(images lifted from gallery at www.rodmell.net)

Fast Wireless Internet access should soon be available in Rodmell, Nr Lewes, East Sussex..

With the helping hand of www.SussexNetShare.net

part of the community group www.SnSfeeed.net

For all enquiries please ring our Local Rate number 0845 8686514

click here for our thoughts on setting up the service in Rodmell/Piddinghoe/Northease

Especially if you can offer any voluntary help to get this project underway. We do need 2 or 3 locations actually in the village with wired broadband to help support the village wide mesh. Mobile contact number is 07973 865850

Latest news as of 16th May 2006 is that Willie has now a list of bb applicants and a list of 7 would-be transmitting households which have been co-ordinated. Also the parish Council has agreed a small budget and there are moves to see if ESCC will match it. 2 hiccups - obtaining approval for listed building (conservation officer has been away on leave but is back this week) - and lack of time. The simple 1m/1.5m omni masts are only straight white poles and have caused no problems elsewhere. But is prudent to get the nod from the Conservation officer. Apart from this we are on track and the first nodes should start rolling out shortly...... We will need to form a small working party to actually put up the small masts. SnS has the ladders and expertise, we just need a few willing and able helpers, particular 1 or 2 that dont mind ladder work!

As of 29th May, we have tested the link from Lewes to Rodmell and it is a goer! First link to the top of the Hill in Rodmell will be completed shortly. We will hopefully get 3 or 4 similar links in shortly to begin the Rodmell wide mesh. The meeting with the Conservation officer was positive and we can continue to erect these simple 1m high white poles without hindrance! Once we have a basic backbone we can infill and firm the mesh. We have several local householders with broadband who have offered to allow others to share. These can be linked to our feeds from Lewes. Bacically the mesh once formed is self healing. We can surf off the strongest links. It may well be that our lines from Lewes are the strongest... time will tell. We also have Line Of Sight to Newhaven and parts of Brighton from the top of the hill. These links can be explored once the backbone is in place. Please contact me directly If you want to help place these masts.... Ian (01273 890747, 07973 865850)

9th June update. We now have two links up to Lewes and ready to roll out the mesh. The two gateways are at the top of the hill and Mill House. We are awaiting permanent electrical supplies to both....then we can start taking on users!! Who will be the first to use from Rodmell!! Next masts are to go at the Abergevenny, The Dicker and 1 in the lower village. These 5 will serve much of the village and we can then infill as and when needed. Initially we will be using the links to Lewes, but local connections are needed if you have a decent line. Its only club members that can share your line. You have to join SnS, then you can share the internet access at any of our 80 plus access points! Yes we are growing all the time, several more went up in Norfolk this week! Also another couple in Lewes and Hastings appeared!! Its not only in Rodmell that we are developing....

3rd July update, Two main masts up and running, ready to start taking on users. Tweaks still to be done, but it is up and running 24/7. We have arranged the network with flexibility to pick off at least 3 different locations in Lewes. Works in progress!! Just returned from Parish Council meeting. Possible thought is that some residents have view of Lewes Golf Course. Maybe we should get a repeater in there?? Any contacts??? We have tried once already with no response as yet! If you want to add any comments and suggestion please enter the forum on the front page and sign into the rodmell forum. Ideas and suggestion can be posted there! First new member from Rodmell has signed up!

2Oth December update. We now have several masts in the lower village, including the loop and this has helped cover most of the village. We still have a few weak spots but most Rodmell residents now have some form of coverage! Some have a choice of a few hotspots!! I realise bringing in new users is time consuming. We are bringing onboard a few new users every week. One of us will try and visit and set you up, just bell our local rate number or email/ring Ian and we will fit you in as soon as possible.

 

As for our status... We currently have at least 3 feeds out of lewes dedicated for Rodmell club members. 2 are from near the Police mast on the malling estate and the third is on chapel hill enroute to the golf course. We also have back up feeds available from Cliffe and Southover when necessary. We are considering new feeds up the valley from Newhaven and Seaford. As for existing Rodmell hotspots, we are from the top of the hill beaming out and over towards BTN! You can now surf as you ramble or walk your dog on the hills!! As you move down Mill Hill most residents have coverage, a few are hidden by the trees. The central village area has excellent coverage as does most of the lower village. We still need to add mabe 2 or 3 more repeaters. As I write we have12 masts in place in Rodmell. I see this as rising to between 16 and 20 shortly......

 

We have achieved a lot in the last 6 months!! Well Done to all and a big thank you to those residents housing a repeater box to allow other residents wireless access!

 

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