Happenings Around the Shop

Well yesterday it happened. Our ISP called and we opened up the building and a few hours later we had a full duplex 1.5mb symmetrical Internet connection However as I watched the line being installed I could not help but feel a twinge of sickness at the knowledge of our upcoming rf-engineering challenges. I have been working with 2.4 ghz wireless mesh networks for a couple of years now, and feel that I am starting to get a pretty good handle on the technology. However just a mesh network is not enough to create the insainly great network. the problem is that in order for the mesh topology to deliver fast, self healing, and redundant fall back service it needs multiple uplink points (ie Internet connections). So we are building a point to point network to feed multiple uplink points in the mesh . We have been working on this sub-network both in theory and in practice since the early days of SwS. However our “backhaul” network (despite apparently good signals) is drooping 1-10% of all the packets sent across it. We have tried several different and time consuming things to try and remedy this. I now believe that the problem is rf in nature (related to the radio waves and antenna). Our target date for when this HAS TO BE FIXED BY is dec 2. (yesterday). So that is why I felt a quiver while I watched large files pouring into my laptop from the freshly installed t1.
As of right now We have a pretty good plan of action. We are going to do what we know best and use 2.4 ghz equipment instead of the 5.8 ghz equipment we are currently using. we believe that this can be done in less than 24 hours. with a reasonable probability of success right off the bat. If it doesn’t it probably means extreamly late night shifts until it works. The only draw back is that the 2.4ghz radios will most likely need to be upgraded to 5.x ghz in the next couple of years. But I can live with that

Well today we got our main point to point backhaul link working. Lets just hope it keeps working when the weather gets bad.

Hello and welcome to the SPITwSPOTs blog hitchin’ post. Here you will hopefully find some insightful thoughts and feelings of the SPITwSPOTs Team. Let this be a begining and let the blog times roll….

Brian “PunK” Ormond

The goal of SwS is to create the “Insanely Great” network. We are a wireless mesh network utilizing all the 802.11a,b,&g technology. To us, “Insanely Great” means more than just a low-cost quality internet service. We believe that our network can do more. In fact our network can flex and grow to meet any needs. We are the network that CAN…We are actually 2 networks. A high capacity, 5.8 ghz, 802.11a network capable of real time data transfers of up to 30mb/s. This network “feeds” the long range, 2.4 ghz, 802.11b network which supplies internet to clients. This network is “mesh” in nature, which means that it can be expanded quickly and easily. So if you want a low latency network to play games with friends across town, or you need to transfer files quickly between two points SwS is here. Just tell us what you need and we can make it happen. Would you like to provide content to the mesh? Need a web site? Want to stream audio or video? Want to host your own game server? All this and more can be accomplished affordably within the SwS network. So what is the “Insanely Great” network? It is what ever you want it to be.

Coming Soon?
HomerwLAN Project. With a subscription to the HomerwLAN Project you will become a member of the largest wLAN in Homer. You will be issued a static IP address which will accessible to any other SwS client. If you want your friends to connect to you in order to play the latest game, or if you want to share files with the office down town. The HOMERwLAN project can help. Connection speeds will be subject to to the limits of your SwS internet account. If you need more than 1Mb/sec please contact the Administrator for “Special situation pricing”.

So where is the network today…?
We just ordered 400mw wireless cards and are preparing to assemble our first 5.8 ghz mesh which should be capable of delivering data transfer rates of 30mbs. The noise which mysteriously appeared a couple of weeks ago (disrupting our communications and cutting our range by 1/2) has mysteriously disappeared last night. During the “thick air” we made plans to significantly upgrade the network, making it more robust and stable. We are following through on those plans, in case the “thick air” returns.

Aaron Larson, Administrator

I want to say thank you to all our customers for being so patient with us through the last 4 months or so. I’m the first to admit that our service has been less than perfect over the course of the summer and everyone has been very understanding. I’m proud to say that we have not lost a single residential customer and we plan on keeping it that way. We will respond promptly to any ones questions about how they can connect to our network. When a customer has a problem with their computer/private network, or a problem with our service we are there to help. We will offer all the knowledge and resources that we have to offer to anyone involved.Our network has become very strong in the Homer area and we have an amazing amount of coverage area. Our wireless signal can easily get to places that have little or no other Internet services available. If we haven’t already reached you, we are coming your way soon. We are doing and incredible thing with this new technology and be aware that this type of internet service is far more advanced and versatile than anything else available in Alaska today. This network is going places fast and for those of you who haven’t signed up with us yet, I suggest you join our project and I assure you that you will not be disappointed.

