J.A. Simmons V wrote: > I am curious as to how much money we are looking at to get a prototype > WiMaxx up and running. I ask because an exciting class that I am > starting this semester has the students start a business with a > sizable grant from the U of M. I can easily see this as a decent > contender, not to mention an actually viable business model. > Does anyone have info on the public wifi that is offered downtown? > > Simmons > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 16:04, Chuck Cole <cncole at earthlink.net > <mailto:cncole at earthlink.net>> wrote: > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org > <mailto:tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org> > > [mailto:tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org > <mailto:tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org>]On Behalf Of Jima > > > > On 08/19/2010 02:23 PM, r j wrote: > > > I am willing to throw down $500.00 to start up a WiMAXX > > community network. > > > > What do you think this is, the Twin Cities Wireless Users Group? > > > > Waaaiiit... > > > > Jima > > > > I think he sez: BTDT > > > Chuck > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org <mailto:tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > Can't give you an answer on downtown project, but you might be interested in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Type the keywords, wireless mesh ypsilanti, into your favorite search engine, and follow the links. Basically, a couple of guys established a community-wide wireless mesh network that required no technical expertise to create and operate. Open-mesh.com works with low-income populations to establish wireless mesh networks and leverage Internet access by providers interested in gaining access to these "markets". If I were a hospital, I would purchase a $50 open-mesh unit, and then offer to set up a branded network for community residents to participate in telemedicine programs with my hospital. Each house could spend $60 to purchase a unit on my branded network. The $60 fee is a one-time fee, and a nominal monthly fee for Internet access could be offered. My upfront costs would be negligible, and, defraying the hospital's Internet costs would be attractive. Expanding on that concept, we have grocery stores, newspapers, local radio stations. You name it. Branded wireless mesh networks are the tip of the iceberg. Let's say there's no Internet connection to a community wireless mesh network. How about placing a virtual world application on a node, and setting up city hall offices to do their business? Want a community town hall meeting with the audience including those who are in their homes? Anyway, the biggest obstacle to any of this, is the local/regional telco companies. They hate this concept so much, they sue anyone even attempting it. Monticello is a good case study. Tom