Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a WCN?
A wireless community network, or WCN, is a high-speed computer network that uses radio technology to connect community members to one another. This connection provides access to the Internet and to community-generated content. It is called a “community” network because it provides community- wide coverage. A WCN is a resource that is owned and operated by the community.
How does it work?
In a WCN, wireless networking equipment is installed on rooftops all over the community—on homes, apartment buildings, churches, community organizations, police stations, schools, local businesses, etc. The equipment consists of a radio, antenna, and a router, and is collectively referred to as a “node” in the network. These nodes can transmit and receive wireless networking signals between them, allowing computers plugged into nodes all over the community to “talk to each other.”
What is a “node”?
A node is the key building-block to a WCN. A node consists of a router (a small computer running the mesh routing software), a wireless radio, and an antenna. The node is about the size and weight of a phonebook. Typically, you install a node on your rooftop. The node is mounted to a pole in a weather-proof enclosure. Your computer connects to the node through an Ethernet cable, which allows you to access the wireless community network. Many nodes connected together form a “mesh,” and this constitutes the network.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi, an industry name for the 802.11 family of wireless networking protocols (802.11b, 802.11a. 802.11g), is the basic technology that the WCN project relies on. Wi-Fi devices are fast and inexpensive. The Wi-Fi equipment we use in the WCN project is the same as the kind you can get off the shelf from an electronics store and plug into a laptop for browsing online at the local coffee shop.
Can I connect to the WCN with a Wi-Fi card?
You can’t connect directly to a node with a Wi-Fi card, but you can connect if there is a wireless access point plugged into the node. Wi-Fi cards, such as a PCMCIA card used in a laptop, are designed to connect to wireless access points. Although nodes in a WCN use Wi-Fi equipment, they only talk to each other to route network traffic and do not act as wireless access points. Therefore you can’t connect to a node directly with a Wi-Fi card.
A wireless access point can, however, be plugged into a node to provide a cloud of local wireless coverage (or a “hotspot”) that Wi-Fi cards can connect to. This is a great way to provide access in public areas or to extend the network from a node to nearby neighbors.
How do I get connected?
The first step to getting connected is to get in touch with the community organizations in your neighborhood who are partnered with the Center for Neighborhood Technology in developing the Wire Community Networks. You can call the Neighborhood Technology Resource Center to get the names and contact information of community partners in your area who are helping residents get connected: 773-722-5653.
There are a number of factors that are considered in determining when and how you are connected to the network. These factors include: where you live in relation to the main node and other nodes; whether you can host a node on your building; and whether your neighbors are interested in participating in the network. In most cases, volunteers helping to develop the WCN will need to visit your home and determine what kind of connection you can receive.
What if I live in an apartment building? Can I still get on the network?
Yes. We will need permission from the owner of your building - you or a landlord - before locating a mesh node on the roof. Not every building needs a rooftop node to provide you access to the network; you and the other people in your building may be able to connect to the network through a neighbor’s node by using a wireless access point with a Wi-Fi card, and/or homeplug adapter.
What kind of computer do I need to connect to the WCN?
At a minimum, you should have a Pentium II processor with 128 MB of RAM, a CD-ROM and an Ethernet port.
How much does it cost?
Currently, access to the WCN in the four pilot communities is free. At the end of 2005, a sustainability plan will be implemented to ensure that the WCN becomes self-sufficient and that the community retains control and operation of the network after the pilot phase of the project is over (end of 2006). The sustainability plan will be community-driven and may include a nominal monthly fee, roughly $15. The monthly fee will be used to help maintain the network after the funding from the project has ended. Maintenance of the network includes supporting the end user with technical problems with their connection. For example, monthly fees will help to pay for technical staff who will troubleshoot with participants when a connection may be slow or non-functioning.
Is the network secure?
All users of data networks need to take care and use common sense no matter how they’re physically connected to those networks. The network is secure as long as you take precautions that would be appropriate for making any network connection.
How reliable is the network?
A WCN is a “mesh” network, which means that it is created by many “nodes” set up throughout a community, all linked and interlinking to each other, providing multiple and redundant paths for information flowing through the network. This redundancy makes the network very robust and resilient to damage, such as a node being accidentally powered off or a weak link caused by rain or other environmental conditions.
What about radiation? Are these radios dangerous?
The FCC requires that the Wi-Fi equipment that is used in the WCN be low power. The power output of the radios used by the WCN is one-tenth of a Watt (.1W). This is less than or equal to the typical output power of a cell phone. Therefore, having a WCN node on your roof is like having a cell phone on your roof.