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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.

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.

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!

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!

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/