/r/Piratebox

Photograph via snooOG

PirateBox is a self-contained mobile communication and file sharing device. Inspired by pirate radio and the free culture movement, PirateBox utilizes Free, Libre and Open Source software (FLOSS) to create mobile wireless file sharing networks where users can anonymously chat and share images, video, audio, documents, and other digital content.

About PirateBox:

PirateBox is a self-contained mobile communication and file sharing device. Inspired by pirate radio and the free culture movement, PirateBox utilizes Free, Libre and Open Source software (FLOSS) to create mobile wireless file sharing networks where users can anonymously chat and share images, video, audio, documents, and other digital content.

The PirateBox can be built using a number of different configurations depending upon your needs and budget. The basic system consists of a lightweight web server connected to a wireless device. When users join the PirateBox wireless network and open a web browser, they are automatically redirected to the PirateBox welcome page. They can then begin uploading or downloading files.

Related Subreddits:

/r/creativecommons

r/freeculture

/r/linux_devices

/r/Darknetplan

/r/Networking

/r/commandline

r/raspberry_pi/

r/LibraryBox/

Sources:

PirateBox 1.0 DIY Instructions

LibraryBox 2.1 DIY Instructions

PirateBox Forum

LibraryBox HomePage

/r/Piratebox

4,553 Subscribers

13

Oldschool Piratebox revival - missing USB, please help.

Have been digging around online for a couple of hours so far, and am starting to suspect this TL-MR3040 v2 Piratebox setup actually needed the USB stick it once had attached to it. (No idea where that might be these days)

It currently (seems to) boot, and I can see the Piratebox - Share Freely Wifi point, though I can't get it to do much else. Can't seem to do a standard install either, as it isn't showing up using ipconfig, and I can't find it by telnet. The hardware reset button doesn't seem to do anything either.

Hoping someone here might have an easy solution or suggested next-step. Thanks!

16 Comments
2024/01/02
02:50 UTC

17

This is a reminder that Freedombox exists, and receives regular updates!

I don't know much about this stuff. I understood Piratebox back in the day, but since it'it's pretty much abandoned I think r/freedombox is a good alternative for those who are still interested in this sort of thing.

6 Comments
2023/09/04
16:44 UTC

3

1.1.4 for pi 0w download

is there a place i can download this? can't seem to find the image anywhere and the torrents do not work

1 Comment
2023/07/14
16:21 UTC

10

Anything new/old or just wanna share (piratebox related)

are there any good forks/ interesting things done lately?

0 Comments
2023/06/25
21:07 UTC

8

Question - does piratebox work with rpi 3b+?

2 Comments
2023/03/09
14:31 UTC

17

Closest to PirateBox that works for most routers (file sharing & chat)?

PirateBox is great but is limited as works only on handful of routers.

Is there anything that can be put on most routers that has simple file sharing and basic chat? Does not have to have image board.

Basically flash some firmware, put in USB drive into router for storage. Then anyone who connects can download and upload files and join basic chat, without having to install anything on their computer.

Is there anything like this available? Would be great for apartment buildings.

9 Comments
2023/02/06
08:44 UTC

2

How to for grml based PirateBox?

Years ago, u/MaStr83 contacted the http://grml.org team to add the hostapd package to the iso file. Back then, it was possible to use the old python based scripts to create a „live“ piratebox.

Do you think it’s worth the time to dig deeper into that rabbit hole?

1 Comment
2022/12/03
19:02 UTC

5

Banned Books

Would it be possible to use a Pirate Box as a download only source for banned books?

3 Comments
2022/11/27
17:15 UTC

6

Community Bulletin Board project!

Any luck using this as a community electronic-bulletin board? I'm about to set up one for our community using RPi4, 4gb, and raspbian OS lite.. will post updates here..

5 Comments
2022/10/05
14:21 UTC

3

Does anyone know where to edit AP name on raspberry pi?

1 Comment
2022/09/14
06:55 UTC

4

Customize UI?

I have a RPi Zero W running latest software. I am wondering how hard it'll be to customize the UI. What do I need and where can I find the files?

7 Comments
2022/08/31
12:08 UTC

8

Trying to stream with Kodi

I'm trying to stream the files in Kodi instead of having to watch them in real time.

I used https://piratebox.cc/streaming_media.

When I go to Kodi, nothing shows up under UPnP. Is there anything that I can do?

1 Comment
2022/07/04
21:54 UTC

14

PirateBox Live CD is not dead ... but it's not so fast and easy :(

You have 6 days to download the archive (unzip to have iso file) https://we.tl/t-U6mOK7izdD

It's work (with USB card et Unetbootin, and severals tests with others distribution like lubuntu, install on 16Gb card).

Install on Asus Eeepc701

After translate and disable ChatBox , it's work on windows11(edge) and iPad(edge too)

But...

but browsers want https and it's not easy , not fast with the local access point without secure certification.

3 Comments
2022/05/28
12:13 UTC

3

Make LiveOS (PirateboxLive) bootable ?

