[committee] Camp Stuff

[Sam Moore]

We'll keep the mast in the machine room. We can arrange to drop it off 
after the camp if you'd like.

See you on Tuesday,

[SZM]

On Sun, 23 Jun 2013, Dylan Kerr wrote:

> Tuesday at 3 is fine for me.
> Are you going to keep the mast at UCC for the next 6 weeks or so? My house
> is not all that far off Great Eastern Highway as you're coming back from
> Chidlow, so I can let my parents know there may be someone dropping stuff
> off after the camp if necessary.
>
> Things I don't have at the moment are stakes; you'll need to acquire
> something to tie the guy ropes to. 3x 600mm star pickets would do.
>
> [DTK]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sam Moore [mailto:matches at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au]
> Sent: Sunday, 23 June 2013 12:03 PM
> To: Dylan Kerr
> Cc: committee at ucc.asn.au
> Subject: Re: [committee] Camp Stuff
>
> Ok, can we do Tuesday 3pm?
>
> I'll volunteer to be personally responsible for not being stupid.
>
> If you're willing to lend us the cables as well, that would be great.
>
> [SZM]
>
> On Fri, 21 Jun 2013, Dylan Kerr wrote:
>
>> Yes, you can still use the mast. I would like to give it to someone
>> and have them be personally responsible for not being stupid.
>>
>> I filled out timetable.py - I can do any afternoon or evening except
>> Thursday.
>>
>> In the spirit of oneupmanship, I have a roll of Cat6 (*gasp*) and all
>> the necessary bits.
>>
>> I have power cables you can use, like last year. POE is one more thing
>> to go wrong - by all means try it, since it would be great if it
>> worked, but
>> *please* take power cables with you.
>> I know you've probably worked it out already, but remember that having
>> one or two USB devices on the router for uplink will increase the power
> usage.
>> Each USB device can in theory draw up to 5W.
>>
>> In regards to length, the mast was about 50m from the door last year,
>> and we managed with two of my long cables (which are between 25 and 30m).
>>
>> See you next week!
>> [DTK]
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:
>> committee-bounces+blackknight=ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au
>> [mailto:committee-bounces+blackknight=ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au at ucc.gu.uwa.edu
>> .au]
>> On Behalf Of Sam Moore
>> Sent: Friday, 21 June 2013 3:10 AM
>> To: committee at ucc.asn.au
>> Subject: [committee] Camp Stuff
>>
>> There are now so many people in the CC list that I think I'll just
>> send to committee@ and damn the consequences.
>>
>> If you want to come to a meeting next week, fill in our magical
>> timetable
>> script: http://www.ucc.asn.au/cgi-bin/viewtable.py
>>
>> tl;dr Camp
>>
>> Wireless stuff
>> --------------
>> This is probably the most important, since people will undoubtably
>> complain a lot if they find themselves stuck in the middle of nowhere
>> without internet, and less so if they find themselves stuck in the
>> middle of nowhere with bad salad.
>>
>> I'm no expert, but POE sounds like a lot of extra hassle (from the
>> phrasing it sounds like custom circuits are involved?) when we could
>> just run a power cable. [BG3] if you or someone else want to "do the
> circuitry"
>> then go ahead.
>>
>> Dylan already offered to lend us the mast two weeks ago, and I failed
>> to arrange a meeting, for which I apologise (I honestly forgot, due to
>> committee drama). Dylan, if you aren't already in Europe, are we still
>> able to borrow your mast?
>>
>> I can look into the plans and the extra long extension cable (exactly
>> how long? I've never seen the site) and hopefully be done by the next
>> committee meeting.
>>
>> Advertising Stuff
>> -----------------
>> I've been criticised for not advertising this event enough, which is fair.
>> Since no one wants to do a poster, I'm working on redesigning the 2006
>> poster to have less questionable ascii art.
>>
>> I don't really think putting the poster up around the guild will
>> accomplish anything at this point, and we can't do it until the EMP is
> approved anyway.
>> But it will be at the GigaLAN and around Cameron Hall.
>>
>> As for all the events the camp clashes with... I guess we could
>> sabotage them?
>>
>> We have 11 people registered so far.
>>
>> Food Stuff
>> ----------
>> [BOB] has offered to coordinate cooking, and done a menu, which looks
>> good to me. Since people haven't volunteered for cooking, I think I'll
>> just conscript committee members. We'll start buying ingredients the
>> week before the camp.
>>
>> Since I put it on the form, we should probably remember to have meals
>> for people with legitimate special dietary requirements.
>>
>> Tech Talks
>> ----------
>> Sunday evening sounds like a good night for tech talks, because that's
>> when Zanchey can do his. If you want to do a tech talk, let me know,
>> and start preparing it in the week before the camp.
>>
>> Gaming Tournaments
>> ------------------
>> I personally have no interest in organising tournaments, but
>> presumably someone will complain if it isn't done. Does anyone want to do
> this?
>>
>> Risk Assessment
>> ---------------
>> Refer to the EMP.
>>
>> I need to work out how easy it is to get a generator to see whether
