Falanster, a geek organization from Belarus, has prepared posters in both png and svg formats. Please download, print, and share. All the resources distributed under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 International Licence. ...

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For people around the world planning or building wireless networks, the cost and accessibility of the equipment can often be a challenge. There are usually a few models of wireless routers, but they are generally for home or office use, and not intended to be mounted outdoors. In addition, most router antennas are designed to connect with nearby devices, within 100 meters or less. ...

The Open Technology Institute recently discussed options for community wireless networks with Free Press Unlimited – a NGO based in the Netherlands that works on press freedom issues around the world. Their response was to organize a workshop with interested individuals in the town of Bukavu, a town on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report on the workshop below is a guest post from Pepijn Kalis – an organizer with Free Press Unlimited based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It discusses the first steps towards building a community-owned and run network. ...

The Open Technology Institute (OTI) gathered innovative community technologists and organizers from India and Nepal for the first international Commotion workshop in June, 2013. By gathering participants from a variety of community-based technology training and wireless networking projects, OTI and the participating groups were able to exchange experiences, training models and technologies. OTI received valuable feedback on the Developer Release version 1.1 of the Commotion mesh software, the Commotion Construction Kit training modules and OTI’s Digital Stewards model of community-based technology. The workshop was also an opportunity to strengthen the global network of technologists and organizers who see communities as a vital source of innovation in information and communications technology. The workshop was held in Dharamshala, India and co-hosted with AirJaldi, a social enterprise providing rural broadband connectivity and networking trainings in Dharamshala. ...

With recent NSA mass surveillance revelations, the Comcast and Time Warner Cable merger deal, and the uncertain future of net neutrality, the Open Technology Institute (OTI) wanted to take a read on digital optimism in the District and share a creative space to comment on these events. ...

OTI has partnered with groups around the world to develop the concept of Digital Stewardship, and hopes to refine it as more communities adopt and adjust it for local needs. Digital Stewardship is a principled approach to community technology that emphasizes self-governance and sustainability. Digital Stewards grow and maintain the technology their communities need to foster healthy relationships, build resilience, and increase access to critical information. OTI works with local partners to integrate the Digital Stewards approach into the group’s existing projects, missions, and goals. ...

The Sayada community network, Mesh Sayada, is a collaboratively designed and built wireless network. The town of Sayada is located on the Tunisian coast, 140 kilometers from Tunis. The network serves as a platform for locally-hosted content, such as Wikipedia and Open Street Maps, and is expected to expand to include locally created content. Local residents and CLibre, a Sayada-based free technology association, initiated the network in December, 2013. ...

I had heard about mesh networking before I arrived in Somaliland, but had never been in the position to actually build a mesh network. When I accepted the position as ICT instructor at Abaarso School of Science and Technology in Abaarso, Somaliland, I figured this may be my chance. I knew that the Open Technology Institute (OTI) had been developing a mesh firmware called Commotion, suitable for remote locations. Upon arriving in Somaliland I decided that building a mesh network using Commotion would be one of my top priorities. ...

The Open Technology Institute recently conducted a training on how to build pop-up mesh networks using Commotion. Our goal was to quickly deploy a flexible and mobile mesh network across several square blocks using portable battery-powered routers carried in backpacks. ...

Tiwan Burrus (RHI) and Katherine Ortiz (RHI) attaching a Pico Station to a roof mount. ...

A new video about the Open Technology Institute’s approach to training, community, and technology, using the Commotion Wireless toolkit to support communities’ to take control of their own communications infrastructure. The video highlights the work of the Digital Stewards programs in Detroit and Brooklyn, and the sharing of those training resources and the Commotion technology at a workshop in Dharamshala, India. ...

The Open Technology Institute convened over a dozen community technologists from across India and Nepal for the first international Commotion Wireless workshop in June. Over the next several weeks, we will be highlighting their innovative grassroots community technology projects on our blog. Our first guest post is from Mahabir Pun, co-founder of Nepal Wireless Networking Project. ...

The Open Technology Institute traveled to Dharamshala, India the first week of June for the first international Commotion Wireless workshop. Working with our local hosting partner AirJaldi, we convened over a dozen community technologists from across India and Nepal in the town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas to get their feedback on OTI’s Commotion mesh technology. The workshop was an opportunity to strengthen not only the recent Developer Release 1.1 of the software, but also a global network of technology designers, implementers, and users who see users and communities as the prime source of innovation in information and communications technology. ...

Community members launched two new wireless networks at the end of April in Detroit neighborhoods, with a third one still in the works. Built on the Commotion mesh wireless platform, these networks function as local communications infrastructure: they act as an intranet for community interactions, and connect to the global Internet. ...

As part of our research for the Commotion Human Interface Guidelines, we interviewed four people who have been involved in building community wireless networks around Detroit (see earlier blog posts). Based on these interviews and our experience working with various users, we recommend that Commotion developers and organizers implement the following concepts: ...

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