The ICTP-UNESCO Wireless Training Kit

1. WTKit.org The ICTP-UNESCO Wireless Training Kit • Materials for training tomorrow’s wireless trainers R.Flickenger, E.Pietrosemoli, M.Zennaro, C.Fonda, S.M.Radicella

2. UNESCOandICTP • The kit has been funded entirely by UNESCO and will be released under an open license. • The kit is being developed by the Aeronomy and Radiopropagation Lab of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP-ARPL), with the collaboration of a team of international experts in training on low-cost wireless networking technologies. • The kit has received the support of ITU/BDT.

3. A training kit in-a-box • It includes all equipment and materials needed to hold a wireless training workshop. • A set of e-Books, teaching material (slideshows, guides and exercises), WiFi devices, antennas and other hardware are provided, ready to be used for a comprehensive training course. • It ensures compatibility and consistency in teaching methods, empowering both the trainers and the trainees.

4. Money money money • Estimated cost (hardware): 1000 €/kit. • A “soft” version of the kit (without hardware) will be available on the web for free download. • The hardware may be possibly purchased locally or produced & distributed by third parties.

5. WTKit hardware • Hardware included in the kit: • Low-cost, modern WiFi devices • Inexpensive survey equipment • Directive and omni antennas • Cables and adapters included

6. USB Spectrum Analyzer WiFi devices (AP&client) 2.4GHz Antennas

7. Spectrum Analysis • AirView USB spectrum analyzer • 2.4 GHz signal source (“video sender”) • Reference 2.4 GHz antennas • Useful for demonstrating interference and long distance antenna alignment and for performing antenna gain measurements

8. APs and clients • Off-the-shelf WiFi equipment, worldwide available (average cost is <50€ in Europe). • Fully 802.11b/g standard compliant (with a proprietary protocol for long-distance links). • Very small (13.6 x 2.0 x 3.9 cm,, 100g), still quite powerful and versatile.

9. Reference • Training materials for students: slideshows (lecture notes and guides), guides and exercises for hands-on lab activities • Training materials for teachers: video examples of lectures and teacher’s guides • Copies of the books Wireless Networking in the Developing World (printed and PDF) • The WNDW book is available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Indonesian (see: http://wndw.net )

10. SLIDE NOTES

11. Exercise Teacher’s Guide

13. Video lectures on DVD

14. DEMO (3’30” excerpt from a 20’ video lecture)

15. Typical course curricula • Two possible curricula: 5 days and 10 days. • The short course makes use of the 5 afternoons for lab exercises; the goal is to provide a general overview of wireless networking technologies. • The longer course has more time for hands-on exercises on all topics, including problem-solving sessions to design and discuss wireless networks in different scenarios. One or more days can be fully devoted to field activities, if requested.

16. Programme - day 1 DAY 1 - Topic: Radio physics and antennas LECTURES: • - An introduction to wireless data networking (30’) • - Radio physics (45’) • - Working with decibels (30’) • - Antennas and transmission lines (45’) • - A comparison of unlicensed spectrum use by different devices (30’) EXERCISES: • - Initial test of participant background (15’) • - Experiments with spectrum analyzer and video sender (60’) • - Making of a small reflector for your AP with aluminum foil (60’) • - Simple measurement on antennas (90’)

17. Programme - day 2 DAY 2 - Topic: Wireless networking LECTURES: • - Introduction to 802.11 Wi-Fi (90’) • - Configuring access points and clients (90’) EXERCISES: • - Basic configuration of access points and clients (60’) • - Setup of a complex wireless network with multiple hops (120’) • - Written exercise: documentation of the network deployment (60’)

18. Programme - day 3 DAY 3 - Topic: Link budget and planning, site survey LECTURES: • - Link budget calculation (60’) • - Using the Radio Mobile link planning software (45’) • - Planning a wireless network (60’) • - Site survey techniques (45’) EXERCISES: • - Link budget calculation with Radio Mobile (90’) • - Planning and deploying a Wireless Network (90’)

19. Programme - day 4 DAY 4 - Topic: Outdoor installation and long distance links LECTURES: • - Physical installation and power over Ethernet (45’) • - Grounding and lightning protection (60’) • - Engineering long distance wireless links (45’) • - Solar and wind power (60’) EXERCISES: • - Configuration of AP for long distance (15’) • - Example of a site survey (60’) • - Deployment of an outdoor link (90’) • - Written exercise: planning a solar power system (45’)

20. Programme - day 5 DAY 5 - Topic: Security and monitoring, regulations LECTURES: • - Wireless security (90’) • - Network monitoring tools (45’) • - Spectrum management and regulatory issues (45’) EXERCISES: • - Security test of a wireless networks (90’) • - Case studies by participants (60’) • - Final discussion and review (60’)

21. Logistic aspects • A short or long course can be held by two trainers with one WTK set (for an audience of up to 20 participants, divided in two groups during lab activities). A larger audience can be trained using two or more WTK sets. • The availability of a lab space with computer facilities (desktop PCs and one/two laptops, with Windows(TM) or GNU/Linux) is also needed. • A website/wiki template is part of the WTK, with all relevant information for the courses.

22. WTKit.org • http://WTKit.org • http://wireless.ictp.it • http://wndw.net • http://wirelessU.org • http://unesco.org • http://www.ictp.it • http://itu.int

23. Field engineer editor-in-chief WTKit team meeting Thank you for your attention! Italian mafia the African paparazzi