• axh@lemmy.world
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    21 days ago

    I am old enough and geek enough to be bothered by the use of the word “WiFi” instead of the Internet or just network.

    It’s only WiFi if you connect the wireless router at the end.

    Edit: just noticed mention of the “antenna at the roof” on the page, but I still don’t think it’s WiFi, “WiFi” is a name of the technology that allows wireless access by multiple devices. I think it’s rather radio communication between the router and the access point. They basically use radio waves instead of the cable, it was often used in rural areas in my country, where putting cables would be too expensive.

      • Hawke@lemmy.world
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        21 days ago

        That I cut a bit of slack for, because prior to the minicomputer let alone the microcomputer, the CPU would likely have been a large component like the whole system is for a desktop PC.

  • FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe
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    20 days ago

    Okay I read the explanation on their faq page but I’m still kinda confused on how this works. Don’t they need like satellites for internet access? What exactly is this in simple terms? Like it seems good, I just want to understand it

    • woodenleg_duck@lemm.ee
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      19 days ago

      You don’t need satellites, just some connection on a datacenter (like but internet in bulk, maybe they have some special deal and is free or very cheap). But this is the boring part, the fun part is that you can connect to the hubs (light blue dots in the map) with a router with an antenna or you can connect to another router (red dots). The network is like a living being that keeps expanding. Then to go out to the Internet, the packets are jumping as they can between neighbors (they have a way to know the path) until they reach the datacenter. It looks like you only have to pay for the initial equipment (plus some donations to maintain the network), but it will probably end up costing you some of your time maintaining the network, learning and helping other people in the network.

  • meme_historian@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    21 days ago

    I hope they are aware of https://freifunk.net/ and don’t start from scratch completely. They’ve been doing that kinda stuff for over a decade and have developed a modified OpenWRT version and maintain lists of compatible routers

  • ryanvgates@infosec.pub
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    21 days ago

    Does anyone know what other cities are building similar networks? Or how to get started doing it in your city?