First Proposal in Google Doc form

[matthew]

Here's the first draft of the proposal that Josh worked up:
docs.google.com/document/d/1XmOdPctTTiTZlHdGKsip2fOxzLyZPXLHh2yy4rG3V30/edit?pli=1

[dabanks]

Here are the minutes of the meeting, along with the proposal that the WG came to consensus on:

In attendance:
Matt-Finance WG
Steven- apartment dweller (left at 10:41)
FONG (Jonathan) news media sysadmin
Wes Media/tech WG
Sheryl- Working wit SJS
Elizabeth- SJS
Daniel- Fracking guy PR working group
Victorio- SJS
Sergio- musician wants to be in facilitation
Ira- Meda WG

For long-throw-road-runner-out-of-the-apartment system:

* Worry that there would be abuse of the amount of people using the wireless.
* We could just not have wireless? Have wired only. Generously- serve about 30 people.
* Give priority to media group?
* Go (online) neighbor policy.
* HIgh-gain, long throw, we will be limited to 54MB total, through a 802.11G connection.
* Electricity- will "naturally" limit a lot of people on the network, their battery will die. Two wireless access points and a router, Three plugs all-together
* Go for the ideal scenario, and then work backwards for what is infeasible.

A broadband connection, filtered through a dedicated Tor machine, will be thrown into the park over a 54MB 802.11G connection. Once at the park, a station with reliable electricity must receive this main signal and then broadcast a 802.11N signal to the rest of the park. This station will be located close to, or within a dedicated tent that is positioned near the info tent and within signal distance of where the GA is held. Connections will be mildly throttled to maintain access so that we can achieve the most amount of feasible connections which will probably be 30. There will also be a few wired machines for public use in an "internet cafe" of sorts. Once a stable internet connection has been technically established, the Working Group will establish a set of social and technological guidelines to govern the usage of the connection. The IT group will also be approved for the monthly amount of the connection. There will also be a 20% price cushion in the event of unexpected cost increases. Please refer to cost sheet.

FONG will sharpen up the budget proposal and send it back out to the group.
Someone has to let the finance WG know what the final proposal looks like.

Proposal
We as the IT working would like to approve both wired and wireless connections to the camp. We have been working with Fong and Wes, IT experts, who have designed and will implement a system by which an internet connection will be established. Their cost estimate is X for initial setup and ongoing costs of X. We intend to draft both a good neighbor policy for internet use, and technological controls to be able to ensure the ongoing efficacy of our internet access to bring before the GA.

[joshred]

From what I'm reading Time Warner requires a 12 month contract. That should be addressed as well.

[fongaboo]

The document is updated with more comprehensive pricing and a visual diagram... Good luck proposing tomorrow at GA!

[fongaboo]

What's the good word, folks?

[dylan]

We got approval for the proposal. Do we have a plan for purchasing the hardware? I have a friend who has a computer rental company and may be able to get some or all of it wholesale.

[joshred]

Fong has an itemized list of parts and a retailer in mind. If you want to show the list to your friend and see if they're competitive I think it's worth doing, but I think we should move quickly. I'm willing to use my debit card to place the order. I believe Fong is as well.

[fongaboo]

Not that I personally have any reason to rush things, but I got the sense from the group that we want to get this access up and running yesterday. Should we try to meet up, maybe prior to tomorrow's GA, and finalize our next course of action?

Some bullet points of what I think should be the aim of the discussion:

• The logistics of ordering/paying/shipping/reimbursing for the gear
  
• Post-approval considerations on the exact models of equipment to purchase
  
• Making plans with those folks who want to participate in the physical deployment and testing of the gear
  

If we can meet, I think we should do so somewhere off-site where we have internet access. I think this part of the discussion will require referencing online information during the meeting.

Temperature check?

[fongaboo]

Sorry my browser didnt update so I didnt see the last two posts prior to mine...


I should clarify that I only consulted with the manufacturer.. So we are completely free to discuss what third-party vendor to use to order the gear.

I hadn't really researched vendors beyond a quick check on froogle.com to make sure the real-world prices did jive with the MSRP that the manufacturer stated.

So add that to the list of considerations we should discuss.

