TechTalk

Wireless users groups, or community wireless networks are growing at a very high rate, it seems people are fed up with high internet costs, and are opting to connect to peers using wireless community driven networks. How do they work, how to join, what does it cost, read more for all the answers

Wireless Users Groups or WUG’s as they are also known, are community built and managed networks which typically span over a metropolitan area, (MAN) connecting anything from 20 to 3000 users (in the case of larger networks like those in Greece).

In South Africa, there are several such networks, from Durban to Cape Town all the way to Gauteng. These networks can be joined and contacted via the wug.za.net site. This is the wug super site for South Africans, everything you need to get connected, from Google earth gps plots to Line Of Site calculations, everything you need to make sure you can connect. Use the wug site as a starting point.

I am a proud member of PTAWUG, which operates in the Pretoria area, there are currently about 180 users, and growing, connected to the PTAWUG network, sharing information, playing multiplayer games, chatting, using VOIP, etc.

At an initial cost of around R1500 to R2000 for the equipment, you can start to experience the wug first hand, there are no monthly, or any reoccurring costs, all that is needed is a donation from time to time to help build, maintain and expand the network. The WUG is very much a community driven effort you help maintain the network you learn about wireless networks. The wug is also very much DIY centric, you put up your own “KIT”, this is very easy so don’t worry.

To join really is easy, the process can be broken up into a few easy steps:

• Register and plot location on wug.za.net
• Download the KML file, which is a google earth file with all the nodes and highsites.
• Calculate, from your location, possible Line of site; using the KML to find near by high sites and the wug.za.net site to do a LOS(line of sight) calculation.
• Connect on IRC(internet relay chat) (irc.ptawug.co.za) and discuss your scenario, this can be done by using the easy to use online chat client located at http://www.ptawug.co.za/content_list_3
• Buy the equipment, following this guide will guide you all the way, http://www.ptawug.co.za/content_list_11
• Install equipment and connect to the www.ptawug.co.za/Highsite_AntennaDirection SSID
• Connect on IRC and request IPs
• Enjoy the wug! There are many services offered by the wug to its users, you can run any IP related services.

Most WUG’s use the 802.11 a standard, which operates at 5.8Ghz frequency range, so standard WiFi, equipment may not work if the 802.11a std is not supported. It is highly recommended that you get the standard kit as described on the site, seeing as it is tried and tested.

One important thing to note is this is not Internet, we do not provide any internet services, this is only a network, however any IP services can be run on the network but PTAWUG itself does not link to the internet, so it won’t replace your ADSL line but will rather complement it!

What are you waiting for join now and experience a free service which aims to please!!

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