>> it's a better idea to hire one for the duration of the camp or just
>> run and get one if we need it.
>>
>> [SZM]
>>
>> On Fri, 21 Jun 2013, David Gow wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, 20 Jun 2013, Mitchell Pomery wrote:
>>>
>>>> As mentioned on IRC:
>>>> Instead of running a power cable and a data cable we could set up
>>>> POE. We would use a higher powered power supply to inject it at one
>>>> end, and throw some circuitry at the mast end to filter the power
>>>> before plugging it in to skywhale. I have an injector, splitter and
>>>> PSU that we could use, we would just need to do the circuitry and
>>>> test that it is a stable output. We can of course keep the long
>>>> power
>> cable as a backup. Thoughts?
>>>>
>>>> I have a roll of CAT5E cable in my car + crimping tool + ends if we
>>>> need to make a new cable. Best that I know by/at the GigaLAN so I
>>>> can do
>> it then.
>>>
>>> ( [SLX] blearily emerges from the exam cave )
>>>
>>> I'm happy to supply the long cat5e cable we used last year again. God
>>> only knows if POE will actually work over it, though. Personally, I
>>> suspect that POE will just be one more thing that can go wrong but
>>> it's probably worth looking into, particularly if you have all the gear.
>>>
>>> I take it there's going to be a network setup night?
>>>
>>> -- [SLX]
>>>
>>>
>>>> Also: /me pesters blackknight
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Mitch P
>>>>
>>>>> Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:27:56 +0800
>>>>> From: bob at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au
>>>>> To: blackknight at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au
>>>>> CC: bobgeorge33 at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au;
>>>>> committee-only at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au;
>>>> sulix at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au
>>>>> Subject: RE: Camp Wireless
>>>>>
>>>>> Ok, so here's where we're at:
>>>>>
>>>>> The club has purchased, and received:
>>>>> - a DIR-825 router
>>>>> - a Huawei E182 USB modem
>>>>>
>>>>> These two items are identical to last year. Mitch (bobgeorge33) and
>>>>> I
>>>> have
>>>>> already set up openwrt on it and tested the usb modem using my
>>>>> virgin sim card.
>>>>>
>>>>> What I will be supplying:
>>>>> - A directional antenna (same as last year)
>>>>> - Adapters to go from the usb modem to the antenna
>>>>>
>>>>> What we still need (to source or confirm):
>>>>> - a mobile broadband plan or two. Last year we went with two 12G
>>>> internode
>>>>> plans. The double plan meant we had a backup in case something went
>>>>> rogue and ate up all the data on one plan
>>>>> - pester sulix for his long ethernet cable to get us inside the
>>>>> building from outside
>>>>> - pester blackknight for his mast. Last year's mast would be great,
>>>>> but we need a better base for it to stop it rotating. Or we can
>>>>> just tape a shovel to it like we did last year. *shrug*
>>>>> - pester blackknight for his box to attach to the top of the mast
>>>>> that
>>>> the
>>>>> router goes in
>>>>> - pester blackknight for his really long extension cables (or the
>>>>> club should just damn well get a couple, we need them for the
>>>>> megalan anyway)
>>>>> - pester blackknight some more. Just because
>>>>>
>>>>> This will leave us in the same position as last year, and we know
>>>>> it's something that works and works well. Which means we can afford
>>>>> to try out some more cool stuff and try making things faster...
>>>>>
>>>>> Ranz has offered one of his devices, which has the benefit of being
>>>>> able to take dual antennas to get more speed. As far as I know, it
>>>>> hasn't been set up on openwrt , but whoever wants to is welcome to
>>>>> try it. I have a second antenna that would work on this, but I
>>>>> would need pigtails to suit both ports. I don't think it would work
>>>>> all that well in chidlow without external antennas, and we would
>>>>> certainly get more speed with them
>>>> anyway.
>>>>> We would need to check it can operate at the frequencies of
>>>>> whatever carrier we go with, especially 850MHz for telstra or
>>>>> 900MHz for Optus. It could also be worth investigating failover and
>>>>> such, though I should
>>>> point
>>>>> out that the DIR-825 only has one USB port.
>>>>>
>>>>> Like last year, I suggest we have a night about 10 days before the
>>>>> camp where the full setup and network is assembled and tested (we
>>>>> even mounted it on the top section of the mast last year and tested
>>>>> it up on the balcony).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Andrew Adamson
>>>>> bob at ucc.asn.au
>>>>>
>>>>> |"If you can't beat them, join them, and then beat them." |
>>>>> |---Peter's Laws |
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, 10 Jun 2013, Andrew Gozzard wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Dylan,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regarding the antenna, I am pretty sure we sourced another of the
>>>>>> same
>>>> make
>>>>>> and model and may have even bought it, though I have never seen it
>>>>>> show
>>>> up so
>>>>>> I guess not. Also, Ranz and Bob were talking about having a
>>>> single-modem
