Building Wireless Community Networks

How this Book Organized

Early eha-.vers o: this book introduce basic wireless concepts and essential ne:work services, while later chapters focus ori specific aspects of building your own tireless network. Experienced users oray prefei- to skip around rather :hau read tins book from cover to cover, so here's an overview of each chapter:

• Chapter 1. gives a brief history of the state of wireless connectivity and some ideas (and warnings j about how things might proceed.

• Chapter 2. is an overview of many important logistical considera:rous you will face in designing your own network: it describes some tools :ha: may make your;ob easier

• Chapter J. provides a detailed description of critical network components that you wrll need to provide :o your users. Network layout and security are also addressed.

• . details how to use wireless access point hardware effectively.

• Chapter 5, is a step-by-step 21u.de to building your own access point using Linux. inexpensive PC hardware, and conventional wireless client cardsChapter 6. is about extending your range It looks at using topographic miippni*

software to evaluate long o.rstauce links, and it alio examines tire myriad antennas. cables, and connectors you are likely to encounter. It also provide* a simple method for calculatmi- the usable ranae o: your sear.

Chapter 7, investigates some really exotic (and useful!) applicatrons of 802.11b. It includes practrcal pointers for setting up point-to-point links, some simple repeaters. assembling a 2.4GHz an:enna from ordinary household objects, and lots of other fun hackery. It also includes an implementation of a dynamic 'captive portal" firewall
using open source software.

Chapter 8, is a resource guide to some of the major players in the wireless network access revolution. Here you'll find out how people all over the globe are making ubiquitous wireless network access a reality, all in their free time.

Chapter 9, is the i brief) history of my own experiences m setting up public wireless Internet access in Sebastopol. CA (and in meeting direcdy with the heads of some of the bigaes: community efforts in the U.S.}.

Finally.
Appendix A provide* a path loss calcula:rou table, a reprint of the FCC Part 15
rules, and some o:her useft'.l oo.ds and ends.

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