Project:UK Hack Camp/Candidate sites
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The biggest challenge is to find a decent site with the ability to get hold of a good (at least 100meg) internet connection.
- it's possible to rent a connection via satellite for a reasonable price. An event I recently attended had a commercial video photographer using one, and it wasn't a big-bucks setup by any means. Afaicr he had at least 10meg but more may be possible - he considered it feasible for connecting communities, not just for single temporary use. Site equipment included a smallish dish on a trailer. Artag.
- Satellite Internet has high latency, 10-20x that of a normal connection. Robert 07:22, 17 August 2011 (UTC)
- I thought that was the case, but the connection was made available for use and I didn't find it a problem. Perhaps I wasn't very demanding and put any delays down to the shared use, but it was by no means as bad as I expected.
- It definitely does - the laws of physics demand it! Also satellite tops out at about 10 meg best-case. Russ 08:30, 17 August 2011 (UTC)
- The Multiplay events manage it (though they're held at a racecourse, but they have camping.). tomwardill.
- Something like a racecouse/track or airbase that's geared up for events already would be a good place to start looking Ms7821 08:02, 17 August 2011 (UTC)
- I've sent an email to Eclipse (corporate grade ISP in Devon) to see about short term internet connections, I'll start checking out options next week for sites though itlls be hard to beat de pasheuvals! Gray Marchiori-Simpson 2.218.214.5 04:19, 18 September 2011 (UTC)
Similar events
Have a chat with the organisers for their experiences
- Barncamp
- Dork camp
- Maker Faire (including Brighton on 3rd September)?
- HAR 2009
- CCC Camp 2011
- Multiplay
Site Requirements
Definitely Need
- Fast net connection (probably 100meg)
- Camping space for 500-1000 people (1-2 hectares, 2.5-5 acres)
Would be nice
- Indoor space for lectures / NOC
- Easy access for building the site
- Nearby train stations/public transport routes
- Shops and other facilities nearby
- Mains power
Dates to consider
Bank holidays are:
- Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th June (Diamond Jubilee)
- 27th August
Olympics are:
- 27th July-12th August
Possible sites
Priority is to be near/connected to a good Internet pipe.
Data centers
- Somewhere near The Bunker?
- i'd say The Bunker site itself, there's plenty of green space. Newbury/Greenham Common site may be more central not sure of their acreage there tho. -- mikepea
- There is a data centre map
Event venues
Site Name | Contact Assigned | Interested? (Y/N) | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Donington! | Jasper (Jasperw) | No | Price :( |
Newbury racecourse | Martin (Crypt) | Yes | Waiting for confirmation for visit... Multiplay have used them in the past, had camping, lots of interior space, and fast internets. Sent email, waiting for reply |
Long Marston Airfield | Martin (martind) | Yes | Beeny to visit? The closest exchange is 1 mile away and is not unbundled. |
Charvil | Mark (ms7821) | No | In contact, doesn't seem to have fibre, though. |
Newbury West | Mark (ms7821) | No | In contact. FTTC in surrounding area |
Debden House | Paul (Paul2) | Yes | Needs visit. They have a very large campsite with power hookup for tents (relaxed rules), an in door conference centre, easy to drive to, but just outside of London with good public transport links. Seem interested to meet us. Good potential site. |
Hainault Forest Country Park, IG7 4QN | Mark (ms7821) | ? | Offset festival is held here - good transport links and very near London but in the countryside. Area nearby has FTTC. |
Upper Heyford | Beeny | No | Old airfield, now used for offices. No reply yet.. |
Matterley Bowl | Charles (Solexious) | ? | They have plenty of space and good facilities, concerns were raised about the venue's limited number of licenses per year, however Peveril Bruce the owner is happy to talk about hosting us. Bandwidth may be a problem. Also they usually have people driving around in tanks on Saturdays. |
Biggleswade | AdrianG | No | No free dates. https://groups.google.com/group/uk-hack-camp/browse_thread/thread/fc7de8c0b0c56b2d?hl=en |
Tolmers Camp Site | Alec (alecjw) | ? | |
Norfolk Showground | |||
Moreton in Marsh Fire College | Beeny | Yes | Old airfield, now used for fire training. They have a conference center with accommodation, canteen and two bars. Station nearby. Exchange to be unbundled soon. |
Mersea Youth Camp | Martin (Crypt) | Yes | Need to arrange visit. Youth camp with wood cabin for those not hardy enough for tents probably smaller than we'd like (about 350 max) but has net power |
Royal Welsh Show Ground | natm | ? | In Builth Wells, decent sized site with camping and inside space. Flexible bandwidth options, 200mbit/s delivered to a site 250yrds away (see natm on irc for details). |
Rejected sites
Site Name | Contact Assigned | Interested? (Y/N) | Details |
---|---|---|---|
The Observatory Science Centre | Jonty (jontyw) | No | Only one event per year |
Bovingdon Airfield | Paul (Paul2) | No | Contact not interested in our event. Cable in surrounding area |
Essex University | Martin (Crypt) | No | Don't want large public festivals |
Whitcurch, RG28 7LZ | Mark (ms7821) | Yes | Not available. FTTC in surrounding area by the time we arrive. |
- Bletchley Park DorkCamp 2011 was nearly here, but turned out to be too small (http://groups.google.com/group/uk-hackspaces/msg/272051109e85268d)
- Poole & Dorset Adventure Centre another Dork venue, "limited to about 20 people indoors and 30 in tents"
- Jodrell Bank Radio free zone, would be difficult to organise under those conditions