CUWiN's blog

CUWiN in the Press

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:25:23 -0500

Worldchanging.com ran a story on CUWiN over the weekend.

Also, WiLAC.net ("a new information portal about Wireless technologies for Development designed to support those individuals, organizations, municipalities and businesses which are currently implementing community wireless connectivity projects, or those just about to start.") has an article on CUWiN for its Spanish-reading audience.

The CUWiN manual has been revamped!

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 18:07:40 -0500

We've revamped the CUWiN manual, finally bringing it in line with the rest of the site.

You can print the entire manual in booklet form by clicking the "printer-friendly version" link at the bottom of its main page.

You'll also notice that each page of the manual can also be commented on; we're hoping to get your feedback on what should/shouldn't be included in the manual.

So head on over to the CUWiN manual and let us know what you'd like to see in there!

CUWiN Version 0.5.7 Released!

Sat, 11 Jun 2005 18:44:43 -0500

We've just released CUWiN Version 0.5.7.

Remember to note that the binary system images and source packages in this release are not configured for a real-world network. As such, the root password is set to "changeme" by default.

Download section.

Your comments are welcome!

CUWiN's Vision

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:31:05 -0600

Imagine a free wireless networking system that any municipality, company, or group of neighbors could easily set up themselves. Over the past half-decade, the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN) has been developing an open source, turnkey wireless networking solution that exceeds the functionality of many proprietary systems. CUWiN's vision is ubiquitous, extremely high-speed, low-cost networking for every community and constituency. Following in the footsteps of Linux and Firefox, CUWiN has focused on creating a low-cost, non-proprietary, user-friendly system. CUWiN's software will share connectivity across the network, allowing users to buy bandwidth in bulk and benefit from the cost savings. CUWiN networks are self-configuring and self-healing -- so adding new wireless nodes is hassle-free, and the system automatically adapts to the loss of an existing node. And, because CUWiN networks are completely ad-hoc, there's no need for expensive central servers or specialized administration equipment.

To set up a network, all end-users need to do is burn a CD with CUWiN's software, put the CD into an old desktop computer equipped with a supported wireless card, and turn the computer on. Once the computer boots from the CD, the rest of the setup is completely automated: from loading the networking operating system and software, sending out beacons to nearby nodes, negotiating network connectivity, and assimilating into the network -- all the complicated technical setup is taken care of automatically. Unlike most broadband systems, CUWiN's software builds a local intranet as well as providing for Internet-connectivity -- thus, a town that uses CUWiN's system is also creating a community-wide local area network over which streaming audio and video, voice services, etc. can all be sent.

CUWiN's software is, and always will be, available for free. CUWiN is a non-profit organization supported by grants and donations. CUWiN's software provides one of the world's most advanced networking solutions available today; and we are now making our software available to the general public to use, test, and help develop. We know that there are features and improvements that people will want to see in future releases --as an open source project, we are counting on the feedback and input from people around the globe.

More information on setting up your own CUWiN network is in the documentation center.

CUWiN delivers second milestone to OSI!

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 11:34:56 -0600

Even with the holidays looming overhead and all around, the CUWiN development team completed the second set - The Second Benchmark includes:

Zebra Library
Shortest Path First
Web Interface
Hardware and User Manuals
Distribution-ready Software
Testbed

Congratulations to the entire team who worked so diligently to achieve this benchmark.

Saying Goodbye to Anne; Welcoming Lori!

Mon, 22 Nov 2004 11:33:33 -0600

In the past month, CUWiN has said goodbye to Anne Odom and welcomes Lori Patterson in taking over her responsibilities.

Anne, who was CUWiN's Technical Coordinator helped us to get through our initial setup at OJC and our first OSI milestone. Not long ago she accepted a position with another company in the Champaign-Urbana area. Congratulations, Anne! We wish you the best!

Filling Anne's Technical Coordinator position is Lori Patterson, one of the co-founders of OJC. Lori, who's been a part of many of OJC's projects in the past, comes on-board at the perfect time: right when we are gearing up for our second OSI milestone! Welcome, Lori!

Node Construction Party this Saturday, July 17

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 12:28:03 -0500

This Saturday, July 17, CUWiN is hosting the first-ever node construction party. CUWiN will provide free Pizza and beverages for anyone who comes to help. Whether you can barely hold a screwdriver or are an expert electrical engineer we need your help.

If you're wondering what's entailed, check out our node construction guide.

CUWiN developers will be giving overviews of our equipment, teaching folks how to build your own nodes, answering questions, eating pizza, etc. Please RSVP (if you plan to come just drop me a quick e-mail) so we can ensure ample food for everyone. If you're interested in getting involved with the CUWiN project, this is an excellent opportunity to get your hands dirty, meet other community wireless affectionados, and get a fairly good understanding of the equipment we are using.

Let us know if you can make it at cu-wireless@cuwireless.net:

Saturday July 17, 2004 -- Noon
115 West Main St., Second Floor
PIZZA & WIRELESS NODES

All are welcome!