I have found in an old hard drive the ISO (https://we.tl/t-U6mOK7izdD unzip to have it) but don't work (like https://www.reddit.com/r/Piratebox/comments/h0lbj8/live_os/ )

It's the iso because Either, Rufus and Unetbootin don't work with this iso

I have a old eeepc701 and I known it's possible ... I had it (and I broke it).

Do you can help me ?

2 Comments
2022/05/28
06:04 UTC

6

Piratebox redirect only when specific URL is visited

Hi,

I have a Raspberry Pi with piratebox installed. When a user is connected and surfs to any website, the piratebox' local server opens. Is it somehow possible to only redirect tot the piratebox webserver when for example someone surfs to a specific url. For example: when visiting www.google.com it re-directs. When surfing to www.microsoft.com it does not redirect (no internet message).

thanks in advance!

3 Comments
2022/05/23
14:31 UTC

14

Apologies if this keeps getting asked but how can I create a piratebox like device?

How may I create a device which can run a small server thing which can accept uploaded files and offer files to download only to those who are connected to it's access point? Ie a classic PirateBox, perhaps without relying on the PirateBox software since the projects sort of dissolved now

I'm thinking of using a raspberry pi zero wireless?

12 Comments
2022/04/16
15:44 UTC

4

Orange Pi Zero 1 / Bullseye

I've moved to https://kbin.social/

3 Comments
2022/03/29
14:50 UTC

5

Radxa Zero?

I've moved to https://kbin.social/

0 Comments
2022/03/28
12:52 UTC

3

IMAGE fop RPI4

Hello there,

New to this community i try to find some IMAGE precompiled of PIRATEBOX project but for actual RPI4 with wifi.

Thanks all for your reponse.

Gianluca G

1 Comment
2022/03/19
21:26 UTC

7

Help with 0.5.9 beta on Android

My piratebox was working fine until last night.

When I connect to it now I get errors concerning the IP address and DNS not being found.

The DNS probes and tells me that I don't have an internet connection, which is odd since the phone running it has no service.

I'm on Android 7.1.2

Is there anything that I can do?

0 Comments
2022/03/11
07:31 UTC

3

piratebox search function?

Has anyone ever added a search feature on their piratebox?

0 Comments
2022/03/10
20:14 UTC

5

Some questions about the Android version

What do all of the little pictures mean? There's the antenna in the middle which is for the Wi-Fi but what do the two computers and the ethernet cord mean?

Is there any way to change the homepage or add a password?

Are there any alternatives that accomplish something similar on Android? I only see apps that require a pre-existing Wi-Fi network.

3 Comments
2022/03/09
04:50 UTC

3

Help with 0.5.9 Beta on Android 7

I managed to get the apk from the mobile version's creator himself.

I've already rooted my phone, LG Aristo 2, and have it running. But it doesn't finish.

It just says "setting up networking..." and it's been like that for multiple hours.

Does it usually take long the first time, or is something wrong?

6 Comments
2022/03/06
07:44 UTC

2

How do I access via ethernet? (pi3b+)

I want to be able to download files from my piratebox at gigabit speeds using my ethernet cable, from raspberry pi to laptop. Is this possible?

4 Comments
2022/03/01
19:06 UTC

3

Designing my piratebox webpage

I want to be able to view thumbnails/preview the file and cycle through images with an arrow. Is there an easier way to do it besides have each image having its own html?

I also want to have multiple forums or have a way to organize the subjects, but I don't know how to accomplish it.

Any help would mean a lot.

1 Comment
2022/03/01
06:32 UTC

3

Need help ssh

I set my password for piratebox but now I can't log in. Is the user still "admin"?

3 Comments
2022/02/28
22:21 UTC

2

difficulties trying to burn a sd card for the rpi3b

hi! im trying to burn an img file of pirate box for the rpi 3 and i keep getting error with the raspberry pi imager.. (im am on ubuntu cause its my only pc with a sd card reader.. i need help!!! can someone give me advices.. i also tried with balenaetcher but it dose not work....

rou rou

2 Comments
2022/02/19
16:19 UTC

5

wifi speed / download speed of the pi(rate) box on rpi3

hi ! i just want to know of fast the pirate box on the rpi3 is .. can it give access to a lot of device at the sametime? is it fast enough to watch a video on it? thanks!

1 Comment
2022/02/15
14:01 UTC

5

TP-Link TL-MR3020 V1.9

So I just remembered about Piratebox and I had never built one when they were popular and I had always meant to. I just bought a TP link only now seeing that only older versions of this router will work. Will the 1.9 work for Piratebox and if so what additional information should I know? I'm novice when it comes to this sort of thing but I'm fascinated by this project and I think it's within my realm of obtainability. Thank you everyone in advance.

EDIT: So I just pulled the trigger and dove in and it worked! The 3020 V1.9 that I bought this year from amazon is still capable of running PB. One snag that I want to add is that I formatted my flash drive on a Windows machine and the router did not detect it so I had to run this script.

sed -i 's;sda1;sda;' /etc/ext.config reboot & exit

tail -f -n 30 /var/log/messages

0 Comments
2022/02/04
18:19 UTC

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