Wireless user group
Encyclopedia
A Wireless User Group is a Wireless community network
run by enthusiasts. Most run off the shelf Wi-Fi
hardware communicating in the license free ISM bands 2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz. Some do not provide Internet
access, but are mainly used to participate in Internet games while avoiding data charges from the landline internet providers. Others do provide Internet access, as with the SoCalFreeNet, a group of 802.11
enthusiasts that provides low income communities in California
with free wireless access.
The term Wireless User Group may also be used to describe an organization that helps exchange information about wireless networking. Important in the developed world, the subject is of critical importance in countries where there is no landline infrastructure.
There are many more enthusiast groups around the world exploring the technology and its applications (See List of wireless community networks by region).
Wireless community network
Wireless community networks or wireless community projects are the organizations that attempt to take a grassroots approach to providing a viable alternative to municipal wireless networks for consumers....
run by enthusiasts. Most run off the shelf Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
hardware communicating in the license free ISM bands 2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz. Some do not provide Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access, but are mainly used to participate in Internet games while avoiding data charges from the landline internet providers. Others do provide Internet access, as with the SoCalFreeNet, a group of 802.11
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...
enthusiasts that provides low income communities in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with free wireless access.
The term Wireless User Group may also be used to describe an organization that helps exchange information about wireless networking. Important in the developed world, the subject is of critical importance in countries where there is no landline infrastructure.
Sample Enthusiast Groups
- The Twin Cities Wireless User Group has the goal of creating a stand-alone, free, high-speed network in the Twin Cities in the USA.
- El Proyecto Inalámbrico in Santiago, ChileSantiago, ChileSantiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
uses low-cost wireless technology to distribute high-quality digital videos to schools.
- The PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
Wireless User Group (PTAWUGPtawugPretoria Wireless Users Group is a South African wireless users group. It is non-profit community organization providing a Wireless community network in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa....
), the DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
Wireless User Group (DWCWUG) and the JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
Wireless User Group (JAWUG) are a South African wireless community networkSouth African wireless community networksSouth African wireless community networks are wireless networks that allow members to talk, send messages, share files and play games independent of the commercial landline and mobile telephone networks. Most of them use WiFi technology and many are wireless mesh networks...
that provides city-wide free IPInternet ProtocolThe Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
communications to its user community for non-profit use, with about 1600 members.
- WaFreeNet is a community project to form a free wireless network in Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
supporting text, voice and video communications, sharing open source material and multiplayer gaming.
There are many more enthusiast groups around the world exploring the technology and its applications (See List of wireless community networks by region).
Sample Organizations
- The TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
Wireless User Group is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 that is focused on the wireless and mobile industries, with about 3000 members, that runs free seminars on wireless and mobile technology.
- The Bay Area Wireless Users Group (BAWUG) was founded in 2000 to promote wireless use for the Greater San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, but does not seem to be active now.
- Wug.za.net is a South African community based site geared toward a community based wireless network world.
- The TamaleTamale, GhanaTamale with a population of 360,579 , is the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana and the Tamale Metropolitan District with which it is coterminous Area. The city is located 600 km north of Accra...
Wireless Administrators’ User Group in GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
is a group for updating and sharing knowledge in skills in wireless networking, and promoting wireless networking as an alternative means of deploying internet access to deprived communities in the Northern Ghana.