Though the activity on the website was a bit lax, that didn’t mean that TwiFi was laying back and resting on its laurels. A tremendous amount of accomplishment by Cleveland’s ONLY community WiFi network has been achieved since launching the new website this February. This post will try to summarize it all.

Be sure to check the site out regularly for an upcoming open community meeting to get details and see if you can help.

First, many thanks to everybody that has donated to the Community Wireless Network National Summit fund-raiser. Steve was able to attend this, only the second summit for the leaders in CWN (community wireless networks). If you have not received a thank you (with tax-deductible acknowledgment) contact Steve.

Also, thanks goes to Adam Harvey of Organic/Mechanic and Tremonter fame, for designing our new website. The plan is to acknowledge those that have helped up financially or with equipment on the “How to Help” Section. Anonymity will be maintained upon request.

Now on to the accomplishments:

• The beginning of the year started right with Ohio.net becoming a sponsor of TwiFi by donating two free DSL broadband internet connections.
• As much as the CWN-II fund-raiser brought in, it was our new partner, Ohio Community Computing Network (OCCN) in Columbus that clinched the trip in late March early April. With Cleveland Digital Vision as the “network weaver” OCCN paid for the rental car, gas, and lodging for Steve. Specific thanks to CDV Director Bill Callahan and OCCN Director Angela Stuber.
• At CWN-II, TwiFi established partnerships with Metrix Communications of Seattle. Metrix is giving TWifi special pricing on the equipment for mesh networks. Metrix was formed by the founders of SeattleWireless and the developers of NoCat, Matt Westervelt and Rob Flickinger. Also NYCWireless promised server space for TwiFi to try out the new open source mesh software WifiDog developed in Montreal as well for NYCW’s Exec Dir Dana Spiegel’s Wifi Thankyou.
• New TwiFi hotspots since the new year:
  • Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Center on W 14th St accepted one of the Ohio.net dsl connections and donated their own wifi router/AP to serve the surrounding galleries, stores, and restaurants. It fits with the desire of Jewel Heart to serve the community and perhaps relieve a little suffering.
  • The first residential broadband share is TWifi group leader himself. Wanting to set an example for others, Steve’s neighbors now enjoy free access on Thurman with his AP SSID “TwiFi Central”.
  • Just this past week, Rocco of Fahrenheit opened up one of his access points and agreed to be part of the TwiFi family.
• TwiFi has been a member almost since it formed of Cleveland Digital Vision and this year has been elected to the CDV board. Steve will hold the seat as TwiFi’s representative.

That pretty much wraps up the highlights. There is more coming, so stay tuned.