Slashdot Mirror
Wireless Networks In Motion?
Barkmullz asks: "Working closesly with a public safety department in my town, we have been thinking of implementing a mobile wireless network. This would, theoretically, allow public safety officers to send and received data (such as CAD) while in a moving or stationary vehicle. One of the requirements is to be able to move across multiple wireless networks. There are several vendors that offer such technology, like the Cisco 3200 Mobile Access Router. Even though we have a fairly good idea of what needs to be done, we are experiencing difficulty in finding good examples of other implementations of this kind. Sure, there is Seal Beach, Buffalo Grove, Lufthansa and others, but they are more sales-pitches than in-depth white papers. Security is, naturally, of great concern to us. However, due to funding constraints we are planning to use the publicly available 802.11x for the most part, use EAP or Cisco's LEAP and a RADIUS server for authentication, along with TKIP for encryption (aka WPA). Has anyone dealt with a wireless network of this type? If so what were some of your challenges and what are your recommendations for implementation?"
Check out Pebble Linux which has mesh support as well as secure login. It is developed by the NYC wireless guys and was featured in the Linux Journal (Sep. 2003 Issue).
http://www.netmotionwireless.com they make a "roamable vpn" that has a lot of public safety uptake. I used to work for a CDPD/GPRS vendor and we had a lot of success with these guys. They used to be part of WRQ.
.-=Wit is educated insolence=-. -Aristotle
Why would you build out an entire network for Public Safety and use 802.11x?!. Go with a Wireless Telecom that specializes in Public Safety that use Edge (ATT Wireless) or 1xRTT. (Verizon). Edge is faster and has larger coverage area, but you need to check your location and see what fits you best.
I recommend using a dual Edge/802.11 pc-cards, for mobiles. Buy a dedicated connection (VPN/etc) to a telecom for Edge, and use 802.11 for hot spots. Most telecoms will also assist you in 802.11x setup, so you can switch easily between networks. The only thing you have to support is the Radius server for authentication. Everything else is outsourced to the Telecom. They can also assist in establishing VoIP and give you additional savings for local public offices.
While technology can save money, you have to weigh the man power required to run it. And with IT/IS departments being understaffed in local government offices, you might want to outsource, the network piece, and just run the server/back end piece locally.
Issue Nextel phones to your field crew and hire a dispatcher for $6/hr. It's cheap, works great (better than 802.11 anyway) and it gives some poor girl a job.
Don't be a techno schmuck!