While running long runs of fiber (cat5 would require too many repeaters) would be nerd orgy, we're opting for the cheaper route using wireless ethernet gear. In short, we setup 3 kiosk booths that double as wireless access points; spreading coverage around the event site.
For 2001, we're gonna try out a half-dozen Orinoco COR/ROR units. There dual PC Card design allows us to setup one card for AP mode (offering the network out as a native 802.11b BSS Access Point in the immediate area), while the other as a backbone link (using a propitiatory routing protocol by KarlNet). Each booth will have two antennas mounted on a roof pole; the directional grid to the backbone and white ~5ft omni-directional for local wireless-enabled laptops.
Both the Plaza's (previously known as Outposts in 2000) and center camp will include a PlayaNET room. This booth serves as limited weather protection, while also housing various computer equipment. Each booth will have an Xserver, atleast 4 Xterminals, hub (minimum of 8port 10BaseT), Orinoco ROR access point, and power (please limit your camcorder battery charging sessions).
The xterminals allow us to offer a graphical window interface for web browsing, without dedicating a full computer to each kiosk (xterm,monitor, keyboard, & mouse). To cut down on backbone traffic, the terminals access their window manager and applications from the local booth xserver.
We've got atleast 60+ of these IBM 8361-110 (NCD OEM) units, complete with IBM PS/2 keyboard & mouse. They've all
got atleast 32Mb of system RAM, 2Mb video (max of 1024x768), serial, printer, 10Mb ethernet, dual pc/2 ports, and
one PCMCIA slot. Maybe one day we'll find someone to hack in support for NetBSD, they're based off the PowerPC 403GCX processor.
While hauling your own laptop isn't required for access (that's why we build kiosk booths!); Burner geeks should pre-equip their laptop with an 802.11b wireless ethernet card. Since our Access Points are placed thought out the event site, coverage will vary on your location. We're attempting to blast out the signal as much as possible, even if that means stretching the FCC rules a little.
802.11b (the official IEEE standard name for Wireless Ethernet; just like your home/office ethernet is 802.3) NICs (Network Interface Cards) come in many flavors: PC Cards (PCMCIA), USB and common ISA/PCI adapters. You'll probably want a PC Card or maybe a USB adapter, depending on what free slots your Playa-bound laptop has.
Pricing starts at $89, you may also find these cards marketed as WiFi compliant. Your card choice should be high powered (100mW output power is ideal) WITH an external antenna. The typical integrated antenna card has very little gain, this may work at home/work, but not on the playa.
In an ideal world, you've got a Cisco 35x LCM PC Card with an omni-directional antenna of atleast 5dBi of gain. In so so world, you've got an Orinoco/WaveLAN card with their range extender antenna. In reality, you'll probably got a Fry's special (D-Link, SMC, Linksys, etc); which will require you to hold your laptop above your head (unless you hack in an external antenna; we can't stress how important this is).
Setup your NIC to associate with a BSS (Infrastructure) network named "PlayaNET" (in technical terms: the SSID/ESS; NOTE, this name is case sensitive, without the quotes). Most card drivers allow for name "ANY" to be specified, this tells the card to scan for the strongest signal and associate with that network. You really want to stay away from this, considering other folks bring out Access Points; you may be connecting to some unknown network. Once your wireless connection is established (most manufacturers include a signal strength utility; walk around for the optimal spot); set your PC to DHCP for an IP address (sometimes labeled as "dynamic server assigned"). Our network also includes a DNS server, all hostnames (like www.yahoo.com) will automatically resolve to our web site; so it doesn't matter what address you type into your web browser.
Please test out your NIC prior to the event, you may need more then just a driver CD. We're NOT using WEP or any type of 802.1x authentication/encryption system; our AP's are in BSS mode (not IBSS or Ad-hoc).
Recent model laptops may have the option for an on-board 802.11b card, like Apple's iBook and Powerbook series (though they use a low powered 30mW card, but with an external antenna surrounding the LCD screen); IBM, Dell, & Toshiba are in following pursuit. Once you determined you available slots (most likely a PCMCIA PC Card or USB adapter); you'll free to buy any 802.11b NIC. If you've got the funds, try to get a NIC with an external antenna (some include a connector, but lack an the external antenna).
Talk to Matt if you're a single 19 year old female, otherwise; no. We don't have the funding to buy a bunch of extra hardware (remember, PlayaNET is our own form of an art project; we get no funding from Burning Man; only our own paychecks). How can I help out?
Develop an art project or interactive resource which requires a network infrastructure. In all seriousness, we're out to build a network for anyone to use for just about any use (testing your latest security exploits isn't welcome d, this isn't D3fC0n). We're more then happy to provide shell accounts (with web space) for you.
You don't. PlayaNET doesn't feature any outside Internet access, that's not our project.
We're of the FreeBSD religion, we're free of the much hyped Linux and dying Windows breads (www.burningman.com ha s been running on a FreeBSD server for years). Most likely, we'll utilize a single class A (10.x.x.x) netblock.
