For those who are unaware what a pirate box is, it is a...
"DIY anonymous offline file-sharing and communications system built with free software and inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware."
These little repurposed routers are lightweight systems which make a wifi network in their vecinity and offer web services such as chat and access to files / leaving files. They can be left as a deaddrop in which they stay at a location and anyone in the area has access to them, Or there are ones people keep in their bag and are only available when they are near.
They are a very unique diverge in the cloud based thinking that usually follows this day and age, Instead of trying to keep everything syncing and updated all the time, these ones are updated manually by the users and as such a more personal content and localized experience.
The default setup leaves you with a pocket router with a usb stick coming out the side (i usually suggest 16-32gb at least if you're wanting more people to be interested, as more content). From there when powered makes a open wifi network which openly advertises that it is available to join. When joined you are prompted by your browser (by the same method that they do browser based authentication in hotels or open wifi at coffee shops) and offers you a chat and a bit of a explanation of the piratebox.
From this step once it is setup, it is very easily modifiable via either ssh'ing into the box itself when connected. Or by modifying the files on usb, (but be careful not to modify the file system on it or you might render it corrupted for the router to read.
The hardware itself (my version being the tp-link Tl-MR-3020) is around $30 cad, and and with the usb on sale (suggest usb 3.0 for transfer speeds) can leave you in the $50-60 range for all the parts. Or if you are thrifty, way less than that.
Tplink- 3020 ( Newegg Ebay Amazon)
( I suggest this one as it works either version you get, so no extra hassle)
There are other models that can be made into it, but as I currently don't hold them, and am not currently working on my raspberry pi version, sticking with the tplink-3020 for now.
Other items you will need are a ethernet cable, a usb b cable for powering the router (both of which probably came in the router box you ordered) And a five volt usb power supply if you are wanting this to be a dead drop or take it on the go with you.
Now I could go through and write out the instructions myself, but the download links and the instructions for basic installation are very well articulated, and easy to understand so hence I offer you this large link for downloads and installation.
Probably wondering where this ties in with ar gaming at this point. In previous experience one of the issues once you start getting events and large groups together for said events, It suddenly becomes a lot harder to disceminate information around the group, especially when you have different teams or factions in the case of PokemonGo And Ingress.
With a pirate box you could have one setup for each faction and then have a local chat and by altering the html pages on the usb stick of your piratebox, you can easily set it up so it has instructions specific to your team. Wanting to make it so only those in your team can use it? Tweet out the wifi password to your group and then only those there have physical access to the data.
Our pokemonGo group has been experimenting with the ex raids to have an infographic of the pokemon that are strong against the legendary and what movesets to be trying for in your team. Still only in beta, but we are working on more features as well.
The point of all this being with the file sharing capabilities you can have notices and info on site and can even leave while you arrange more. And with the ease of changing the information on said piratebox by switching the site on it via the usb drive, makes it easily usable for multiple situations. As well as the persistant forum/image board software that is onboard you can leave messages for one another. And with it being both simply a wifi point and websites, it does not matter which platform you access it by, whethere it be phone/tablet/computer, ios/android/blackberry?(is that still a thing?)
One standard 5k mAh usb power supply runs it easily for 24 hr, dependant upon how many people are connected at one time.
Thanks for reading
Balloonicorn out.
"DIY anonymous offline file-sharing and communications system built with free software and inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware."
They are a very unique diverge in the cloud based thinking that usually follows this day and age, Instead of trying to keep everything syncing and updated all the time, these ones are updated manually by the users and as such a more personal content and localized experience.
The default setup leaves you with a pocket router with a usb stick coming out the side (i usually suggest 16-32gb at least if you're wanting more people to be interested, as more content). From there when powered makes a open wifi network which openly advertises that it is available to join. When joined you are prompted by your browser (by the same method that they do browser based authentication in hotels or open wifi at coffee shops) and offers you a chat and a bit of a explanation of the piratebox.
From this step once it is setup, it is very easily modifiable via either ssh'ing into the box itself when connected. Or by modifying the files on usb, (but be careful not to modify the file system on it or you might render it corrupted for the router to read.
The hardware itself (my version being the tp-link Tl-MR-3020) is around $30 cad, and and with the usb on sale (suggest usb 3.0 for transfer speeds) can leave you in the $50-60 range for all the parts. Or if you are thrifty, way less than that.
Tplink- 3020 ( Newegg Ebay Amazon)
( I suggest this one as it works either version you get, so no extra hassle)
There are other models that can be made into it, but as I currently don't hold them, and am not currently working on my raspberry pi version, sticking with the tplink-3020 for now.
Other items you will need are a ethernet cable, a usb b cable for powering the router (both of which probably came in the router box you ordered) And a five volt usb power supply if you are wanting this to be a dead drop or take it on the go with you.
Now I could go through and write out the instructions myself, but the download links and the instructions for basic installation are very well articulated, and easy to understand so hence I offer you this large link for downloads and installation.
Probably wondering where this ties in with ar gaming at this point. In previous experience one of the issues once you start getting events and large groups together for said events, It suddenly becomes a lot harder to disceminate information around the group, especially when you have different teams or factions in the case of PokemonGo And Ingress.
With a pirate box you could have one setup for each faction and then have a local chat and by altering the html pages on the usb stick of your piratebox, you can easily set it up so it has instructions specific to your team. Wanting to make it so only those in your team can use it? Tweet out the wifi password to your group and then only those there have physical access to the data.
Our pokemonGo group has been experimenting with the ex raids to have an infographic of the pokemon that are strong against the legendary and what movesets to be trying for in your team. Still only in beta, but we are working on more features as well.
The point of all this being with the file sharing capabilities you can have notices and info on site and can even leave while you arrange more. And with the ease of changing the information on said piratebox by switching the site on it via the usb drive, makes it easily usable for multiple situations. As well as the persistant forum/image board software that is onboard you can leave messages for one another. And with it being both simply a wifi point and websites, it does not matter which platform you access it by, whethere it be phone/tablet/computer, ios/android/blackberry?(is that still a thing?)
One standard 5k mAh usb power supply runs it easily for 24 hr, dependant upon how many people are connected at one time.
Thanks for reading
Balloonicorn out.
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