Project:UK Hack Camp/Candidate sites

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)	Yes
Newbury racecourse	Martin (Crypt)	?	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)	?	In contact, doesn't seem to have fibre, though.
Newbury West	Mark(ms7821)	?	In contact. FTTC in surrounding area
Whitcurch, RG28 7LZ	Mark (ms7821)	?	In contact. FTTC in surrounding area by the time we arrive.
Debden House	Paul (Paul2)	Yes	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	?	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	?	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)	Possibly, spoke with them, but 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

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

• 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