W. For calculation
of the output power of an AP, one has to include the output power of the transmitter, the gain of the antenna as well as cable loss. The BAWUG has a nice article about the rules and regulations, especially for the people among us without combined degrees in law and electrical engineering; examples are given.
Here is a nice article with some graphics about the different antenna types,
with explanations about effective gains and losses.
Back to the top
|