[dabanks]

Sounds like we should check out Daniel's (Dylan's friend) ability to purchase our hardware at a better price. Who wants to contact him? It seems like it should be someone that knows the technical aspects very well. If we go with Daniel, it seems like most of the work of the first and second bullet points are complete. I wouldn't mind helping deploy the hardware, but we should make sure we check the weather for a clear day to test optimal conditions.

[fongaboo]

I think we need to discuss the second bullet point at the very least...

For the sake of proposing the most liberal budget ceiling to the GA, I had added some items to the diagram that may - for technical reasons I'd find much easier to discuss in person - end up being redundant or unneeded.

Also I thought that others would want to make 11th hour consideration as to stuff like... whether X model router is better than Y router... Details like that that would have been gratuitous and disruptive if I had brought them up at our last meeting.

It might also be a good idea if my fellow geeks would dig into the technical plans with me one more time to make sure I'm not missing some fatal flaw in my design. I freely admit this is a bit of an experiment for me.

Lastly we budgeted for a worst-case scenario where we would have to buy EVERYTHING. If we could quickly meet, I'd like to discuss if any items that are available for donation might be worth considering.

Any chance I can rally at least those tech-heads among us for a quick meetup tomorrow?

[matthew]

Here's the first thing for 54.99
www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-WA5210G-Power-Wireless-Outdoor/dp/B004PFQX7K
54.99 x 3 = 164.97

Here's the second thing for 44.30
www.amazon.com/TP-Link-NT-TL-ANT2424B-2-4G-24dBi/dp/B003CFATOW
44.30 x 2 = 88.60

Here's the third thing for 46.79 + 6.49 shipping
www.amazon.com/TL-ANT2415D-2-4GHZ-Outdoor-Antenna-Female/dp/B004I5J2XY
53.28

Here's the fourth thing for 19.99 + 1.99 shipping
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704016
21.98

That's 300.36 + 24.03 (tax) + 6.49 (shipping) to Amazon
and 21.98 to Newegg (no tax)

That's 352.86 total, excluding cabling / mounting hardware.

[Albanius]

I'm very happy to see this moving forward.

It may save a couple of days if all the equipment can be purchased locally. Has anyone checked with Radio Shack or other local retailers (excluding Walmart)?

I don't know of any significant moral difference between Amazon and Radio Shack one way or the other (unlike Walmart which is notorious for sexism and exploitation of labor).

[fongaboo]

Unfortunately, the best I can tell, the only vendors for this stuff are online. Most of the stuff are items that are too specialized to really find locally.

Last call, anyone wanna hang out and talk shop with me tomorrow before GA?


FONG

[fongaboo]

Guys and gals... I've been having some more health ups and downs... Latest was a 24-hour fever... But barring my immune system not failing me again, I plan to come to GA tomorrow at 5:30 and to the caucus at 8.

Anyone from IT wanna meet up with me before or after either of those? I could use some technical input on some things for sure. For one... Have started trying to build the Tor proxy box and ran into some snafus with different OSes. My latest attempt has been with Ubuntu which I've never touched before. Anyone a Linux guru?

[joshred]

I can meet up with you tomorrow but my technical ability is a little superficial. Wesley knows his stuff, right?

[fongaboo]

OK well I will be there for GA at 5:30 and stick around for the caucus at 8pm. So whomever wants to meet up - presumably in between, cool...

I've made progress with the Tor proxy machine, which I was stuck on for a little bit.

[dylan]

I have not heard back from Daniel. I will try to call him today.

[Victorio]

Hey y'all,

Daniel has been in Australia. He will be back today and in contact tomorrow. He might be able to get a better price on this stuff but it's not guaranteed. Either way I will be speaking with him tomorrow and can find out. I think we need to order the stuff asap. So if someone has the ability to order equipment before we get in touch with Daniel, we should move ahead. We need internet soooooo bad.

peace,
Victorio

[dylan]

Got this from Daniel today. Can someone follow up with him with his questions about specific hardware? I'm out of my league there.

Dylan
518.423.2963
[e-mail]

Dylan,
Looks like a good plan. You should definitely NOT buy hardware without me checking in to our distributor first. Some of that stuff can be gotten on the cheap.
Sorry for the delay in reply. I just got home. I have a couple of questions about the setup.
I will follow up tomorrow when I am at my desk.
Thanks,
Daniel

Daniel Straw
Chief Operations Officer
Technology Rentals of America
3 Vatrano Road
Albany, NY 12205
518.279.4200