>>>>>> dual-carrier system, and I believe ranz may have a 4G dual-carrier
>>>> capable
>>>>>> device, though I am really not sure. I am CC'ing them both on this
>>>>>> as I
>>>> do
>>>>>> think they know the current state of play better than I.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ranz was also talking about taking a drive up to Camp Lesch to see
>>>>>> if
>>>> his
>>>>>> modem got Telstra 4G out there, though I don't know if that happened.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While I doubt I would be much help at the face-to-face meeting you
>>>> suggested,
>>>>>> I will say that I am unfortunately unable to make Wednesday due to
>>>>>> the
>>>> need to
>>>>>> study for an exam on Thursday. However, I will be in tomorrow for
>>>>>> the committee meeting and on Thursday shortly after my exam
>>>>>> finishes at
>>>> 4pm, if
>>>>>> you can make either of those times.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Gozz
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, 10 Jun 2013, blackknight at ucc.asn.au wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Sam,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My involvement last year was primarily the mast, which I'm happy
>>>>>>> to
>>>> help
>>>>>>> with again this year. I was just thinking this morning that I
>>>>>>> should
>>>> get in
>>>>>>> touch and see how the plans were progressing...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Looking in the tool cupboard the other week, I saw we have a "new"
>>>>>>> second-hand wireless home router modem of the same model as last
>>>> year, which
>>>>>>> definitely works with OpenWRT and USB dongles. I am however
>>>>>>> slightly concerned by the dongle that was purchased this year -
>>>>>>> it doesn't
>>>> seem to
>>>>>>> have an external antenna connection based on my very brief
>>>> inspection. It
>>>>>>> would be great if someone could have a closer look at it and
>>>>>>> confirm
>>>> that it
>>>>>>> will operate on the 3G network of whichever provider we go with.
>>>>>>> Not
>>>> all
>>>>>>> providers use the same frequency band.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Even if the dongle has an external antenna connection, we don't
>>>>>>> have
>>>> an
>>>>>>> antenna at the moment. The one we used last year belongs to Bob
>>>>>>> and I believe is currently providing wireless broadband to his
>>>>>>> family on
>>>> the farm,
>>>>>>> and so may not be available. It may turn out that we don't need a
>>>>>>> directional antenna, but by the time we get the system together
>>>> enough to
>>>>>>> find out that we do need one it will be too late to order one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If we want dual carrier we'll need a second dongle, a second
>>>>>>> antenna
>>>> and to
>>>>>>> make sure that the router accepts two USB devices. The box may
>>>>>>> get
>>>> squishy.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I will be in Europe for the majority of July, so I will miss the
>>>>>>> camp
>>>> this
>>>>>>> year. I'm hoping we'll have the wireless hardware sorted before I
>>>>>>> go
>>>> so we
>>>>>>> can make sure it all fits in the enclosure. To that end, any
>>>>>>> chance
>>>> we can
>>>>>>> have a face-to-face meeting at UCC one evening this week?
>>>>>>> Wednesday
>>>> is ideal
>>>>>>> for me, but negotiable.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [DTK]
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: Andrew Gozzard [mailto:gozzarda at ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au]
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, 10 June 2013 1:43 PM
>>>>>>> To: Sam Moore
>>>>>>> Cc: blackknight at ucc.asn.au
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Camp Wireless
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I actually wasn't involed lsat year in any way. I have been
>>>>>>> taking a
>>>> bit of
>>>>>>> interest this year, but it is all a bit over my head. Bob specced
>>>> most of
>>>>>>> the stuff. Ranz has some useful hardware to provide maybe. I
>>>>>>> remember
>>>> they
>>>>>>> were discussing having a 2-carrier system, for which we would
>>>>>>> need to
>>>> buy a
>>>>>>> second directional antenna I think, though I don't think anything
>>>> came of
>>>>>>> this judging by the hardware that UCC then bought on bob's
>>>> recommendation.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I would very much like to be kept in the loop, but I don't have
>>>>>>> the
>>>> clue in
>>>>>>> this field to be of much assistance, I am sorry to say.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kind Regards,
>>>>>>> Gozz
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, 10 Jun 2013, Sam Moore wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I understand you guys were in charge of the wireless setup at
>>>>>>>> last year's camp.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Would you mind giving me an overview of the setup, since I
>>>>>>>> wasn't
>>>> there?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Gozz: I know we've bought hardware for the camp already, but is
>>>> there
>>>>>>>> anything else needed?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>> [SZM]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>