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Wireless to Shake Up Telecom World
Associated Press ^ | Sunday, August 11, 2002 | MATTHEW FORDAHL

Posted on 08/11/2002 11:32:30 AM PDT by Dog Gone

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- There's high-speed Internet in the air.

A technology originally developed to link PCs in small, wireless clusters is spurring grassroots efforts to create Internet ``clouds'' that could eventually bypass the networks of big telecommunications providers.

So far, the greatest buzz over WiFi, or Wireless Fidelity, has surrounded the sharing of connectivity among neighbors, friends and strangers.

But the inexpensive technology, known scientifically as 802.11b, may be destined for something much bigger. Users are expanding homegrown networks with little or no control from the local phone or cable company.

``This feels like the Internet from 1994,'' said Scott Shamp, director of the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia, which is working with Athens, Ga. to install a wireless cloud downtown.

Such wireless networks don't require millions of dollars for digging trenches, laying cables or building towers. Anyone who wants to be a service provider only needs a dedicated Internet connection and a $200 access point.

Users pop a $70 card into their desktops or laptops to link to the networks, usually within a few hundred feet of the access points. Some products even have built-in transmitter and receiver capabilities, allowing users to grow the network while they're online.

Intel Corp., for one, says it plans to build such functionality into chips.

Wireless clouds could support a new generation of technology, from always-on portable phones and handheld computers to futuristic sensors that could continually update weather or smog conditions, for instance.

Coverage remains limited today, a far cry from what is offered by cable, phone and cellular companies. WiFi is still mostly used to provide Internet to laptops and desktops in homes and offices as well as airports, hotel lobbies and coffee shops.

But advocates say WiFi's organic growth, low cost and simplicity bodes well for future development. And while current wireless equipment extends DSL or cable Internet service to several hundred feet, the range can grow to a dozen miles or more with the addition of a stronger antenna.

Countless free access points are up and running. Most are advertised on the Web. A group in London has even proposed marking hotspots with chalk.

So far, these early efforts do not threaten service providers.

But they could eventually spell trouble for the debt-laden telecom industry, which has spent billions rolling out wired and terrestrial networks, said Nicholas Negroponte, director of the Media Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

``The decline you've seen in (telecoms industry) market value may not just be some trend that will bounce back with the rest of the market,'' Negroponte told a recent Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee meeting. ``It may not bounce back because we're going to use telecommunications very differently.''

Most of telecoms' grumbling over WiFi stems from customers publicly sharing their cable or DSL service.

``We believe that's theft of service,'' said Sara Eder, a spokeswoman for AT&T Broadband, which provides cable modem service.

AT&T is not alone, though enforcement is difficult. SBC Communications recently rewrote its policies to forbid connection sharing outside the home. Time Warner Cable in New York has sent out a warning letter to about 10 subscribers who were sharing their connections.

Other providers say they don't mind if connections are shared, provided it doesn't diminish speeds for paying customers.

But it remains to be seen whether grassroots groups can maintain the momentum necessary to provide free coverage for entire cities or regions, or whether corporations will step in. Already, reports are circulating about plans by major tech companies to deploy a nationwide network.

Sales of WiFi access cards and base stations are taking off, with sales expected to grow from $1.9 billion in 2001 to $5.2 billion in 2005 despite price drops, according to research firm Cahners In-Stat.

The sky is the limit for potential applications, said Shamp, who is preparing to launch the wireless cloud in Athens later this year.

``We're designing a sandbox,'' he said. ``We want a place where people can experiment.''

In San Francisco, Dan Augustine and Jason Luther started SF Wireless, which has 40 volunteers working on a project that not only provides free connectivity but has a goal of replacing wired infrastructure and providing content specific to their neighborhood.

Industry has had no choice but to respond.

Cell phone companies are hedging their bets by adding WiFi capabilities to products.

``There is a network that has emerged from the grassroots without a lot of planning,'' said Andrew Cole, senior vice president for wireless at the consulting firm Adventis. ``It answers a highly marketable need. You should not underestimate it.''


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: internet; techindex
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To: Dog Gone
I hear "Internet push" is gonna be BIG too - I think I'll rush out and invest all my money in that!

Oh, wait...forgot...I don't have any money! *frown*

21 posted on 08/11/2002 2:18:53 PM PDT by The Duke
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To: Dog Gone
Look at the speed that your current ISP is providing to you via your high-speed access service. My guess is that you probably aren't getting much more than 10 megabit.......and if that's the case, then 802.11b will provide a connection that is more than ample at 11 megabit. It's well known that you can't trust what Windows is telling you by way of your network connection speed. Ours routinely says that we're running full out at 100 megabit..........but there's no way in hell we're running at that speed (that'd be network speed; we're smokin' and all, but NOT at 100 megabit).

IOW, I highly doubt your son would notice any appreciable difference whatsoever.

As for security.............excellent point. Nowdays, you can easily run at 256 bit data encryption on your internal, wireless network. No one short of a spook is going to crack that. Routers that you purchase for such things also have excellent built in firewalls as well.

In addition to all of the above, we also run Zone Alarm. That keeps twerps (well, along with the router's firewall) out of our "hardwired" system, and with the encryption on the wireless nodes / WAP, we're QUITE secure.

