Thread: QuakeCon, Wireless Networks, and You!

http://news.quakecon.org/post/900825945

With the prolific growth of wireless networking technologies, the question of what devices and services are acceptable for use at QuakeCon has become more pressing than ever. To clear up exactly what is permitted, along with a few examples, here’s a message from the BYOC Director, Ash. Click the link below for full details.

Hello QuakeCon BYOC attendees:
It’s an exciting time to be a technology enthusiast, especially in the world of wireless networking. As the technology landscape changes, we’re always making an effort to update QuakeCon and advance the event.
There was a time when the relevant Bring Your Own Computer policy was as simple as “no networking equipment or cables.” In 2010, our attendees are on the cutting age of mobile cellular-to-wifi bridging, wireless high speed internet, and more. ”No networking equipment or cables” is no longer a sufficient guideline for managing the QuakeCon BYOC network.
In an important transition in the evolution of the QuakeCon event—the first of two major changes to the BYOC this year—our network equipment policy is being reworked to be more permissive and progressive for all of our BYOC attendees. At QuakeCon 2010, network equipment will categorized in three forms:

• Personal Area Networking (PAN) — Permitted
• Local Area Networking (LAN) — Forbidden
• Wide Area Networking (WAN) — Permitted

These categories are important in the technology freedoms that they describe for all of our BYOC attendees. Attendees are free to assemble a Personal Area Network of devices for their own use. Associated technologies like Bluetooth, Firewire, USB, Wireless USB, RF, IR, and more are all acceptable in the BYOC. (Of course, no guarantee or support related to the use or quality of service of any of these technologies is provided. The electromagnetic spectrum at QuakeCon is a busy place, your experience may vary.)
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wide Area Networking is explicitly permitted. Associated technologies like Wi-Max, GSM, EV-DO, CDMA, HSDPA, and more are all acceptable in the BYOC. (Of course, once again, no guarantee or support related to the use or quality of service of any of these technologies is provided.)
However, in contrast, Local Area Networking will remain the exclusive domain of the QuakeCon volunteer staff, so we can continue to provide the largest, fastest, and most reliable Local Area Network for gaming in North America. As such, LAN equipment such as Category 3/5/5e/6 cables and ethernet hubs, switches, and routers are forbidden. Importantly, wireless LAN technologies—such as 802.11 networking equipment—are also forbidden. Additionally, some PAN or WAN technologies are forbidden to be used in a manner that facilitates LAN communication (peer-to-peer USB networking, for instance).
Finally, it is essential that users of PAN and WAN technologies understand that “sharing” any connection(s) with the QuakeCon network constitutes operation of a forbidden LAN service. This prohibition includes “layer 1” physical connections, “layer 2” bridging, and “layer 3” forwarding or routing, or “layer 4+” tunnel-like connections. A simple way of thinking of this relationship is that attendees can use any PAN or WAN technology they would like, exclusively for their own personal use for—at most—a single host on the network.
I realize that for a lot of our attendees, this is a very technical description. Here are some example cases to illustrate these guidelines in action:
Can I tether my computer to my cellphone to access the Internet?
Yes! To apply the guidelines, you’re using a WAN technology (cellphone) and a PAN technology (tethering cable) to provide yourself Interent access. However, it’s important that you not “share” that internet connection to your BYOC LAN connection.
Can I use my high-speed wireless/mobile internet at QuakeCon in the BYOC?
Yes! Well… most likely. If you have a USB Wi-Max modem or other device to access your wireless/mobile internet service, then sure. That is a combination of a PAN technology and a WAN technology. However, if your interface to your mobile high speed internet service is a switch or router that requires a Category 5 or coaxial cable to connect to your PC, then no, that is a combination of WAN and LAN technology and external LAN technology is forbidden.
Can I use the mobile hot-spot technology of my cellphone to access the Internet?
No. Mobile “hot-spots” are wireless LAN technologies, and external LAN equipment is forbidden in the BYOC. This also applies to mobile hot-spot equipment for high-speed wireless/mobile services.
What will happen if I violate one of these rules?
It depends. It’s important to note that even an accidental network misconfiguration can impact local areas of the BYOC. When in doubt, just don’t do it. The volunteer staff reserve the right to remove anyone or thing from the event.
I do have one exception to these guidelines. We will allow ad hoc wireless LAN networks for dedicated personal gaming devices that rely on 802.11 technology for multiplayer gaming, but only dedicated personal gaming devices. So while your Nintendo DS, Game Boy, and PSP are good to go, your iPhone is not a dedicated personal gaming device and should have it’s WiFi antennae disabled at QuakeCon.
In the end, we really just want to have a permissive, fun, and exciting BYOC experience for our attendees. We like to encourage new technologies, because—frankly—we love toys, too. Being a BYOC attendee is about joining a community of gamers, and we feel like that community is worth taking a little bit of risk in order to provide an open environment to party together in. The responsiblity that comes with that freedom includes being a responsible and respectful user of the BYOC network.
Cheers,
Travis “Ash” Bradshaw
Assistant Executive Director of QuakeCon and
Director of the BYOC
P.S. We have more big news about the BYOC coming soon, so stay tuned.

Some groups probably were planning it and talking about it on their forums so they wanted to stomp it out before the issue got out of hand.