Bristol Wireless News

I suggest Tuesday Jan 13th for the next meeting – 6.30, I’ll start writing an agenda up on the wiki, and we need to have a proper AGM, so we could plan it for Febuary at the January meeting.

Had some rather serious mail server problems which are fixed to an extent now. it still has a problem that qmail doesnt seem to like the new libc6 from deb-unstable, not much i can do about that at the moment. the mail works, just dont expect any of the error messages (bounces etc) to make sence, they come out as rubbish at the moment.

I will try and sort this asap. (could require a complete rebuild of the box tho )

I am hoping to test atleast one distro a week and post the results here in this topic.

I will be testing them on a variety of platforms and making brief reports. Please join me and try to chart the ever expanding distro space. The trouble with sites like distro watch is they include the descriptions of authors which tend to be very complementary of their distro.

I will be looking for easily installable distros with packages suitable for office work. They should be small and have a fast desktop that can run with minimal ram. I would prefare debian, source or slackware based distros, but reckon debian distros will fit the bill best. Fast installation is also a priority.

Defining Digital Storytelling

"Digital Storytelling uses digital media to create media-rich stories to tell, to share, and to preserve. Digital stories derive their power through weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid colour to characters, situations, and insights. The digital environment provides a unique opportunity for stories to be manipulated, combined and connected to other stories in an interactive, and transformative process that empowers the author and invests the notion of storytelling with new meaning. Using the internet, and other emerging forms of distribution, these stories provide a catalyst for creating communities of common concern on a global scale".
Much More Info:

http://sightings.kidsown.ie/research/examples/digitalstorytelling.php
http://www.techteachers.com/digitalstorytelling.htm
http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/links.html
http://www.helpisathand.gov.uk/events/
http://blogs.writingproject.org/blogwrite34/discuss/msgReader$105?mode=day
http://www.asenseofplace.org.uk/speakers.php?speaker=dmeadows
http://www.storycenter.org/understanding.html
etc etc

Well I think the best plan to extend the network now is to install another node the same as theECC in say St.Pauls or St Werburghs. Linking the 2 together would be best done using a point to point (can to can) link with 2 buffalos in the pcmcia slots of the multias.

The point of leaving the node being wds meshing capable is to keep the option of being able to put in small repeaters to cover a blackspot within the local area (not for connecting different areas together)

This way each community has its own master node and a point to point link between the other community nodes, and if needed smaller wds repeaters filling in blackspots within the local area.

Hope this makes sence.

Some pricing figures:
buffalo pcmcia card (ebuyer) - £33.15
buffalo pigtail (solwise) - £7.20

netgear ma311 card (ebuyer) - £34.41
netgear pigtail (solwise) - £5.83

HDF400 cable (solwise) per M - £2.37
LMR400 cable (solwise) per M - £2.99
HDF/LMR Ntype crimp end - £2.69
crimping tool (solwise) - £15.50 (mebbe santa will get me one)
cantenna bits (rs) - £6
8db omni (solwise) - £33

Some of the money (how much is yet to be decided) was awarded for supporting Bristol Wireless Events (not beer money for the party unfortunately) and at the last Real-Life meeting at the Lab it was decided that the big giveaway day events were probably a bit too much hard work to organise on the entirely voluntary basis that it was before, and the benefits were a bit dubious.

An alternative suggested then was a joint event with the Bristol Linux Users Group, a Linux Install fest/computing festival which we have tenatively pencilled in for end of Feb/ Beginning of March.

This could include

Staged Giveaway event (photo opportunity/publicity) just a few machines
Workshops Node building
Dual booting service
Food/Creche
Course sign up
Vendor stalls

Lets set a first planning meeting for Tuesday Jan 6th

Anything anybody would like to do or see happen – post it here.

Red Rak Birthday party

Just a reminder to keep the evening of Friday 12th December free in your diaries for the social event of the year – the Bristol Wireless Xmas Party.

It’s been a busy year, and next year looks set to be even busier with so many projects now getting off the ground. Chance to chat about everything in an informal friendly atmosphere (i.e I won’t be chairing) at The Chelsea, Bristols Premier Wireless Boozer.

See you all there!

Our initial approach to the Greater Bristol Foundaton who awarded us £1000 from their express fund for further funding for development planning either from the Community Chest and/or the Social Economy Business Development Fund ( http://www.gbf.org.uk/52.asp#) have received a knock back, neither fund manager thinks BristolWireless would fulfill their criteria.

All is not lost – Rhys is preparing a bid to MySociety http://forums.bristolwireless.net/viewtopic.php?t=44 based on the elements of our Mission Staement for which we would require money; an approach is being considered to Awards for All, which is a lottery fund, and we have a meeting planned with Bacen on Friday Dec 12th at 10.00am to discuss how they might be able to help us with "business" planing and securing funding. So far Rich and Sean have expressed an interest in coming, anyone else wants to be present, please get in touch with the Lab