[manchesterwireless] re: network access

[G.W. Haywood]

Hi there,

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005, Donna Griffe wrote:

> network access in North Manchester?  I see there is a node in
> Crumpsall - maybe the nearest to me altho im unsure.

Because radio waves at the wavelength used for radio networks travel
more-or-less along lines of sight, it's not possible to know if you
will be able to connect to any given node unless you can for example
say something like "I can see it from my bedroom window".  Sometimes
even then it's necessary to do a little more work - things like other
networks in the vicinity can interfere.  A site survey is necessary to
answer all the technical questions, sounds grand but it's really just
a matter of someone with a bit of experience casting an eye over the
lie of the land/buildings/trees and asking a few questions.

> I live in the Blackley / Lower Crumpsall area, near Factory
> Lane. Can you tell me if there is wireless network access here, and
> if there is how do i go about joining to get it?

Manchester Wireless wasn't necessarily formed with the intention of
sharing Internet access over the ether, although a lot of people
(including me) use radio networking almost exclusively for Internet
access.  AFAIK there's no, er, official ManchesterWireless policy on
sharing access to the Internet, and the charity doesn't run nodes of
its own.  Not everyone with an access point will be willing to give a
free ride to eveybody who can see it, so you'll need to get in touch
with the owner to establish their policies.  As you've seen the
Manchester Wireless site is rather badly out of date.  I think the
nodes you're referring to in Crumpsall appear in the Consume website
as 'speculative' but I don't know how up to date nor how accurate that
will be.  There's a node further north (Shoka) which might be
possible.  You'll have to talk to Harry, who set it up.  He's a good
man, and he reads the list, so I guess he'll chime in when he has time.

> Im on NTL broadband at the present but want to ditch it

I can understand that.  :)

73,
Ged.

PS: Be aware that this list can be read by the public, you might want
to be cautious about any personal information that you post.