I am mostly interested in this project due to my work with Defcon's Wall of Sheep. Offering a public WiFi network that is more secure then current offerings (thinking VPN tunnel after connecting to the network) would go far in actually promoting secure computing.<div>
<br></div><div>Simmons<br><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 10:33, Tom Poe <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:tompoe@meltel.net">tompoe@meltel.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div class="im">J.A. Simmons V wrote:<br>
</div>> I am curious as to how much money we are looking at to get a prototype<br>
> WiMaxx up and running. I ask because an exciting class that I am<br>
> starting this semester has the students start a business with a<br>
> sizable grant from the U of M. I can easily see this as a decent<br>
> contender, not to mention an actually viable business model.<br>
> Does anyone have info on the public wifi that is offered downtown?<br>
><br>
> Simmons<br>
><br>
> On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 16:04, Chuck Cole <<a href="mailto:cncole@earthlink.net">cncole@earthlink.net</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:cncole@earthlink.net">cncole@earthlink.net</a>>> wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> > -----Original Message-----<br>
> > From: <a href="mailto:tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org">tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org">tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org</a>><br>
> > [mailto:<a href="mailto:tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org">tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org</a><br>
> <mailto:<a href="mailto:tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org">tcwug-list-bounces@tcwug.org</a>>]On Behalf Of Jima<br>
> ><br>
> > On 08/19/2010 02:23 PM, r j wrote:<br>
> > > I am willing to throw down $500.00 to start up a WiMAXX<br>
> > community network.<br>
> ><br>
> > What do you think this is, the Twin Cities Wireless Users Group?<br>
> ><br>
> > Waaaiiit...<br>
> ><br>
> > Jima<br>
> ><br>
><br>
> I think he sez: BTDT<br>
<div class="im">><br>
><br>
> Chuck<br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota<br>
</div>> <a href="mailto:tclug-list@mn-linux.org">tclug-list@mn-linux.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:tclug-list@mn-linux.org">tclug-list@mn-linux.org</a>><br>
<div class="im">> <a href="http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list" target="_blank">http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list</a><br>
><br>
><br>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota<br>
> <a href="mailto:tclug-list@mn-linux.org">tclug-list@mn-linux.org</a><br>
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><br>
</div>Can't give you an answer on downtown project, but you might be<br>
interested in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Type the keywords, wireless mesh<br>
ypsilanti, into your favorite search engine, and follow the links.<br>
Basically, a couple of guys established a community-wide wireless mesh<br>
network that required no technical expertise to create and operate.<br>
<br>
Open-mesh.com works with low-income populations to establish wireless<br>
mesh networks and leverage Internet access by providers interested in<br>
gaining access to these "markets".<br>
<br>
If I were a hospital, I would purchase a $50 open-mesh unit, and then<br>
offer to set up a branded network for community residents to participate<br>
in telemedicine programs with my hospital. Each house could spend $60<br>
to purchase a unit on my branded network. The $60 fee is a one-time<br>
fee, and a nominal monthly fee for Internet access could be offered. My<br>
upfront costs would be negligible, and, defraying the hospital's<br>
Internet costs would be attractive.<br>
<br>
Expanding on that concept, we have grocery stores, newspapers, local<br>
radio stations. You name it. Branded wireless mesh networks are the<br>
tip of the iceberg. Let's say there's no Internet connection to a<br>
community wireless mesh network. How about placing a virtual world<br>
application on a node, and setting up city hall offices to do their<br>
business? Want a community town hall meeting with the audience<br>
including those who are in their homes?<br>
<br>
Anyway, the biggest obstacle to any of this, is the local/regional telco<br>
companies. They hate this concept so much, they sue anyone even<br>
attempting it. Monticello is a good case study.<br>
<font color="#888888">Tom<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div>