Lawrence Free Internet
THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL
It started out of disappointment which quickly became dismay about the lack of available internet access in New Zealand. We started to question why New Zealand didn’t have internet available in cafes and public spaces the way we were used to in other parts of the world. We had recently returned to New Zealand after living overseas for a number of years. We are both self employed, Frank as a tree consultant and myself as a copy writer, so the internet is critical for us to keep in touch with clients and with the world generally. Of course we installed broadband at home but we thought about all the people travelling through Lawrence with the same need to stay in touch. We looked up and down Ross Place, the single main street of Lawrence, and asked ourselves “How hard could it be?” So we asked Julie Pearse, District Development Manager of the Clutha District Council, the same question and she said “I know just who you should talk to” and gave us some names. So we talked. First we talked to Jim Robertson and Brad Houghton, the visionary owners of Tuapeka Gold Print. Jim and Brad are enthusiasm personified along with having a determination to get things done, especially when it comes to Lawrence. Inspired by their positive response we talked to Murray Paterson owner of Scorch Otago. Murray then introduced us to Travis Baird, magician of all things technical. We asked Murray if livening up Ross Place was possible and he said “Anything is possible” and gave us a quote that also made it feasible. Then we went back to Jim and Brad and they backed up their enthusiasm with real dollar support – both from Tuapeka Gold Print and from Jim himself. Next Scorch put in towers near Lawrence that beamed the necessary signals into Lawrence. Once these were in place two nano-stations were put up along Ross Place itself. One at Fox’s Auto Service where Brian agreed to install a box and pay the estimated $60 of electricity per year to run the station; and one at the other end of the street where the owner, Frank McKean, agreed to having a box installed and we covered the electricity for the first year. The boxes were fitted and we tested the system. It turned out to be a bit patchy. Lawrence has some wonderful historic buildings with thick walls that made it hard for the signal to reach into all the corners. We went back to Jim and Brad and Murray and they all agreed the best plan was to install a couple more stations, this time on either side of the street so we had four beaming in a giant cross. At first this seemed to scramble everything but Travis did his magic and then it worked!
We wanted the wireless internet to help Lawrence businesses by promoting Lawrence as a great place to spend some time, have a coffee, a meal, check email…. And also to promote all the great things Lawrence has to offer visitors – its gold mining history, its shops, its information centre and museum, Gabriel’s Gully. And we wanted local businesses to have a chance to advertise on the web to benefit their businesses and provide ongoing financial support for the project. This way our sponsors wouldn’t be left with a never ending drain on their pockets. Murray Paterson had told us the initial connection would open into a “splash page” where we could showcase Lawrence. From here people would have a choice about where to navigate and we wanted the first choice to be the Lawrence Community website. So we went to see Turboweb, a Dunedin company offering website design and support. Like everyone else we had spoken to Bob and Paul and Aaron were enthusiastic and supportive, in fact they offered us a lot of their time and expertise for free to get the site and the splash page up and running.
So, through a great deal of good will, all kinds of support, good old fashioned kiwi ingenuity and can do attitude, and a simple idea that was born at the right time, Lawrence has become the first town that we know of in New Zealand to offer absolutely free wireless internet to both visitors and locals alike. The coverage was aimed at Ross Place and this has been exceeded!
PHASE TWO
Thanks to Jim’s son Pat who proves that vision runs in the Robertson family, along with the support of the Lawrence Community Company and the enthusiasm of local café owners, Lawrence now has computers available for public use in The Wild Walnut, The Lemon Tree, Gabriel’s Café and Bar, The Coffee Mine and the Lawrence Information Centre so visitors without laptops can also access the free internet.PHASE THREE.......WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
Pat’s latest brilliant idea has been launched in the Lawrence Information Centre and Museum. FREE TOLL CALLS to 44 countries around the world. Stop in and call your family and friends for FREE. Call it our gift to you for taking the time to come and visit. And we hope that while you are here you’ll visit the museum, spend time in our great cafes and shops, and of course take a walk in Gabriel’s Gully where Gabriel Reid sparked the New Zealand gold rush in 1861. It was Gabriel and his gold that took a little muddy coastal settlement and catapulted it into a thriving metropolis. Dunedin City - built on Lawrence gold.Lawrence, the little town where big things start!
For more details contact:Nina Arron or Frank Buddingh'
Tel: 64-3-485-9231
Email:
nina@arronwords.com
frank@buddinghtree.com
How We Did It:
A recipe for community free wireless internet projects
“Anything is possible"
Murray Paterson, Scorch Communications Dunedin
Ingredients:
Broadband provider - 1
Nanon stations - 2 or more sites. Must have access to electricity
Website company - 1 to provide a “splash page” and
community website for internet users to view when logging on
Money to cover set up and ongoing costs (estimated for Lawrence to have been roughly $3,000.00 plus ongoing monthly costs of less than $100.00).
NOTE: this will vary hugely from place to place, so don't take our word for it; do your own budget.
Promotional materials – signs, stickers etc
.
Optional: public computers for visitors without laptops
Process
» Decide on your area of coverage. The nano stations we used had 500 metres range in a straight unobstructed line. We started with two stations, one at either end of the street and expanded it with another one from either side so we have an uneven giant cross. This helped overcome problems of low signal inside some of the thick walled historic buildings we have in Lawrence.
» Identify possible blocks to coverage – hills, corners, thick walls.
» Identify possible nano station sites. Remember, these require access to electricity – we were quoted usage of less than $60 per year.
» Discuss findings with your chosen broadband provider to fine tune number and location of stations.
» Get permission from property owners for placement of stations
» Get quote for installation of stations plus the ongoing monthly charge. The company we used gives us unlimited use and no hidden charges.
» Talk to your website designers about the splash page and possible community website. Get a quote.
» Find the money.
» Set stations in place
» Take a laptop, walk around your target coverage area and test reception.
» Get the splash page and website in place.
» Promote the service.
Our suppliers:
Scorch Communications – Dunedin. Tel: 0800 SCORCH (0800 726 724)
Turboweb – Dunedin. Tel: 03 474-5953
Tuapeka Gold Print – Lawrence. Tel: 03 485-9210
Our key supporters and funders:
Jim Robertson - TGP
Lawrence/Tuapeka Community Board
Brad Houghton - TGP
Pat Robertson - TGP
Julie Pearse – Clutha District Council
Fox’s Auto Services
Tuapeka Hardware
Frank McKean
Romane Family
Tuapeka Lawrence Community Company
Lawrence Museum
After getting the wireless internet running you can purchase computers with wireless cards and sell/rent these to local businesses to make available to patrons.
For more details contact: Nina Arron or Frank Buddingh'
Tel: 64-3-485-9231
Email:
nina@arronwords.com.com
frank@buddinghtree.com