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* General Questions [1]
* What is Melbourne Wireless all about? [2]
* What is a publicly owned and operated RAN? [3]
* Who runs Melbourne Wireless? [4]
* Why should I join a public wireless network? [5]
* I\'ve got a question, but it\'s not here. [6]
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
This is the place where questions are asked and answered regarding
all matters relating to Melbourne Wireless. If your question is not
here, try looking through all of the questions which are listed on
TheEvolvingFAQ [7].
-------------------------
WHAT IS MELBOURNE WIRELESS ALL ABOUT?
BUILDING A PUBLIC WIRELESS BROADBAND NETWORK.
Melbourne Wireless Inc. is a non-profit incorporated association set
up to help the community in setting up publicly owned and operated
Regional Area Networks (RANs). Other groups exist in the other states
of Australia, in overseas countries and other local communities have
spawned from these groups.
-------------------------
WHAT IS A PUBLICLY OWNED AND OPERATED RAN?
A CITYWIDE INTRANET [8] (NETWORK) THAT IS RUN BY PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND
ME.
It's a network created by the people, not the corporations. There are
no fees to join a public network. The only related costs is that of
the hardware you buy or build yourself.
-------------------------
WHO RUNS MELBOURNE WIRELESS?
ANYONE THAT CARES TO LEND A HAND.
Depending on who you ask, Nobody.
It's a community effort. If you've got something to offer, people are
more than likely to be delighted for the assistance. Nobody runs this
sideshow, but we have elected a person who turns up and takes the
whip, and his role as president is unmatched.
The current committee members and contact details can be found on the
committee [9] page. There are others that run certain group functions,
the working groups and are generally active in enough different forms
of discussion to be considered active participants.
Hang around and see what you have to offer to each of the
WorkingGroups [10] (shown in the wiki and the mailing list as
WGStructure [11] WGInquiry [12], etc.). You'll probably find that the
standard rule applies, of those who are doing things get more say than
those who sit back and let the group move forward without them.
-------------------------
WHY SHOULD I JOIN A PUBLIC WIRELESS NETWORK?
BECAUSE TRUE FREEDOM COMES FROM THE FREEDOM TO COMMUNICATE.
Imagine being able to provide web services, mail services, games
servers, file archives and so on, without having to worry about phone
line charges, exhausting your download limits and so on, chat and
communicate with a collection of people who want to be able to
interconnect their computers without having to be restrained by the
bandwidth of their connection, or usage and volume limits. It's
possible, but it requires your time, and some expertise. if you don't
have any expertise, you can borrow ours.
* To give yourself free access to data at speeds currently up to
11mb/s (54mb/s coming) to your home/work/laptop/handheld without
bandwidth caps or megabyte limits or fees.
* To provide access to those near you, further expanding the
network.
* Because it's really f$#!in' cool.
Note: there is a difference between a RAN connection and an Internet
[13] connection. We will not be supplying internet connectivity to the
RAN - at least until legal matters are sorted out. See
InternetAccessFAQ [14]
-------------------------
I\'VE GOT A QUESTION, BUT IT\'S NOT HERE.
Add your query to FAQYourAdditions [15] where someone will answer it,
and if it's suitable for inclusion here, also moderate or reformat as
appropriate.
Although sent to the mailing list [16], the response may not be as
quick as a direct question to the list so be prepared for a wait.
At the bottom of that page is a link to subscribe [17] to it, follow
the instructions and you'll be notified of any changes, but you will
need to register an account [18] and login before you ask your
question or subscribe.
-------------------------
Back to TheEvolvingFAQ [19]
Links:
------
[1] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#general_questions
[2]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#what_is_melbourne_wireless_all_about_
[3]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#what_is_a_publicly_owned_and_operated_ran_
[4] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#who_runs_melbourne_wireless_
[5]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#why_should_i_join_a_public_wireless_network_
[6]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#i_ve_got_a_questionbut_it_s_not_here
[7] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TheEvolvingFAQ
[8]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/HTTP://WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/INTRANET
[9] http://melbournewireless.org.au/about/committee/
[10] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WorkingGroups
[11] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WGStructure
[12] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WGInquiry
[13] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Internet
[14] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?InternetAccessFAQ
[15] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?FAQYourAdditions
[16] http://melbournewireless.org.au/about/lists
[17] http://melbournewireless.org.au/wiki/?subscribe=FAQYourAdditions
[18] http://melbournewireless.org.au/users/register
[19] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TheEvolvingFAQ
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