22 posted on 08/11/2002 2:27:57 PM PDT by RightOnline
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To: RightOnline
According to this test, I'm running at 1.3 megabits per second, which it claims is fantastic. Sounds like I'm absolutely crawling compared to you. :(
23 posted on 08/11/2002 2:37:15 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: usconservative
Don't let Sprint find out. If you look at their service contract agreement you may be suprised to find that what you are doing is illegal.
24 posted on 08/11/2002 2:47:19 PM PDT by semaj
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To: Dog Gone
Try this speed test .
25 posted on 08/11/2002 3:41:32 PM PDT by lodwick
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To: semaj
What I signed said nothing about re-selling the service. :) I've looked. Their entire AUP deals with network intrusion/hacking, running web and email servers, and spamming.
26 posted on 08/11/2002 3:49:40 PM PDT by usconservative
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To: usconservative
I installed a wireless access point in my home, then set up the new computer to connect to it. During setup, the new 'puter zeroed in on three other wireless home networks in my neighborhood. Turns out one of them is a pro software developer. He and my wife started scheming on this very setup the other night (she's a computer scientist) to cut our costs and share one broadband connection. Don't know about the other neighbors yet, but past history has shown some of them to be wienies. (Time-Warner won't be thrilled either is my guess).
27 posted on 08/11/2002 3:55:24 PM PDT by lafroste
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To: lodwick
That's a better site. It provides far more detail, although the results were basically the same. Nobody is getting 10 megabites per second, at least as reported there.
28 posted on 08/11/2002 4:02:06 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Semper911
They are the worst for customer service, and they raise their rates whenever they damn well please.

How often do you need their customer service? How often have they raised their rates? By how much? I use their service, by the way. My first high speed connection was ISDN. $175/month for 128k access through Alltel. You're getting a bargain. Perhaps you'll be happier when it has the name of Charter on the bill.

29 posted on 08/11/2002 4:07:23 PM PDT by Glenn
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To: Dog Gone
It seems as if the internet is about to become like free broadcast radio, and there's nothing the AOL Time-Warners can do about it.

They can restrict bandwidth and set limits.

30 posted on 08/11/2002 4:24:03 PM PDT by milestogo
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To: lafroste
Funny Story - and TRUE.

A friend of mine who's in my Mens group @ church took his notebook with a wireless network card and drove around his neighborhood to see if he could connect to the internet through one of his neighbors wireless connections.

Sure enough, he found at least 5 wireless connections that he could connect to with a blank key and get on the 'net. One of them lived only two doors down from him, and he could get the signal from his neighbor sitting in the comfort of his own home.

That's what gave me the idea to do it. The new 5.4Ghz wireless systems that will do 54mbit connections have even a greater range than the wireless system I have now.

Now, ya gotta wonder just what the terrorist opportunities are here. I'm afraid to go into the details. ;-) But think about it: if you can drive through a neighborhood and pick up multiple FREE internet access connections because people are too stupid to lock their wireless systems down, what other types of mischief can be cause on the internet?

Inquiring minds...

31 posted on 08/11/2002 4:45:46 PM PDT by usconservative
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To: Dog Gone
Interesting. On your site, I was doing 941, and on "mine" I was at 1.3. Who knows?

Anything but dial-up. Once you've tasted speed - you can never go back. ;-)
32 posted on 08/11/2002 6:31:55 PM PDT by lodwick
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To: lodwick
Thanks for the link:

I got --- 2492/114 over Cable!

33 posted on 08/11/2002 6:37:33 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: lodwick
Weird. At your site I'm doing slightly slower than at the one I linked.

It's been well over a year since I switched from a 56K modem to DSL. The difference cannot be adequately described in words.

34 posted on 08/11/2002 6:42:28 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
Well according to the test you link to I get : 521.2 kilobits per second, they say it is fantastic also. Why am I so much slower than with the other test? Hmm!
35 posted on 08/11/2002 6:44:25 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Dog Gone
I just helped a friend of mine who is a teacher set up her new wireless Mac lab at the school. She had to move into a new classroom over the Summer and the room only had two drops. Instead of waiting around for the work to get done, she talked the Principal into getting wireless cards for all the iMacs and a couple of base stations.... We were up and surfing in minutes. No ugly wires, and it saved lots of $$.

Cheers, CC :)

<---Click Here

36 posted on 08/11/2002 6:51:40 PM PDT by CheneyChick
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To: CheneyChick
How much does a wirless internet service cost? What does it detail? Is it fast a dsl? I'm very interested. Once I get rid of dialup, I may get rid of my telephone service. I have no need for it.
37 posted on 08/11/2002 7:09:39 PM PDT by KevinDavis
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To: usconservative
That's what gave me the idea to do it. The new 5.4Ghz wireless systems that will do 54mbit connections have even a greater range than the wireless system I have now.

Yeah, wireless is getting pretty damn fast for casual wireless access. I've already handled wireless systems capable of 400 Mbits throughput, and others with ranges of well over a hundred miles. Its perfect for residential, though the latency and other factors are sufficiently crappy that no one would want to run a server farm over them.

38 posted on 08/11/2002 7:17:58 PM PDT by tortoise
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To: KevinDavis
Wireless is capable of faster speed than cable or DSL. It all depends on the equipment used in the area and how much you're willing to pay.

I find it odd that wireless is being touted as being a cheaper low cost alternative to the telcoms when the most likely places they're going to put this will be in places where telcoms and cable companies can easily serve for just as much.

I doubt they'll be hooking this up in rural areas for the heck of it.
39 posted on 08/11/2002 8:27:43 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: Dog Gone
As to the cable and DSL services upset over WiFi I can understand Cable. After all they sell bandwidth. DSL providers usually just give a fixed amount and leave it at that. A DSL Channel Unit splits upwards 6 to 8 megs of DSL over 4 phone lines. Whether or not you use it is meaningless. It's still there. It'll only bottleneck in the CO's server. With coax it's quite different.
40 posted on 08/11/2002 8:34:01 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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