WiFi for the new building

[Ron Bean]

There's been a discussion on the Hackerspaces mailing list about wifi
for larger buildings. Apparently the low-end hardware craps out if you
get more than 20-25 users at a time, and we could easily run into that
kind of limit.

The start of the thread is here:
http://lists.hackerspaces.org/pipermail/discuss/2012-October/006677.html

[jason gessner]

i think we need to do a couple of things:

1 - find some good wifi gear that will handle the whole space and enough users, which will require multiple good units

2 - run some ethernet cable as well!

it will be great to have real connections everywhere.

So who has some good networking gear they aren't using?  Rich said he has a friend donating some cisco gear, but we aren't sure what it is yet.

-jason

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-jason

[Matt Wittmann]

I can run lan were ever you would like. Just need to know where

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[Jerry [HM]]

I have some LAN cable left over (no ends though)....

 

and some 'older' network stuff....  a wi-fi route..  an access point.. and some old routers and/or switches...

 

Im not sure how OLD they are..or what good they will be.. but I can break it all out.. and it canbe used however.. for whatever.

 

I can also search work to see what we have in the scrap closet..

 

 

 

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[Shane]

No ends?

CAT 5 crimping party, anyone? I've done it once before and it isn't
nearly as bad as it could be....

On Oct 24, 6:54 am, "Jerry [HM]" <whispers...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have some LAN cable left over (no ends though)....
>
> and some 'older' network stuff....  a wi-fi route..  an access point.. and some old routers and/or switches...
>
> Im not sure how OLD they are..or what good they will be.. but I can break it all out.. and it canbe used however.. for whatever.
>
> I can also search work to see what we have in the scrap closet..
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Matt Wittmann
>   To: milwaukee...@googlegroups.com
>   Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 5:51 AM
>   Subject: Re: [MakerSpace] WiFi for the new building
>
>   I can run lan were ever you would like. Just need to know where
>
>   On Oct 23, 2012 10:59 PM, "jason gessner" <ja...@multiply.org> wrote:
>
>     i think we need to do a couple of things:
>
>     1 - find some good wifi gear that will handle the whole space and enough users, which will require multiple good units
>     2 - run some ethernet cable as well!
>
>     it will be great to have real connections everywhere.
>
>     So who has some good networking gear they aren't using?  Rich said he has a friend donating some cisco gear, but we aren't sure what it is yet.
>
>     -jason
>

[Joseph Bozarth]

I have a bunch of ends and a crimper. I would also be more than happy to help pull cable just let me know a time and place for the cable crimping and the cable pulling.

--

[Royce Pipkins]

My crimper and a small number of end is in one of the laboratory drawers beneath the small data rack in the old space.

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--
The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
B. F. Skinner

[Matt Wittmann]

On thursday i will be at the new building from 330 -11. I will be working on the access control for the new space. Im hopeing to have all the wire pulled . Also i would like to start cleaning the room of stuff that wont be used . And keeping the ups and racks /cabinets. I will also be bringing my server. I AM ASKING FOR HELP OF ANYBODY INTERESTING IN SUCH INDEVORS.

tools needed:

Wire cutters Hammer drill -maybe Tom to drop off cat 5 cable Fish tape Trained monkey Or any other tools you may think of.

If you would like to help give me a call 2627075699
Or email

Thanks
Matt Wittmann

[ChrisH]

I am also fairly adept at running cabling.

I can bring fish sticks, fish poles, crimpers, cable testers, cable finders, etc.

Just let me know!

-Chris

[Matt Wittmann]

I could use all the help i can get.  Ill be there at 330 on thursday.

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[Brant]

Keep in mind we do have some routers and such in storage at Chase still.  I'll bring anything not currently in use over this afternoon. Matt W. and I are planning to wire some stuff up for access control infrastructure.  Seems like a good discussion to have while doing that.

[Matt Wittmann]

Sounds great to me.

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[Jack'D]

It looks like that limitation is primarily from hardware using the ath9k chipset/driver, so if we're going to be using low-end hardware with one of the WRTs that's something to avoid.  If anyone has any wireless routers that use 802.11a/b/g/(n) sitting around, there's some lists of compatible hardware:
OpenWRT: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start
DD-WRT: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices
Tomato: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware/Supported_Devices

My personal experience with smaller numbers of users has been excellent with Tomato running on a v4 WRT54G has been excellent.  I leave it completely open and do traffic shaping for the wireless section.  I've had no issues with anyone connecting and I don't think I've ever had to restart it.  Most hardware also supports changing the output power and some supports things like networked storage on USB devices.

