Projects

I have a small quantity of chimney antenna mounts. These are all 'as new' condition. Very quick and easy to setup. No drilling required. Best and easiest way of mounting an antenna on older style houses.

I have used one of these at a setup for the last two years supporting a 3m tall mast with a 15dB antenna. It has proved to be strong enough to survive through the storms in winter.

Each kit comes with:
antenna Bracket
wire strap
wire clamp
x2 I-bolts
x2 U-bolts
x6 nuts
x6 washers

$15 each (normally around $33 at Bunnings)

Pickup from Seaton or DryCreek (depending what time/day)
Delivery *may* be available for little to no extra charge depending on your location and amount purchased

I have been looking at hacking apart a pcmcia card that i got for $10 from ebay. I took it apart the other day and noticed that it has a strange connector on it.. Anyone seen this before..?
I thought that it was a UFL connector but it doesnt appear to be. Some online forums said that it was mc or ufl but doesnt look like either..?
I shall get a pic in a day or so.. Just be patient.

Air-Stream Wireless is very pleased to announce that AirLive, OvisLink Corp have provided two of their new WN5000R 802.11n wireless routers to put through their paces. With the success of our initial review of the 802.11n standard we have kept looking for other user-friendly equipment to conduct further field tests and the AirLive WN-5000R seems to certainly fit the bill.

The units operate on a standard 12V supply ideal for PoE and have the added feature of operating in AP Bridge Mode providing a great opportunity for point to point tests without need of firmware hacks or fussing with software drivers. AirLive also offer an extensive range of both indoor and outdoor wireless products, founded in 1993 they produce over 200 products in hundreds of locations around the world. Although not yet available in Australia we feel that it won’t be long before they are, as AirLive have had the forethought to include many features useful to the wireless enthusiast and professional alike, that other more familiar brands leave out.

The following pages are dedicated to the review of 802.11n equipment and other related mimo projects that Air-Stream Wireless members have had the opportunity to test.

Been investigating ideas around using a PIC or two to monitor or manage the APs in the weatherproof box up the mast.

Applications;

• Monitoring line voltage for the AP - record, reset, sound alarm
• Monitor temporature inside/outside the weather proof box. - record, shutdown, sound alarm
• Monitor moisture/humidity - record, shutdown, sound alarm

PIC programming;

• Tweaking a PIC

PIC hardware;

• PIC16F628 Controller demo board

So with the car back on the road, after some exceptional diagnosis from Lyn, we aquired some ready mix concrete, nuts, washers, bolts and an appropriate "tornado mounting bracket", the big steel thingy.

I had a pretty good idea about where and how I wanted to mount everything, details aside. I had made several trips to the hardware store, got an idea about brackets and things, did lots of measuring.

On the day however, things don't quite go to plan and you have to improvise. The hole moved because the iron on the roof stuck out more than expected and the shovel slipped, so then the the mounting brackes weren't the right length anymore, but thats another story ...

So here is some photos along the way ...

This post marks the opening of the call for presentations to the inagural Community Wireless and Connecting Community in Australia miniconf for 2008. The official program for the miniconf is located at the miniconf site. I will be keeping folks posted about changes on my blog here on the Air-Stream site.

The miniconf will be held in conjunction with the Linux.conf.au at the University of Melbourne (map), thanks to Linux Australia and the Mel8ourne LCA team for supporting this amazing opportunity for Australia wireless communities to converge.

Air-Stream Wireless and Southern WiFi are two community wireless groups in South Australia who have been working to promote the potential of Community Wireless Networks for over six years.

Recently these networks expanded with a successful link over O’Halloran Hill allowing the two networks to join. Together they now form the largest non-profit community owned and operated network in Australia. The network now spans 60kms from Noarlunga to Angle Vale in the north and across this area are numerous Access Points providing coverage over hundreds of square kilometres.

Community Wireless Networks have become more than just a hobby lead interest group they are apart of a world wide phenomena of Open Access Networks in thousands of local settings around the world.

They are groups of community minded individuals who are using the power of wireless in combination with free and open source software (FOSS) to deploy broadband network technologies that facilitates community participation, local content and communications.

If a hand full of people can build and maintain a broadband network that covers many hundreds of square kilometres how much more could it achieve with broader community involvement and support from public and private organisations.

Measure and cut galvinized tubing and angles.

Mark out holes and where tubing will be welded

Drilll and linish off burs

Mig-Weld tubbing to angles

Hammer in end caps into unused tube openings

Although these end caps are not required it looks allot nicer

Finish mast brackets, the welds and makes will be painted with zinc paint, to prevent rust.

Each mast pole will be attached to the wall by two of these brackets

How they may look when attached to a wall.