A mesh is a community wireless data network, generally incorporating the same protocols used on the Internet. IPv6 is desired on the backbone; IPv4 can be tunnelled over this. This mesh plans on using 802.11b equipment in the 2.4GHz range. This bit of the frequency spectrum is reserved for uses just like this; it requires no license provided one's power output does not go over certain levels, and is not used for commercial use. (Called a class license)

There is another wireless group about than 100km away, Brisbane Mesh (http://brismesh.org)^& (alternate link (http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/)^&), and its website provides many features that I cannot at this point. It is easy to piggy-back at least for now. For now, Darling Downs Wireless is a subset of Brisbane Mesh, although we have no legal connection. Terrain map of Toowoomba with nodes as X's (http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~mesh/db-srtm/map3b.php?s=0.0175&w=350&h=350&n=6949207&e=395364)^&

To join there are currently no fees or charges. You only need to buy the hardware, point it at an access point, and you're away (See kits). Well, you do have to register. I anticipate there will have to be charges in future, for legal matters like incorporation, insurance, spare hardware, etc. This will of course be kept to the absolute minimum.

How To Join (howtojoin)
Newbies Guide (newbiesguidetowireless)

The entire website was created and is maintained using various (http://www.vim.org)^& text (http://www.ultraedit.com)^& editors (hipi), using PHP (http://www.php.net)^&. It has a mysql (http://www.mysql.com)^& backend, running with Apache (http://httpd.apache.org)^& on Debian (http://www.debian.org)^&. (Old server was Slackware Linux (http://www.slackware.com)^& but Debian has better package support). It actually looks best in Opera 7+ (http://www.opera.com)^&, and Mozilla (http://www.mozilla.org)^&. I have ironed many of the IE bugs...

I am now using more Linux Desktop stuff, and am now running Ubuntu Dapper on my new Laptop. I rarely have to reboot into Windows - virtually everything on my laptop works - 3D acceleration, DVD burning, USB mouse, camera, storage, PCMCIA cards, sound, dual video output, printer, modem. The only thing that doesn't work is the SD-card reader...

If you have ideas, constructive critisms, problems, please contact me (contact). Flames and Spam end up in /dev/null.

This website designed by Ben Hood (http://hood.id.au)^& and hosted by Cortina Networks (http://cortina.net.au)^& with resources contributed by the community through HIPI.