Here are some frequently asked questions. As time goes by, I will continue to modify this section based on questions that come up most often at meetings and through emails.
Who belongs to DWC?
There are many different types of people that belong to DWC. They range from IT professionals to school goers to small business owners.
Where do the people that belong to DWC come from? Can you only live in Central Durban?
No. We have people in Westville, Pinetown, Kloof and Durban North. You don't even have to be from KwaZulu Natal. Being part of the community does not mean you have to be connected to the DWC network
What can I use the DWC network for?
Gaming, Internet access (with those that choose to share), telephone and video conferencing, as well as IRC, file sharing, webhosting and connecting to CCTV cameras in an area like a block of flats. You could also link your home and office at no cost. In fact, you can use it for anything that you can use a normal network for.
Does DWC offer internet access?
DWC does not offer internet access. You may, however, be able to find someone to share with, hence sharing costs. We would not recommend it for critical applications though, but feel free to ask us about what options are available. DWC has nothing to do with the agreement between you and the person that is providing the service
How much does it cost to be part of DWC?
It's free! We are a not-profit community.
What does DWC do with the information that I provide them with?
Your information goes into our database. Your email address is used to send you information on a regular (sometimes not so regular) basis. We understand that spam is an issue, and so your email address will not be shared with ANYONE without your permission to do so (and even then, it would only be for DWC purposes). If you do not wish to receive updates let us know and we will take you off the mailing list.
All this talk about "free"...what’s the catch, it seems too good to be true?
It’s not all "free". Connecting to the DWC network is free, but there are startup costs (ie: equipment. See hereoh and you need to put some time into it
What IP ranges does DWC use?
DWC has chosen to use the 172.19.0.0/16 network, we then subnet this address space for each individuals use. You must contact DWC in order to have the correct IP and subnets assigned to you.
When are the meetings held?
Please see our meetings page.
Do I have to be part of DWC to come to the meetings?
No. DWC is a very informal community of people. Just simply give us your details when you pitch up :)
If I am connected to DWC, do I have to come to the meetings?
No. It's your choice if you want to come to meetings or not. It is encouraged, but it is not compulsory.
Do I have to know something about wireless to attend meetings?
No. The idea of the meetings is to share knowledge and educate the public on wireless technology.
How does a wireless community work?
A wireless community or wireless user group (WUG) consists of a group of people in which each member has a wireless "node" (wireless equipment). The "nodes" are then linked to each other to create a network. This collection of smaller networks grows and continues to get closer to other networks in the area. All these area based networks link up to create a large mesh of wireless connectivity in an area. In our case we hope to have a wireless mesh covering the whole of Durban, and as many neighbouring areas as possible.
Connection to the network or mesh is free but requires you to supply your own equipment to be able to access the network.
What distance can wireless cover?
This is quite a loaded question, and depends on many factors. For more in-depth information, please visit JAWUG's site, or browse through our forum page. In the right conditions links up to 10-20km are not a problem
How secure is wireless?
Wireless networks have the ability to be very secure, however factory default settings without any configuration leaves the network very vulnerable to attack. Please feel free to ask us about security, as we are very serious about security.
Is it legal?
According to the New “Electronic Communications Act, 2005.” Non-Profit Organizations are license excempt
I heard that I won't get caught if I do have a connection over a boundary?
Whatever....You are welcome to come to meetings to discuss this further. but see the above question
What equipment does DWC use?
We have found that the most versatile wifi access point (AP) is the Linksys WRT54G/L. We have started to use RouterBoards and PCs with wireless cards.
What equipment do I need?
It all depends on what you want to do. If someone is close enough to you, a simple USB wifi card, or you can get a Linksys WRT54GL and high gain antenna or if budget allows a Router Board. Please attend a meeting to chat to someone about it or contact us and we can help.
How much does wireless equipment cost?
It all depends on what you will be doing, but you can get yourself connected to DWC from approximately R1500.