GSM network at 28C3
Hi all, I wanted to write this mail earlier, but somehow didn't get around to. MAny people have been assuming that there again will be a GSM network at the 28C3 conference in late december. However, given the large amount of work that was involved in the GSM network at the camp this summer, I have decided that I want to pull out a bit of this network operation. This means that I hope there will be some other project members that will step up to make it happen again. I've already applied for the regulatory license some 4 weeks ago (no response yet, but I doubt there will be any problems). So that should be OK (6 ARFCN, GSM 1800, 200mW each, indoor). The BTSs have always come from a quite large number of individuals and companies, and I'm sure we will be able to pool them together again. Whoever is able to provide a GSM1800 nanoBTS during the event should probably add themselves (and the number of BTS) to the following wiki page: http://openbsc.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/FieldTests/28c3 The BTSs will have to be available from at least 23rd of december to 31st december. Likely they'll be unmounted on 30th night, but nobody can guarantee that. What needs to be done: * BTS physical installation, patching + PoE This is typically done on dec 24 or 25, depends a bit when roh is doing the patching and when the house technicians lift up the big cross beam in the main hall * configuring osmo-nitb + LCR to connect with the POC, do some testing This again involves getting some physical E1 line from/to the PoC patched, and when the POC is available for configuring their side of the link * programming of SIM cards we have some 100 to 150 left-over 16in1 sim cards from the camp, but sysmocom will soon receive 1000 sysmoSIM' cards. Those cards store only one IMSI (not 16), but are otherwise much more flexible in terms of programming. You can create any file (DF/EF) and put any content inside, even files not specified in TS 11.11. The cards will need to be programmed (simple, quick). sysmocom will take care they are of that. * selling of SIM cards In the past, this has been done by the POC. However, there has been some discontempt with the fact that they get all the user questions and cannot do anything regarding GSM, and also they never got any share of the money (not that we made huge profits on it anyway). So I'd suggest to involve the POC more in the network, give them telnet access to the BSC so they can try to anlyze problems themselves, and maybe see if (at least in the beginning) one of the OpenBSC project members could spend some time at the POC desk to help with SIM card sales and user questions * putting together a publik wiki page (mostly copy+paste from last year) * Testing of newer BTSs. Both Fairwaves as well as sysmocom are develoing some new BTSs. We probably don't want them operational during all of the event, the network should run on nanoBTS. But when we feel like doing a test, we will shut down one nanoBTS and start up one of the new BTS models and check for bugs / performance. All in all, I will not be gone completely from the even GSM network but still be around and willing to help if some nasty problem needs to be debugged. And thanks at this point for the kind help of Peter Stuge and Khorben for helping with GSM @ the camp, as well as the POC for the SIM card sales in past years! [please make sure to keep the Cc list of this mail, as I don't think the POC guys are on the openbsc list...] Regards, Harald -- - Harald Welte <laforge@gnumonks.org> http://laforge.gnumonks.org/ ============================================================================ "Privacy in residential applications is a desirable marketing option." (ETSI EN 300 175-7 Ch. A6)
Harald Welte wrote:
This means that I hope there will be some other project members that will step up to make it happen again.
hi harald, me and a friend will arrive on day 0 (december 26th). we can help to setup the network and test it. additionally we can set up a mobile helpdesk for selling (programming) SIM cards and answering questions. i try to get tables and seats close to the POC again. therefore i would appreciate to get in contact with the orga. regards, andreas p.s. since the gym is not open on day 0, we're still looking for a place to stay for the night. (in case there is something left of that night...:)
Hi, I have two rugby 1800 (that can be put as multi-trx) and by then I should also have two Nokia E1 units. Since I'm not local I'd have to ship them to someone before the event and ship them back after. So not the most practical solution but at least if there isn't enough "local" BTS, they're available. I'm only getting to Berlin on Day 0 in the early afternoon (landing at TXL at 1115 + a good 1h30 for TXL->Hotel->BCC). I can help with whatever if left to do when I get there (config / cabling / whatever) And I'd be happy to help test / debug the newer BTS models during the event and also help track down bug as they happen :) wrt to the Wiki: I didn't find how to create an account ... maybe it's not enabled yet. Cheers, Sylvain
Hi! On Thu, 2011-11-10 at 15:07 +0100, Harald Welte wrote:
What needs to be done:
* BTS physical installation, patching + PoE This is typically done on dec 24 or 25, depends a bit when roh is doing the patching and when the house technicians lift up the big cross beam in the main hall * configuring osmo-nitb + LCR to connect with the POC, do some testing This again involves getting some physical E1 line from/to the PoC patched, and when the POC is available for configuring their side of the link
I could arrive around 10 am on the 25th and help with that. If that's not needed, I'd arrive on the 26th.