If we buy anything, I'd lean toward ubiquiti or microtik, although this report (pdf) seems to indicate that at least some ubiquiti hardware stomps some  microtik hardware, for less cash monies.  The other product I think is interesting, but have little anecdotal and no personal experience with is OpenMesh, who make APs that have integrated mesh networking (some of the ubiquiti hardware also does this).  I just checked out their page and they have a new AP that does 802.11n for $75. Ubiquiti, however, is almost unbelievably cheap - $38 for an older 802.11g/n unit or $195 for 3 APs with a management interface. I have heard almost nothing but good things about them.

Maybe we can get started with some hardware donations from members of older equipment (avoiding the ath9k chipset) and eventually solicit funds for newer hardware?  I met someone a few years ago at Spreenkler that was planning on doing a commercial ISP network using those OpenMesh APs and point-to-point links from somewhere around Reservoir Park to neighborhood nodes.  At the time he was giving some away.  Anyone know who this is or if he might be interested in donating some hardware?

I'd really like to make it down there tonight and help out with the wiring (making, labeling, and routing/organizing cables is sort of an odd thing I enjoy) but my schedule doesn't look like it will be working out.  When's the next cabling party?

-Jack

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012 10:40:46 PM UTC-5, Ron Bean wrote:

[Brent Bublitz]

For the wireless at the space, I appreciate the desire to get
something nifty going, but can we please just get something that works
reliably? If we have to hack low end routers together with WRT, I
would much rather just put in a proper high end wireless system. I
know WRT is just fine, but I think we need something more pro. I'm
really tired of having unreliable internet access at the space.

> --
>
>
>

[Joseph Bozarth]

I am going to be there tonight once I get off work. Should I stop and pick up my crimper and ends or are we not going to need those/have enough?

On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Jack'D <jack.d...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
 
 
 

--
Joseph Bozarth

boz...@gmail.com

1(262)498-9762

[Pete Prodoehl]

Two networks?

The good one that "just works" all the time.

And the "experimental" one that is totally hackable.

But yeah, Internet is a utility like electricity or water... let's have it be solid and reliable.


Pete

[Joseph Bozarth]

That could be fun. Might get a bit congested, though, if there are a lot of other signals in the area operating on the same frequency. But seeing that it is a bit set off from other buildings that should not be that much of an issue. 

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[Have Blue]

Has anyone actually looked into getting a DSL or DOCSIS connection to Lennox?  Not much point in getting Wi-Fi set up if there aren't any webernets to connect it to.  (well, okay, you can still do local LAN stuff, but you getmy point)

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[Ron Bean]

>Has anyone actually looked into getting a DSL or DOCSIS connection to
>Lennox?

There is fiber coming into the building. I'm not sure where it's coming
*from*.

[Matt Wittmann]

Tonight i just want to pull wires for the access control. As that is priority . Might not need crimpers. But anybody is welcome to come down and put some ideas together for the server/computer room.

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[Pete Prodoehl]

Mr. jason gessner is supposed to be looking into it.

Maybe Mr. Brant Holeman can remind him.


Pete

[Have Blue]

Spoken like a true Communications Director!  :-)

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[Chris C]

Can non-members stop by to help, or is it members only? If non-members can stop by and help, how late will you all be planning to work on it; I have senior design until 930-10pm tonight so would only be able to get down there around then... :/ (But I'd love to help! :D )

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[Have Blue]

Non-members are more than welcome!  I'm probably the longest running non-member myself, but they still let me in the door to help...

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[Royce Pipkins]

You don't need crimpers for the access control. Do not put ends on those runs.

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[Pete Prodoehl]

Non-members are welcome, but do run the risk of eventually becoming members. ;)


Pete

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[Chris C]

I've run the risk of eventually becoming a member since the first meeting....sadly my finances being a student are...sad.

So then the question is, do you all think you will be around that late tonight?

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[Ron Bean]

>You don't need crimpers for the access control. Do not put ends on those
>runs.

Also-- if you're going to leave the existing CAT5 in place, please mark
the new runs, so we can distinguish them from the existing stuff.

[Matt Wittmann]

I was thinking if time permits to remove the existing. They seem to travel to on or two locations.  I would like to reuse some of it.  Dont worry i got it covered.

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[Matt Wittmann]

I should be there around 330

[Brant]

Matt W., not sure anyone will be at the space when you want to show up at 3:30 today.  I have a key and will try to get there by 4:00.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 8:33:27 AM UTC-5, Matt Wittmann wrote:

[ChrisH]

I've got a pair of Linksys WRT-54GL's that already have DD-WRT on them.

I'd be willing to donate them to the space if they are needed.  

I haven't used them in ages (migrated to Cisco WAP's and haven't looked back -- WAP4410N's in case anyone's wondering)..

-Chris