Air-Stream Wireless is the first and largest community group in South Australia to successfully build a Wide Area Network (WAN) using wireless technologies.
The network now forms the largest community wireless network in Australia and is continuing to grow with the help of other community wireless groups, wireless enthusiasts and radio amateurs across Adelaide.
Our Mission
Air-Stream Wireless is a non-profit community group who use wireless in combination with free and open source technologies to deploy a Wide Area Network (WAN) that supports community participation, local content and communications.
Strategic Plan
For this mission to become reality members of Air-Stream Wireless shall work together to achieve the following goals:
- Continued to grow the network and promote the benefits of Comunity Wireless Networks in Australia.
- Provide an open platform for members, developers and other community groups to discuss and share information on the effective use of wireless technologies.
- Develop tools that allow members to easily access distribute and create local content.
- Deploy numerous free community hotspots in public spaces, to garner broader community awareness, participation and sponsorship for Air-Stream Wireless.
- Promote the benefits of community participation, support the production and distribution of local content and communication systems.
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is widely used across the network where Core Nodes operate a customized FreeBSD distribution which has been developed by members for ease of upgrade and low maintenance.
Similarly, the wireless equipment deployed uses a part of the radio spectrum which is also free to be used by anyone, provided the radiated power is kept down. Called the “Public Park Concept” it is relatively unregulated by the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) who allow all users the same rights regardless of who they are - business, telecommunications carriers, government departments or private citizens.
Our members are people from all walks of life and ages including enthusiasts, IT professionals, radio amateurs, educators and every day people. All volunteer their time and resources to promote, educate and share information about how to build and use wireless networks and how to create and use content over it.
Air-Stream also has a open access policy and offers free access and technical support for any community group who wishes to be involved including, clubs, artists, schools and universities. Any group who wishes to provide content or just use the network for a non-commercial purpose.
Please consult our Access Policy for more details.
