Wakenet

Wakenet was formed on December 2004 by John Kingsley and Pablo Sanchez.

Before Wakenet

In spring 2004, John Kingsley, Dick Dillon and Pablo Sanchez created the initial wireless network which comprises Wakenet's main backbone. The network was implemented in only two months: from idea and initial site survey to implementation. The network has been running ever since.

Sadly, Dick passed away in July, 2004. Our fondest memory is seeing Dick's face light up as he compared the previous day's download via dial-up against the wireless download.

Timeline

As mentioned above, it took us only two months to get the wireless network running and it's been running ever since. Below are some key milestones:

June 2003 - Pablo moves to the Wakefield area after living in a rural community which had implemented high-speed wireless Internet. Prior to moving into the area, Pablo finds out through Dick that John Lomoro and David Nobbs are planning on implementing wireless Internet (now COOP Source Internet) and joins the group. Implementation dates are fluid though with no concrete plans to provide service in his area.
End of January 2004 - DSL arrives in Wakefield. With DSL, Pablo mentions to the COOP leaders this is how wireless connectivity can quickly be brought online. Unfortunately, this was not in the COOP's game plan. Undeterred, Pablo decides to implement his own wireless Internet.
Early Febuary 2004 - Pablo's home (in rural Wakefield) has a seven degree view into Wakefield. The key is to find a home in Wakefield which qualifies for DSL and bring the connection to Pablo's home via a wireless link. Given this, Pablo drives around at night flashing his headlights (laptop with topographical software and a GPS, cell phone, walkie-talkie, etc) while pointing the vehicle toward his home. At his home, his wife (Jenny) watches with binoculars. The first DSL home is identified - we're glad they didn't call the police!
Febuary 18th, 2004 - Pablo e-mails Dick on his night/day site surveying escapades. Dick decides to join what Pablo is doing; helping with shopping trips to Ottawa and other key logistical support.
March 3rd, 2004 - Pablo contacts Radialink on possible wireless solutions. They agree to loan him wireless equipment for testing. This is extremely generous since one cannot buy equipment, test it and if it doesn't work, return it.
March 4th, 2004 - Pablo approaches the identified DSL home owner. Amazingly she didn't sic her vicious (just kidding!) poodles after him!; they agree to share a DSL connection with them!!! The DSL home orders DSL and get it installed. Pre-Wakenet pays for the installation and the monthly fees.
March 7th, 2004 - John Kingsley joins the team bringing his technical prowess along with his superb mechanical inclination!
March 16th, 2004 - First wireless test over 3 KM is successful followed by more and more testing to ensure success!
April 3rd - The wireless equipement is installed at the DSL home.
April 17th/18th - Install wireless equipment at Dick's and Pablo's - they're live! John's installation follows later in the week. Four homes sharing a single DSL connection!!!
End of July, 2004 - Second DSL home identified. The first house is 6 KM from the Central Office (CO) which limits the DSL speeds. The original DSL home becomes the wireless network's backup connection (secondary DSL connection) and the second DSL home becomes the primary DSL connection. The new primary home has outstanding practical speeds: 2.5 Mbps downloads and 700+ Kbps uploads. Because the primary DSL connection is faster than theirs, the secondary DSL connetion home uses the primary as their Internet connection. The secondary DSL connection becomes Wakenet's backup connection.
December, 2004 - Wakenet becomes a legal entity.