Do you want Internet in the Paddock?

[Doc]

So we were discussing this in another thread. We know you can get internet and someone hooks up a wireless router in the North Garage that sends out a limited signal.

The problem is you can't get wireless out in the field.

Kurlon came up with this solution.

" Meraki

Cheap option, $50 bucks a node, easy cheasy conf, plug one in the garage, random people bring theirs with them and fire them up in the pits. A mesh forms, and as long as there are enough nodes to cover the area, you get access. More nodes, better access."

The range is about 300 feet minimum. I figure we could be 6 or so and get them set up. You just plug em in and run the software on your laptop.

Anyone else intrested or know more about this? Who's in?

I'll post this on the NEAR list as well.

[Pittenger5]

That would be nice, but wouldnt it make sense to get speakers that work before we worry about internet?

[Doc]

Speakers are not MY problem. That is an NHIS problem.

[Pittenger5]

Haha true, but I already have wireless when Im up there, so have at it. Ill just hafta strain my ears to hear the speakers. Then again, you guys have radios so youre ahead of me there

[Doc]

Good... we can use your laptop to run one of these Gizmos.

[13]

Speakers are not MY problem. That is an NHIS problem.

And the problem can be easily solved if people get scanners. Just like the internet thing can be solved with these node things.

[Doc]

LOUD Scanners. I can't hear mine.

Kurlon also thoght up web cams for live streaming of the races.

[Kurlon]

Small note, you don't need to run any software on your laptop to host a Meraki node, you just need power.

Also, if the goal is a permanant instalation, I suggest splurging on the $100 version, as it's setup to be outdoors.

Looking at Google Earth, the infield is 2100' by 750'. 5 nodes in a line, north to south, with a little elevation should easily cover the area inside the NASCAR oval. You could likely hit all of the infield camping area with one node on a pole, and two to get the signal from the north garage to the field.

Edit: And I could easily see streaming the audio from the speakers so anyone with wireless could pick it up with their audio player of choice. (Is there more than one radio freq in use? Could stream those too.)

[Doc]

So let me get this straight.

You just plug em in? Don't they have to get the signal from somewhere?

[Kurlon]

One unit gets power, and plugged into ethernet, and acts as the gateway. The rest just need power. As long as a node can reach the gateway, either by directly talking to it, or going through other nodes to reach it, you have a functioning mesh.

[Doc]

So to mount that gateway up high you need an extension cord and a LONG ethernet cord.

All the others would just need power... right?

[Kurlon]

Correct. If you can't mount the gateway high up, just plan on a unit in each of the three buildings to push the signal out to the field, the rest of them can talk to that third hop and be happy. They don't all need to reach the gateway, there just has to be a functioning chain of units that eventually can hit the gateway for things to work.

The final weekend is prank weekend right? We could easily hide some of these in RVs, scatter enough to account for people altering their camping spots, or not showing up... and as long as a race weekend has a good turn out you've got a strong mesh.

[RyanNicholson]

personally i love the fact that i have no way of going on the internet at the track haha, i'm on the internet all day every day for work....its nice to go up and race/wrench/relax for a weekend.

but i can see how it could be nice

[Doc]

You wouldn't have to be ON the internet.

Just run the scoring software and the streaming Audio.

[Doc]

I was looking at the Map. We could definately affix them to the buildings and a couple poles. I take it these things can just be left up in the weather? Just unplug em when not in use?

One on the Bathroom out in the Infield... A couple on the speaker poles... i gotta see who I need to talk to to get authorization.

I posted this up on the NEAR list, those who know should give me more info soon.

Oh and Kurlon, Your hired to help with the install.

[Kurlon]

Oh and Kurlon, Your hired to help with the install.

I kinda figured as much as soon as I opened my mouth.

And yes, the outdoor units are meant for permanant outdoor instalation, directly exposed to the elements.

[GMAN226]

I am in...

[Doc]

Cool Gman. Lets drum up some more intrest.

[KB]

I go there to race not surf the interweb. Eff the internet. How bout they invest in some safety items first?

KB

[13]

They aren't investing, we are. I think.

I like the idea. I'll try to get one soon.

[xxdcmast]

So to mount that gateway up high you need an extension cord and a LONG ethernet cord.

All the others would just need power... right?

Dont want to be a ballbuster here but the maximum allowable length on an ethernet cable is 300 feet. Any distance longer than that and you are looking at collisions and network instability/errors.

Also this solution could be possible without actually using the meraki stuff. I dont know the exact distance but there is a way to set up an ad-hoc network using only laptops. Im not sure the range or the speed difference etc.

[Kurlon]

Dont want to be a ballbuster here but the maximum allowable length on an ethernet cable is 300 feet. Any distance longer than that and you are looking at collisions and network instability/errors.

Also this solution could be possible without actually using the meraki stuff. I dont know the exact distance but there is a way to set up an ad-hoc network using only laptops. Im not sure the range or the speed difference etc.

Fortunately there won't be any remotely near 300' cat 5 runs, so no issues there. (And you can go longer than 300', 100baseT on good cat 6 can be reliable past 500'.) WiFi Ad-hoc networks only work if you're in range of a single system acting as the gateway, they won't automatically work as repeaters/etc to cover those not in range of the gateway. If you want to run a custom live cd image based mesh app, then you can do this on commodity hardware like a laptop, but most people likely aren't willing to buy a second laptop to dedicate to this. For the cost, these are pretty dang cheap, and the management setup is quite painless as compared to some of the opensource setups.

To show what I'm talking about, reference the attached image. The green circle is the approximate range of the node to be placed in the north garage, roughly 300', the typical indoor range of these rigs. (I'm working under the assumption that it'll be on a bench next to a wall, I dunno where the actual ethernet drop is.)

To extend it's reach, two more units (redish circles, again 300' radius) are placed in the south garage, and the middle building. As long as their ranges overlap, anyone with a laptop under any of the 3 circles can get network access through the green node. Only the green node in north garage actually has ethernet plugged in.

There are two more units are depicted in the field, with 700' radius coverage typical of outdoor installations. In this case, I'm just assuming they will be on a picnic table, or in an RV. Again, as long as there is a complete path of coverage back to the green node, anyone under any of the circles can get access. Add more units, and the mesh becomes stronger as the overlaps get larger and denser.

[Doc]

From the NEAR list...

"The track management is not looking for all the problems caused by having hundreds of people on their computer system."

[Kurlon]

The Meraki units can do traffic shaping, so people can be restricted in how much bandwidth they leech. They can also be setup to charge for access if that makes things more attractive to the track. I saw on the NEAR list someone mentioned getting access via EVDO and using a router, that setup will work with these units also (the 'gateway' unit would get access via the EVDO router.) but someone would now have to eat the cost of the EVDO subscription. (I'd like to think people would chip in on the honor system to keep that running?)

Worst case, we can firewall the network down so only certain lightweight applications (web browsing only, no games/etc) can be accessed through it, along with the lap times and scanner streams.

[KB]

I wish they would do some traffic shaping on 93 north of the city from the hours of 6am to 9am and 3pm to 6 pm.

KB