IDRC funds project to teach wireless builders, programmers in Africa

Sat, 03 Jul 2004 12:18:39 -0500

Plans To Educate Wi-Fi Implementers Via Organized Workshops, Documentation

Urbana, IL, July 3, 2004 - Following attendance at a European wireless conference, the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN) worked closely with the Association for Progressive Communications, Ecole Superieure Multinationale des Telecommunications, and wire.less.dk, a Dutch wireless consulting company, to draft a proposal designed to educate wireless implementers in Africa. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has funded the proposal for $225,000 US over the period from July 2004 to June 2006.

CUWiN's involvement in this program is key to sharing our cutting edge technology and experience with trainers and technologists in developing African countries. A positive benefit of making this technical information available online to this target audience is that it will then be available to wireless implementers globally.

The program will be used to teach trainers in Africa how to build out wireless infrastructure and programmers adding features to existing software and those creating new software. The diverse population of Africa faces unique hurdles which this program will overcome through a variety of techniques:

Training: hands-on workshops in North, South, and West Africa;
Materials development: documentation collected and translated to English, French, and Arabic; and
Distributed knowledge base: development and maintenance of the CUWiN SourceForge development site to collect technical information of interest to wireless implementers and programmers

Through projects such as this, the groundwork is being laid to establish lasting communities of wireless networking practitioners in Africa -- and across the world -- with a vision of holding future in-depth training sessions in greater numbers once this path-finding and the program itself are concluded.

About CUWiN

The Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN) has built a communications network using wireless networking equipment. This is essentially the same "WiFi" equipment used in homes and offices, but CUWiN puts it on rooftops to connect neighbors and form a high-speed community network.

CUWiN's three-part mission is to:

connect more people to Internet and broadband services;
develop open-source hardware and software for use by wireless projects world-wide; and
build and support community-owned, not-for-profit broadband networks in cities and towns around the globe.

CUWiN is a program of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. OJC Technologies is CUWiN's development home.

For additional information, contact:

Sascha Meinrath
Project Coordinator
Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network
(217)278-3933
sascha@cuwireless.net
http://www.cuwireless.net/

City of Urbana votes to build community wireless network - wireless downtown

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 11:56:54 -0500

Urbana, IL, June 22, 2004 - After two years of extensive planning and debate, the City of Urbana voted yesterday to fund the acquisition of wireless equipment necessary to connect half-a-dozen sites in the downtown area to the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN). The proposal will fund wireless connectivity in several indoor and outdoor areas along with the nodes needed to connect these areas to CUWiN infrastructure. CUWiN is providing its labor pro-bono and none of the city funding will go to CUWiN.

The proposal to fund $18,600 in equipment purchases for this proof-of-concept project will come from the city's 2004-2005 fiscal budget was put forth by councilmember Danielle Chynoweth.

The City of Urbana's vote to approve this measure follows a larger trend in Urbana that demonstrates the outstanding community support from businesses and organizations alike for wireless networking. OJC Technologies, the Acorn Active Media Foundation, the Urbana Free Library, the Urbana Business Association, and the University of Illinois have all lent their support for the community networking initiative.

About CUWiN

CUWiN's three-part mission is to:

connect more people to Internet and broadband services;
develop open-source hardware and software for use by wireless projects world-wide; and
build and support community-owned, not-for-profit broadband networks in cities and towns around the globe.

CUWiN is a program of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. OJC Technologies is CUWiN's development home.

For additional information, contact:

Sascha Meinrath
Project Coordinator
Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network
(217)278-3933
sascha@cuwireless.net
http://www.cuwireless.net/

CWN Summit Announced

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 11:54:07 -0500

June 15, 2004
The Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network, Prairienet, and Free Press invite you to join us for a national Community Wireless Networking Summit August 20-22, 2004 in Urbana, IL. Making the Connection: The 2004 National Summit for Community Wireless Networks will focus on grassroots action, impacting national regulations and policies, and building a coalition of local groups, researchers, policy leaders, decision-makers, and community activists.

It's time we organized to take the public airwaves back from corporate interests. Community Wireless Networks offer more services for cheaper prices and are owned by the communities that deploy them. Anyone interested in making the "public interest" the number one priority in our wireless telecommunications infrastructure should definitely attend this summit.

Community Wireless Developers from across North America will be demonstrating cutting-edge technologies; researchers and programmers will discuss recent breakthroughs and developments; and policy-makers and funders will strategize with participants on how to launch new initiatives.

See the Community Wireless Networking Summit website for more summit information.

Registration for the weekend-long Making the Connection Summit only costs $30 for students and low-income, $75 for all others. You can register via the website.

Have questions or want to present? Let us know!

Anonymous CVS available

Fri, 28 May 2004 11:50:00 -0500

CUWiN has made its source code available online through SourceForge for external access. Updates to the Subversion repository automatically propagate to our SourceForge-housed CVS repository within 24 hours.

Via SourceForge, you can browse our source. The most important subtrees are for documentation and station images.

Use these commands to check out the sources anonymously:

cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/wireless login

cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/wireless co cuw-trunk

If you wish to submit changes to the repository, you need to send a patch to the CUWiN Development list, one of us will apply it to the developers SVN tree and then it'll automatically propagate within 24 hours to sourgeforge's CVS.

New Station Images Released

Tue, 18 May 2004 11:49:19 -0500

The CUWiN development team announces a snapshot release of our station images taken on May 11, 2004. Visit our download area to grab a copy. In addition to CD-ROM images this release also includes CompactFlash images and updaters for previous installations.