NinjaTel Van

NinjaTel Van outside the DEF CON 20 Ninja Party

The NinjaTel Van is a 2001 Ford Econoline E250 van, designed and converted by Bob "saberfire" Bristow and Colleen "Phar" Campbell into the base of operation for NinjaTel. From July 26 to July 29, 2012 the Ninja Networks team created and operated a mobile cell phone network from a van placed in the Vendor area of DEF CON 20, at the Rio Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, and the Ninja Party, at Rumor Boutique Hotel in Las Vegas. NinjaTel served a small network of 650 GSM phones using custom SIM cards.

Work on the van began in September 2011 and was completed 11 months later on July 26, 2012, just in time for DEF CON 20.

The van is equipped with a mobile GSM cellular network, featuring all necessary equipment and a roof-mounted antenna.

Network

The network uses OpenBTS, Asterisk, and an Ettus Research Universal Software Radio Peripheral to provide voice and SMS service to connected devices. During DEF CON 20 it did not have data ability.

Other deployments

In 2013 the van was used to provide wireless network connectivity to a remote wilderness area for the production of Capture, an American reality competition television series on The CW.

Gallery

• 
  Interior operator desks and equipment
• 
  NinjaTel Van in vendor room of DEF CON 20
• 
  Rack in the back of the van with telecom, network, and computer equipment.
• 
  inkling and far_call from Ninja Networks

References

• Mills, Elinor (2012-07-28). "Hackers build private 'Ninja Tel' phone network at Defcon". CNET. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
• Fingas, Jon (2012-07-29). "Defcon 20 visitors get their own 'pirate' cellular network in Ninja Tel, exclusive One V to match". Engadget. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
• Torres, Rachel (2012-07-30). "DEF CON 20: The Ninja Tel Network and Smartphone Revealed". Lookout Blog. Retrieved 2022-09-27.

External links

• NinjaTel, the hacker cellphone network - RobotSkirts