README.md

Towers of Power 2018: Development and Infrastructure

In NYC we take our cellphone and wifi signals for granted. Its always on and we are always connected. This not the case for 2 billion people who lack affordable communication and 700 Million people who have no coverage at all. New technologies are democratizing communications infrastructure; Software defined radios, lowered hardware pricing and open source solutions have made it possible to install low cost infrastructure that can be controlled by communities instead of multinational corporations.

In this class you learn how to create your own communications networks. We will cover the software, and hardware used today in community based cellular networks in Mexico and Nicaragua, as well the DIY infrastructure solutions data networks. We will also delve into the business of international development through guest speakers working in the development or telecommunications fields.

Class Dates

0. March 21 CANCELED
1. March 28
2. April 4
3. April 11
4. April 18 CANCELED 4A. April 25
5. May 2
6. May 7 - MONDAY 5:00 - 7:30PM - 60 5th Ave RM 446 (Conference Room)
7. FINAL May 14 - MONDAY 4:00-7:00 PM - 60 5th Ave RM 446 (Conference Room)

Office Hours

I will be available for office hours by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesdays. Book Appointments on my Google Calander, or email ([email protected] ) if those times do not work.

Bill of Materials

1. Raspberry Pi
2. RTL-SDR (Optional)
3. Built to Last by Jim Collins
4. Mikrotik Router (Optional)
5. Ubiquiti AP (Optional)

Syllabus

Week 1

Introduction to Towers of Power

• Student Introductions: an ITP tradition!
• Syllabus and expectations
• History of SayCel
• Basic of GSM Infrastructure
• Basic Terminal Workshop https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vC4GRdBTGGHK3SpnnhADtaiHsZ4400bR32sulqZbREQ/edit#slide=id.g34324c9b55_0_174
• Virtual Private Networks (VPN) - Why it’s important and why we use it.

Homework:

1. Get Raspberry Pi + RTL-SDR
2. Install PNK on your Raspberry Pi
3. Connect your Pi to OpenVPN (https://github.com/saycel/towers-of-power/tree/2018/openvpn)
4. Find the IMSI and IMEI number for your phone/account. Write a blog post explaining how you found your IMSI/IMEI number.
5. Optional: history of internet infrastructure

Week 2

Building a GSM Network from scratch. An overview of software to hardware.

• Open Source Cellular History, Software and Hardware
• Tower Installations, maintenance and concerns.
• Getting Hardware to speak GSM + AT Commands

Homework:

1. Read Built to Last by Jim Collins Chapters 1 & 2. Write a blog post about the reading.
2. Prep for guests:

Rhizomatica

• [Peter Bloom Bio] (https://www.rhizomatica.org/team/peter-bloom/)

• Community Mobile Telephony Manual

• BBC report: Rhizomatica

Resilient Communities

The History of Resilient Communities Project

• https://nextcity.org/features/view/internet-connection-mesh-networks-resilience

• http://meetingoftheminds.org/building-towards-resiliency-healthy-digital-ecosystems-21344

• Raul Enrique Bio

Digital Equity Lab

• Greta Byrum Bio

• Digital Equity Lab @ New School

Optional - Please Review

• Community Technology Field Guide

• WIRELESS NETWORKING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD A very technical guide about wireless networks.

Cool Stuff

Old School Videos about Radio Waves

• Antenna Fundametals 1
• Antenna Fundametals 2

Other projects

• Dhruv Mehrotra: Satellite Sounds,
• Surya Mattu: SDR 101 + Analog TV

Week 3

Community Networks Speakers and Portable Network Kits

Guest Speaker: Peter Bloom, Rhizomatica

Guest Speaker: Greta Byrum, Digital Equity Laboratory @ The New School

Guest Speaker: Raul Enrique, Resilient Communities

Homework:

1. Start thinking about your final project - Come up with an initial idea of a community porblem that could be solved using communications solution. Can be a local problem, or a problem in a developing region. It can be eviornmental or social. Write a blog post, and we will go over this in the next class.

2. Do one of the following assignments below (you may work in groups):

• Use GSM Board, AT Commands, or Text messages to prototype a application.
• Make a PNK. Install P5. Make a sketch to run on wifi network. Both of these assignements are meant to start thinking about your final, and how an application can be used in community network context.

3. Read Built to Last by Jim Collins Chapters 3 & 4. Write a blog post about the reading.

Week 4

• Final Project Expectations
  • Previous Finals
• Review Homework
  • Prototype and Finals Ideas

Guest Dhruv Mehrotra | Engineer - Artists - Digital Investigator | Othernet

• RTL-SDR - Brief review of RTL-SDR and what can be done with it!
  • Satellite Sounds
  • Airplane Tracking
  • FCC Licenses - FCC-licenses-near.me

Homework (you may work in groups):

1. Define your groups and final Project
2. Write a brief synopsis of the project.
3. Read Built to Last by Jim Collins Chapters 5 & 6. Write a blog post about the reading.
4. Complete a Business Model Canvas for your Final Project: https://strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas

Week 5

Business

Homework (you may work in groups):

Work on your final! Your final will be a pitch to potential investors about a location you want to install a cellular network, a product that uses the GSM spectrum, or telephony service. Your project should be useable in developing communities and you should have an understanding of the background of the region or people your service or product would target.

For next week you will present the class with a prototype in order to beta test and allow us to provide constructive criticism. The prototype can be a simple paper prototype or a complex system. The objective is to have a clear understanding of the product or service. In addition to your prototype prepare your inital pitch.

Week 6

Prototype Workshop

• Present your prototype.
• Present your initial pitch.

Week 7

Final Presentations / Pitch your Project