We have learned an enormous amount about how to adapt our network to the geography and climate that we live in here in Homer. In fact, we are pioneering many aspects in the development of Wireless Mesh networks.

For those of you interested, here is some basic info on how our network works. The wireless mesh network technology that we are using is a very new way to get Internet to peoples homes, businesses, and mobile devices. It is currently being deployed in many towns and cities throughout the world. Rather than having a central location for the server and internet connection, mesh networks consist of many “nodes” that are spread through out the community creating a web or “mesh” of wireless connections. If a connection failure occurs due to a weak signal or a hardware problem the internet traffic will find a different path to its source. When a mesh network spreads too far from the internet connection that feeds it, it can be connected to another internet source at a different location.

Traditional networks such as dial up, DSL, and cable providers become quickly overloaded when they become to dense. Mesh networks on the other hand become stronger the denser they become. That’s because when the nodes are closer together, their wireless connections become stronger, and more connections are created.

The nodes we use consist of a computer in a weatherproof case mounted on a tower or rooftop. It can have one or two wireless cards/antennas on it depending on its role in the network. All our hardware currently operates in the 2.4ghz frequency range and can communicate up to 10 miles away. They transmit at a maximum of 200mw therefore using very little electricity. I should also mention that we will soon be using 802.11a 5.4ghz Wireless cards in some of our nodes in addition to the 2.4ghz cards they have now. This will be used mainly for node to node connections rather than for client connections and it will increase our ability to handle a huge amount of users with super fast speeds. Right now most of our users are getting about 400Kbs with standard access.

We have a wide variety of equipment for residential setups depending on the requirements of the site.

We use several types of antennas including omni directional, yagi, sector panel, flat panel, and parabolic grid antennas. We have learned a lot about which antennas are most suitable for our needs.

We are learning about the various sources of noise from other wireless systems such as cell phone towers, and other high frequency radios. We now know how to optimize our signals by choosing the cleanest channels available. Also, 5ghz wireless cards are going to be used for some node to node connections that will be able to supply higher speeds to more users. Our network will soon reach out to all corners of the Homer area and Katchemak bay.

Darius Kliene, professional observer

Today we launched a new product! HOTwSPOTS by SPITwSPOTS! This is a wireless internet/advertising package combo thing that we cooked up here at the lab, and are pretty excited about it. Using a mesh node, we will broadcast our signal out, and also route it into the business and offer it from an access point for free use INSIDE the establishment. Outside, where there is a signal also, will display a custom splash page for signing up to the network including the hosting business’ advertisement, brought to you by HOTwSPOTS by SPITwSPOTS, of course. Also in the package is a year free web advertising on our site. Included is a web page that we will host and link to through our rotating banner ads. A HOTwSPOTS directory is in the works, as well as an advertising campaign to launch it and bring about awareness. And to top it all off, we are also throwing in customizable promotional coupons offering free SPITwSPOTS service with the participating business information/graphics on them.We are proud to offer this new product, and the rumor is that we will be receiving more bandwidth, making our super user accounts available, in about three weeks. We are eagerly looking for more customers, so spread the good word, and send them our way. Contact us through e-Mail, or even give a call to 299-4052, our “official” SPITwSPOTS call center.

Well, that’s the current skinny…

Brian “PunK” Ormond and the SPITwSPOTS Team.

The SPITwSPOTS Network has been through many changes in the last six months. Please observe the “Coming Soon!” is no longer applicable. We are here, and plan on hanging out for a while. We offer Wireless Internet Service to Homer, Alaska as well as web design, computer services, network services, a business e-mail directory, KMJG/KWJG Kasilof radio stream, and more to come like a homer based forum with topics YOU pick.We have been busy actively setting up both our infrastructure and clients and are now accepting requests for service. We are also working on a SwS Partner Plan, as well as a SwS First Class Plan for Mesh Node Sponsorship. And we are still waiting on ACS (go figure) for more bandwidth for our Super User accounts to be available.

We have also recently changed the sign up rate, the monthly recurring rate, and the yearly rate. The sign up rate reflects the higher quality components that we found to be the most stable. We thank all our current subscribers for their patience as we work the bugs out. To entice longer subscriptions we decided to offer 10% off on Monthly Recurring, and found our yearly rates were not going to be sufficient to build the network. To those who started out with us, once again, a huge Thank You!

Brian Ormond and the SPITwSPOTS Team.