Electromagnetic Field: a 3-day maker/hacker/geek camp in the UK | Hacker News Reader

geek camp in the UK

emfcamp.org

44 pointsmetabrew15 comments

Their networking setup is insane(ly awesome). A 2.8km microwave link to a gigabit connection, porta-john network cabinets, and donated IP address space so every attendee gets a dedicated public IP address. I've heard this field is right near a sewage works though, so be prepared(!) :-)

I think some of the details were discussed here on HN, but the only part I can find is the description from their blog:

http://blog.emfcamp.org/post/27143646219/emf-camp-the-site-a...

EDIT: here's the previous discussion on the network and such

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4344620

I wonder if we're allowed to make jokes about packet dumps?

(Checks google maps) Yes, there's one just to the south. let's hope the wind is blowing the other way.

There is a very large embankment between the site and the plant, we've been and investigated the field many times to check that it was suitable for the event before putting any money down, and it's totally fine.

Don't worry, it concerned us just as much as you!

As it happens my office is right next to a sewage farm, so I can tell you that they only stink a couple of days a month. It depends where in the process they are. So you could check it out several times and still be unlucky on the day. That's interesting about the embankment, though. I'm not sure if our one has one (it's at 52.233319, 0.155565). Do you have information that it's to reduce the smell, or were you assuming that that's why you couldn't smell anything when you went?

I've been wanting to do something like this in the Bay Area - even if on a smaller scale (1 day, no camping, under 50 people). I do a lot of work in the park and would love to spread the fun.

Would anyone be interested in helping set it up? Drop me an email; my address is in my profile!

you should hook up with the folks from noisebridge: https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge

That's actually an awesome idea.

> Please note that all our volunteers... are required to buy a ticket.

Ouch, full price £95 to work at a bar.. why would anyone want to do this? You would have thought at least a discount!

They say it is not profit.. where is all the money going? or is it the sort of non-profit where one guy has a big fat salary? Most of the networking stuff seems to be donated, speakers are unpaid (and also have to pay full price)..

I don't wish to shit all over this, it's a great thing.. (and i'm sure there are costs that need to be covered) but some more transparency would make me a lot more comfortable with it..

Our budget is entirely public and linked from the wiki, nothing is hidden, and nobody is drawing a salary. We're only just going to break even at this point.

It turns out that equipping a barren field with generators, lighting, wiring, power distribution, marquees, seating, toilets, showers, water, cooking equipment, bar equipment, security fencing, safety equipment, first aid equipment, radios, and plant equipment for moving the aforementioned everything, is expensive. Especially when you're doing it on a scale <1000 people.

The most interesting thing for me has been the cost of getting water in the field. There's supposedly a standpipe there, but the council are denying all knowledge so we have to get a container brought in. It costs a FORTUNE. You'd think water was some kind of precious metal based on the pricing.

Regarding speakers/volunteers, this is an event you're a participant at, not purely a viewer. We have an absurdly high ratio of speakers/attendees - a large number of ticket holders are related to the hackerspace movement where participation is expected.

We are offering free day tickets to speakers, but nearly all of them are choosing to pay for a full ticket and spend the whole weekend at the event.

HAR2009 was 150-180EUR

CCC Camp 2011 was 140-175EUR

I just bought my ticket for this. Don't think I've ever stayed in a tent that has gigabit internet before, should be interesting.

The list of talks and workshops is diverse. See some of you there.

How are you going to power the laptop?

The tents also get power.

Bring 20m+ of mains + network cable to link yourself to the nearest Datenklos and you're all set.

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