Philadelphia to become huge wireless Internet hot spot

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Originally posted by Tommy
I dont know much about networks but I wouldnt think there would be any anonymous logins

your gonna pay for access to it just like cable or dsl
I hope they will have a way on logging on that would match you to your billing details

That Culver Cnty setup uses this product
http://www.terabeam.com/

it explains how login control happens somewhere on that site, but basically they identify who each user is by MAC address and the operator of the hotspot can choose to make users identify the owner of each MAC address before allowing access if they want. In a billed system they would just require a credit card I guess but the description left me thinking anon web access was possible in a free access design.

This is really interesting stuff Tommy, thanks for posting it. If I owned a host company I would be jumping on this stuff looking if it was a good way to extend my business into the ISP/telco market.. looks like the setup costs are amazingly low if you wanted to offer hotspot coverage to a local university or residential community or something confined like that.

*edit: there is a really good looking course teaching you how to setup as a WISP later this month too... http://www.ydi.com/support/training_course-desc.php