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Wireless by the Bay
Setting up your wireless kingdom
(old news - 09:55AM Thursday May 30 2002)
tags: wireless · bandwidth
Slashdot has linked a written documentary of one aspiring wireless San Franciscan and his attempts to bring 802.11b to the city by the bay for nary a dime. His well written wireless journal of sorts explains in detail his adventures creating a 3.5 Mbps wireless link, and his generosity in offering a slice of the pie to anyone within line of site to his home. He's also offered photos showing how accessible his location really is.

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Forums » Wireless by the Bay
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Post a:
vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD

That$ at fir$st

What are hi$ plan$ for the future?

scavio
Premium
join:2001-07-14
Melmac
clubs:

Re: That$ at fir$st

Not money, some people have been snakebitten too many times (and probably are smart to be that way), but this grass roots type thing is pretty slick. Things like this work because people aren't trying to make money, they are doing it to see if it's possible and have fun with it. It's funny that one man and some tin cans (over simplification I know) can do so much yet the large corps seem clueless. If I could shake slashdot's hand I would, it's people with vision and drive like his that make good things happen.
--
Chicks dig me!!!

methuselah1879

join:2001-03-06
Groton, CT
clubs:
this is really an interesting story, and a direction that I think internet access will take in the future...maybe.
--
If it's na' scottish...it's CRAP!

BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:

Good show!

Very interesting stuff.
I have toyed around with 802.11b as well, but as yet been unable to achieve the results that this guy has.
I presently work for a company that manufactures a wireless internet system that operates in the unlicensed 2.4 ghz band, and I know that the proliferation of these 802.11b devices and networks sometimes cause quite a problem in the deployment of our product.
The system works very well, though, as long as extensive interference doesn't exist.
3 mbps second downloads are not uncommon with the system, as well as 1 mbps or faster uploads.
It's a very good alternative for those who either can't get DSL, or don't want the runaround associated with it, or can't get/don't want a cable modem or other fixed wireless alternative.
I have to give this guy his props for a job well done, though.
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments.....

pupowski
Premium
join:2002-03-22
Isle of Pups
·Comcast Formerly ..

Re: Good show!

said by BrianDamage:
Very interesting stuff.I have toyed around with 802.11b as well, but as yet been unable to achieve the results that this guy has.
I'll be in our SF office next week, and I know those neighborhoods well. I'll check this out if I have time. Hope your new job is working BD.

BrianDamage
We Are The Hounds From Hell
Premium
join:2001-08-14
Rowlett, TX
clubs:

Re: Good show!

Yeah, I would like to know what you find out about it.
And my job is going well. The product is coming around nicely.
I'm back in Pittsburgh again this week testing one of them.
Thanks for asking.
--
We've got our eye on the firmaments, our hand on the armaments, our heads full of arguments, and words for our monuments.....

animejunkie$
The Experts Of Justice
Premium
join:2002-05-08
Corona, CA


edited

I love these stories

I was reading a link from the usenet of the same kinda story of traversing MILES using old Primestar dishes which at this stage are virtually free.

I currently subscribe to 2 wireless providers, well, more like regular guys in my neighborhood tired of waiting for Verizon and ATTBi to get off their butts. And like BrainDamage's company is producing...these providers are using 2.4GHz with plans to upgrade to the less interfered 802.11a 5GHz area and provide better than EXCELLENT, personal (because they're "regular" guys) service. In an area without cable or DSL, we now have heated broadband competition with 1 offering 1.5Mb synchronous service starting at $25 (price based on DL caps not speed) and the other offering DSL like 768/384. And also as a 1st hand testament to BrainDamage's claims, so long as there is little interference, high speeds and low latency are the rule, not the exception. It's great. And people say the telco and cable companies have no competition. This goes to show that with the help of companies producing 2.4 and 5GHz equipment virtually anyone can start their own ISP and gather a few friends and neighbors as customers, get a T-1 and kiss the telco and cable guys goodbye like my neighborhood did. Now AT&T won't stand much of a chance as we are all happy with our home grown fixed wireless service.
--
AOL/DPC Galaxy 4R T2 »www.manga.com/ The Ultimate in Anime!

[text was edited by author 2002-05-30 10:34:42]

ntguru911

join:2001-03-26
Powell, OH

Re: I love these stories

Who do you think is making huge profit margins on that shared T-1?

[cough]ILEC

animejunkie$
The Experts Of Justice
Premium
join:2002-05-08
Corona, CA

Re: I love these stories

[cough] Obviously not AT&T seeing at their stock is as a 52-week low.
--
AOL/DPC Galaxy 4R T2 »www.manga.com/ The Ultimate in Anime!

ntguru911

join:2001-03-26
Powell, OH

Re: I love these stories

AT&T provides your local loops not Verizon? Hmmmmmmm......

korym
Go Wisp's
ExMod 1999-03
join:1999-12-23
Richmond, VA
clubs:

Re: I love these stories

Provides ours too.

animejunkie$
The Experts Of Justice
Premium
join:2002-05-08
Corona, CA


edited
No, it's Verizon. I was referring to ATTBi cable internet services which has yet roll out cable modems. Verizon is the telco providing T-1 services in our area as far as I know. Both providers are based out of Lake Elsinore, CA. As for Verizon, they aren't doing much better with sell recommendations across the board.
--
AOL/DPC Galaxy 4R T2 »www.manga.com/ The Ultimate in Anime!

[text was edited by author 2002-05-30 11:46:56]

ntguru911

join:2001-03-26
Powell, OH

Re: I love these stories

Who is providing the port access? It's unusual for both the loop and the port to be provided by the ILEC.

The market doesn't always have a lot to do with the company's long-term viability, especially with all of the day traders out there.

We might see some further telco consolidation but if you think Verizon will just go out of business I think you're wishfully thinking. I think you best hope is they get bought out by someone with better service.

I do think these home grown solutions are really neat. My only concern is about redundancy and uptime. I know a lot of people in my neighborhood (myself included) depend on a reliable connection for their job. Fortunately, T/W Roadrunner has been available for years and now Ameritech has put in a Pronto RT so there are options. On an interesting side note, I grabbed an Orinoco wireless PC card and 7dBi omni-directional antennea and drove my neighborhood. The number of homes with 802.11b networks shocked me. Every fourth home has wireless networking already!

animejunkie$
The Experts Of Justice
Premium
join:2002-05-08
Corona, CA

Re: I love these stories

One provider uses Verizon for both, the other uses Verizon and a small upstream provider (I don't know which one).

I'm wondering about Verizon spinning off it's wireless unit in '03 and what affect it will have on it's ability to pay off it's debts. If it would result in their purchase by someone else.
--
AOL/DPC Galaxy 4R T2 »www.manga.com/ The Ultimate in Anime!
celestius

join:2002-01-30
94109-7549
Yeah! Screw the man! We don't need his lines!
kenyg

join:2001-02-09
Hatboro, PA

I'm gonna try this

My father lives 1 kilometer away (as the crow flies or the RF signal progagates).

I'm gonna climb up on the roof this weekend and see if I have a line of sight shot to his house - if I do, this would be too cool!

Ken
Forums » Wireless by the Bay


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