[Freedombox-discuss] Workshop on Low Cost Community Networks with FreedomBox

[Sunil Mohan Adapa]

	   __________________________________________________

	      WORKSHOP ON LOW COST COMMUNITY NETWORKS WITH
			       FREEDOMBOX

			   Sunil Mohan Adapa
	   __________________________________________________


			    <2017-03-01 Wed>


Table of Contents
_________________

1 About
2 Details
3 Registration
4 Facilities
5 Contents
.. 5.1 Understanding
.. 5.2 Planning
.. 5.3 Wi-Fi network
.. 5.4 Long range point-to-point Wi-Fi links
.. 5.5 FreedomBox
.. 5.6 Post installation
6 Contacts





1 About
=======

  Swecha and the FreedomBox project invite you to learn how to build
  community Wi-Fi networks with FreedomBox.  Community networks spanning
  entire villages and campuses providing free Internet access and other
  digital services such as free VOIP calls and radio services are
  possible for a low cost of about INR 1,00,000 per location.  The
  workshop is meant for volunteers, hacktivists, enthusiasts and
  entrepreneurs who are interested in understanding all the low level
  details to replicate the success of Gangadevipally.  This is a
  training session to make the participants feel confident to lead an
  effort to setup a community network.

  Participants will walk away with the knowledge on technical and
  organization aspects of setting up Wi-Fi networks.  Documentation on
  all of the discussed items will be available.  Participants will also
  get to engage with people involved or looking to get involved in
  building networks.


2 Details
=========

  - Location: Hyderabad, India

  - Date: 18th and 19th of March, 2017

  - Time: 10:00 to 17:00

  - End of registration: 16th March, 2017


3 Registration
==============

  You must register for the workshop by sending an email.  The workshop
  is expected to be small with mostly local participants and some from
  neighboring states.  Number of attendees we can accomodate is limited
  and we will accept registrations on a first come, first serve basis.
  Send us a registration email with the following details:

  - Subject should be "Registration for Workshop".
  - Body should contain
    - Names of the participants
    - Reason for interest
    - Organization name if any


4 Facilities
============

  There is no registration fee for the workshop.  You are expected to
  make your arrangements for travel, food and accommodation.  Some
  minimal arrangements may be available, please contact us for more
  details.


5 Contents
==========

  The following are the topics of discussion during the workshop.


5.1 Understanding
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Decentralization of networks
  - Why Wi-Fi?
  - Model of ownership


5.2 Planning
~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Selecting a village/community to setup Wi-Fi
  - Approaching a community with proposal
  - Identifying suitability for target audience
  - Accumulating funds
  - Financial planning
  - Building a team
  - Training the team
  - Surveying for feasibility
  - Understanding users
  - Timetable for installation
  - Services to be run in the village
  - Planning for Internet connection
  - Planning a support/maintenance team


5.3 Wi-Fi network
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Mapping installation area with Open Street Maps
  - Designing a Wi-Fi network for large areas
  - Creating a bill of materials
  - Purchasing hardware
  - Purchasing tools for installation
  - Comparing Wi-Fi router hardware
  - Choosing the right antenna
  - Configuring OpenWrt Wi-Fi routers
  - Testing and mapping Wi-Fi signals
  - Power-over-Ethernet for Wi-Fi routers
  - Power boxes for Wi-Fi towers
  - Designing towers for Wi-Fi networks
  - Optimal deployment of Wi-Fi routers
  - Erecting Wi-Fi towers
  - Providing power to Wi-Fi towers
  - Outdoor deployment of Ethernet and power cables
  - 100 Mbps Ethernet Backhaul
  - Fibre Optic Backhaul
  - Understanding Wi-Fi roaming


5.4 Long range point-to-point Wi-Fi links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Choosing hardware
  - Purchasing hardware
  - Configuring and testing the hardware
  - Choosing frequency/band
  - Link budget calculation
  - Installation of Wi-Fi hardware
  - Antenna alignment
  - Bandwidth measurement
  - Connecting to backhaul


5.5 FreedomBox
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Basic set up of FreedomBox
  - Setting up DHCP for entire network
  - Setting up Internet connection
  - Configuring SIP server (repro)
  - Configuring Ampache
  - Configuring NextCloud
  - Automatic security updates
  - Setting up bandwidth control
  - Setting up remote access into FreedomBox
  - Setting up monitoring tool


5.6 Post installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Registrations for users
  - Installing apps and configuring mobile phones for all services
  - Launch event
  - Monitoring
  - Building a village support team
  - Planning for computer availability in the village


6 Contacts
==========

  Siddhartha Malempati <siddhartha at swecha dot net>
  Sunil Mohan Adapa <sunil at medhas dot org>