* programming of SIM cards we have some 100 to 150 left-over 16in1 sim cards from the camp, but sysmocom will soon receive 1000 sysmoSIM' cards. Those cards store only one IMSI (not 16), but are otherwise much more flexible in terms of programming. You can create any file (DF/EF) and put any content inside, even files not specified in TS 11.11. The cards will need to be programmed (simple, quick). sysmocom will take care they are of that.
You mean they will already be programmed? Otherwise I'd have no problem with handling that like at the Camp.
* selling of SIM cards In the past, this has been done by the POC. However, there has been some discontempt with the fact that they get all the user questions and cannot do anything regarding GSM, and also they never got any share of the money (not that we made huge profits on it anyway).
So I'd suggest to involve the POC more in the network, give them telnet access to the BSC so they can try to anlyze problems themselves, and maybe see if (at least in the beginning) one of the OpenBSC project members could spend some time at the POC desk to help with SIM card sales and user questions
At least for some shifts I'd be willing to handle this.
* putting together a publik wiki page (mostly copy+paste from last year)
I've adjusted the page from last year and stored it in the OpenBSC wiki as the Congress wiki is not open yet. http://openbsc.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/FieldTests/28c3/CongressWiki Regards, Jan
Harald Welte wrote:
* BTS physical installation, patching + PoE This is typically done on dec 24 or 25
I don't know if I will be in Berlin 24-25, if yes then I will help with installation.
* configuring osmo-nitb + LCR to connect with the POC, do some testing This again involves getting some physical E1 line from/to the PoC patched, and when the POC is available for configuring their side of the link
I'll help with this too. I expect POC will be well prepared and early on site at c3 like they were at camp, and I think it's critical for our credibility at POC, with the organizers and ultimately with our network users that we set up MOC in parallel. The lesson learned at camp is that it is really key to execute setup earlier than neccessary. Day 0 is *much* too late. If we can not be on site 24 and 25 then we need to prepare and test setup before the 24th.
* selling of SIM cards In the past, this has been done by the POC. However, there has been some discontempt with the fact that they get all the user questions and cannot do anything regarding GSM, and also they never got any share of the money (not that we made huge profits on it anyway).
POC feedback at camp was fairly clear; they're happy to sell SIM cards as long as the network is stable, so that they do not get swamped with mobile questions for which they have no answers and no way to find information. As for sharing profit, I think that it's only fair to contribute to the POC coffee fund with some money left over from SIM sales.
So I'd suggest to involve the POC more in the network, give them telnet access to the BSC so they can try to anlyze problems themselves,
I don't mind giving POC access, but this assumes that POC has interest in OpenBSC, which I don't think is so wise. Not that POC can not or will not have interest, but it's not good to depend on that, and they would also be starting nearly from scratch learning about OpenBSC, which is not the position you want to be in as helpdesk staff.
and maybe see if (at least in the beginning) one of the OpenBSC project members could spend some time at the POC desk to help with SIM card sales and user questions
I disagree. Either we have MOC and POC at the same table, or we decide that MOC will have no public helpdesk at all, and we arrange a private channel for the POC helpdesk to talk to second level MOC staff. A dedicated MOC helpdesk is of course hugely preferable for network users. It is not so easy to decide on what to do in this situation. I think many of the candidates for cluey MOC staff are looking forward to doing development work together during the congress, rather than doing operations. I think the two are nearly mutually exclusive.. //Peter
On 11/10/2011 03:07 PM, Harald Welte wrote:
Hi all,
The BTSs have always come from a quite large number of individuals and companies, and I'm sure we will be able to pool them together again. Whoever is able to provide a GSM1800 nanoBTS during the event should probably add themselves (and the number of BTS) to the following wiki page: http://openbsc.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/FieldTests/28c3
Hi all, we have had some volunteers. I would propose to introduce some more clear responsibilities to avoid a bad surprise on ground: - Who will handle the communication toward the POC, show them how to monitor/access the system, make sure we 'staff' user support? Like now and once we are at the venue? - Who will be picking up equipment and return it (nanoBTS, ask harald for his netgear PoE switches, patch cable, locks), emphasis is in properly returning the equipment, but probably also equipment for the radio room itself. Do we have the radio room? - Who will handle the communication toward the NOC/roh to get our GSM network patched up properly. This might require being at the venue on the 24th/25th. - Radio Room/Door Control, do we have the radio room? Who wants to makes sure we have the key(s) in time? Responsibility will be also to lock the room he/she leaves.. make sure it is never empty. should we have other tasks, anyone wants to step up? holger
Holger Hans Peter Freyther wrote:
- Who will handle the communication toward the POC, show them how to monitor/access the system, make sure we 'staff' user support? Like now and once we are at the venue?
hi holger, since i plan to setup a "MOC" with tables and seats close to the POC, i can handle the communication toward the POC. regards, andreas
participants (7)
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Andreas Eversberg -
Harald Welte -
Holger Hans Peter Freyther -
Jan Lübbe -
jolly
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Peter Stuge -
Sylvain Munaut