[Leaplist] The School Project Work Sessions

[fmeco]

Phil Barnett wrote:
> On Sunday 19 August 2007, patrick wrote:
>   
>> I expect the LEAP-CF executives will be mentioning the work at the
>> Wilford Woodruff Academy, but, as an attendee I offer my first hand report.
>>
>> Work Sessions were held on both Saturdays past, plus, today, Sunday.
>>
>> First of all, lets all thank the folks who contributed precious time to
>> help in this project.
>>
>> There are many who contributed their skills and labor, and I hope I
>> don't miss anyone: Jack, Fred, Doug, Phil, Alex, and I were there.
>>     
>
> Thanks, Patrick! I really appreciate your picking up the ball and running with 
> it when I had this conflict going on.
>
> I generally have liked to head up this responsibility, but this weekend, I had 
> to take on call at work and these days, that requires me to actually be at 
> work instead of remoting in. So much for technology.
>
> At least I get a fair trade for it these days. I get a day off during the 
> week.
>
> Anyway, thanks for everyone who came and volunteered last and this weekend. We 
> need your support for this and you always come through!
>
> And, thanks to Fred for getting the network running in the other building!
>
> We bricked that router the first time we flashed it and Aaron and John (I 
> think) miraculously figured out a way to recover it. Maybe they can pull that 
> off again. Or maybe it's a brick. Either way, we need to replace your router 
> with a new one.
>
> I hear the Buffalo 102's are hot stuff. Maybe we should get one or two of 
> those to work with.
>
>   
You are correct this is the router that was bricked when we first got it 
about 2 years ago.  Saturday night I went through all of the de-bricking 
processes (about 4 hours). It just won't come back to life (same as John 
and I did 2 years ago).  I consider it toast and gave it to Doug to play 
with.   Even if his electronic genius gets it working again I consider 
it toast.. just not a reliable unit.  We can get reconditioned 54G below 
3.0 firmware for about 29 bucks online.   The 900AP+ is running in 
client mode feeding the network on the other side.   That unit is a 
spare of mine and can stay there till we have more time to work it out 
(no rush). Or we can replace mine I have no preference.   I mostly 
consider D-link junk with the 900A+ being the one exception. Because it 
just works.. and has a repeater mode so you can throw one between two 
weak points and fix it..

Don't know about the buffalo..  I recommend we make sure it can be 
flashed with the latest openwrt, and uses common antenna connectors, 
standard SMA or standard TNC.    Another WIFI signal has raised its ugly 
head on channel 11 (school is on 1), 11 is the channel leap uses over 
there.   We most likely need to go with a couple of patch antennas at 
the school instead of omni directionals,  to prevent interference from 
other stations as time goes buy.

The 54g that was located above the server has been moved to the east 
room and is double sided taped to the window.  The one on the other side 
also located at the window, this eliminated all concrete walls and gave 
us a usable signal over there..

TO DO-- we still need to clean up the wiring  ugly in places.

As those who monitor the school list already know, they had a winblows 
requirement generated by a State of Florida course they will be using.  
Phil thinks it will work with Linux.  Patrick is on standby today to 
make sure this goes smoothly.  If the course require IE we may need to 
install Opera to fix that.

If anyone needs to work on the WIFI..  don't change the WEP key, or you 
will kill the other side... June has the key, she recognizes it as "the 
long thingy with funny numbers" if anyone needs to ask her for it..  
Thanks to all.. Fred