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Video-over-WiFi for village broadcasting in rural Mali

From "The Geekcorps CanTV," geekcorps blog, 15 November:

"In the village of Bourem Inaly, Mali there are over 120 television sets powered by 12-volt car batteries, but there is almost nothing to watch.

"With its CanTV project, Geekcorps has helped the local radio station stream video content to the local community over WiFi. The radio station, which rents these units out, benefits from a new monthly revenue stream while the villagers benefit with an improved source of news and entertainment.

"One goal of the CanTV project is to make it possible to build the CanTV receivers or TV cantennas (antennas built with cans) using locally available parts, with the exception of the $25 audio/video receiver currently imported from Canada. Also, the TV cantennas have been designed so that a local technician can quickly learn how to install them without special tools. The radio station already has access to television broadcasts via satellite, and a TV over WiFi transmitter installed in August 2005 by Moussa Keita of Geekcorps.

"Recently, Geekcorps successfully installed CanTVs in fifteen different households (213 people) across Bourem Inaly. As a result, the radio station earns roughly $45 dollars a month (22,500 CFA) on the rentals of the CanTVs which goes a long way in helping to ensure the radio's own financial sustainability. The radio station's goal now is to reinvest its profits to purchase an additional CanTV each month so more of the local community can benefit from their new service offering..."

• How to make a Geekcorps' CanTV (low resolution video)
• How to make a Geekcorps' CanTV (high resolution video)
• "DIY Geekcorps CanTV Guide" (1MB PDF, in English)

Excerpts from the CanTV Guide: "Radio Beeray is equipped with a 10-watt 'TV over WiFi' transmitter. Previously, the national Malian television station ORTM was the only channel available to the villagers. CanTV gives them access to international channels, including CNN and TV5, via the Radio Beeray's satellite connection. With its VCD player, the radio station can also provide its own programming.

"The transmitter uses frequency modulation to encode standard audio and video signals on a 2.4 GHz carrier, the same frequency band used by wireless Ethernet access points. The CanTV receives the signal using an antenna built out of a tin can and wire screen housed in a PVC tube. A short length of coaxial television cable carries the signal from antenna to a commercially available TV-over-WiFi receiver... The CanTV works with any television with standard audio and video inputs...

"CanTV Parts List... Total $33.96"

[WiFi - 23 November 2006]