WIFI the Villages

[784caroline]

With all the forethought the developers had with the Villages,I cant believe they forgot or dismissed the idea of universal WIFI. I mean many small towns, never mind major city areas have total access to WIFI in the parks and villages. I know I placed this as one of the BIGGEST issues I had with the Villlages in the recent (annual) questionaire all TV owners receive.

What are your thoughts on this issue and how can we communicate this idea (definitely not a new idea) to the Develpers!! I mean the only place the Villages offer WIFI is in certain Community centers.......That type of thinking will make you old!!

[handieman]

Community WIFI systems are very common all over the world. It is inexcusable that TV has not encouraged this. I'm sure a kissing handshake between TV and Comcast or Em barf (sic)is in the background (my personal thought). However, someone out there with more knowledge than I should be furthering this cause. I have a basic knowledge of how these systems work but not enough to get one initiated. There are companies out there, I'm sure, that would love to sell the equipment to a group of investors willing to get this started. It is such a natural and such a huge selling point to the developers. Anyone want to form a committee and look into this???
Handie :joke:

[efrahin]

The way I see it, thre is not economic incentive for TV to do it. But I think if suficient people raise their voices they will have to hear.

[JohnN]

I'm in a fairly smallish town (20,000) and there are independent wifi startups here for entreprenuers. I'm surprised some tech-type has not yet taking up that opportunity.
Thinking... hmmmmmmmmmm.... Jan, are you out there? TOTV wifi?????

[efrahin]

How do you make money supplying WiFi service that is FREE?? Maybe I am missing something.

[handieman]

The fact that it is a huge selling incentive is reason enough for the villages to offer it free, however there are systems that have the ability to charge by the hour, day, week, month, and year. I would love to see TOTV get involved in this or anyone PLEASE this nonsense of 50 bucks for internet service is atrocious. I myself am going to go wireless with my signal and boost it to my neighborhood unsecured very soon. If the recipients want to chip in some bucks then maybe I can break even at least on my own small scale. Its not that difficult to secure my PC from intruders piggy backing my signal.
Handie :joke:

[renielarson]

Handie

We just went wireless this summer and did it unsecured.

I was fortunate to "borrow" wireless from a neighbor for the past 2 years and decided to pass the benefit on to others as a thank you for what I was given the opportunity to use.

I"m wondering how many people offered the wifi suggestion in the recent questionnaire. I didn't because I just didn't think about it.

Darn!

[Muncle]

I myself am going to go wireless with my signal and boost it to my neighborhood unsecured very soon. If the recipients want to chip in some bucks then maybe I can break even at least on my own small scale. Its not that difficult to secure my PC from intruders piggy backing my signal.
Handie :joke:


Efrahin, Wifi is not, by definition, free. What Handie is proposing for his neighborhood is probably the most common way to make money with the process, in varying scales. Handie is planning on using an unsecured system --- if you're in his hotspot, you can access the net directly. He's not looking for profit or even cost reimbursement. However, he could set up his system so only those who have userid/passwords could get on. That way, if he so chose, he could limit access to those who contribute toward his costs, or if large enough, provide him profit. Such a system would be limited by the range of the wireless hotspot (could be the size of a store or could be several blocks in area) and the size of the internet connection. You can really have some performance problems if say, in Handie's case, he had a relatively small pipe and had 20 users trying to download porn simultaneously.

[renielarson]

I'm not looking to benefit from my wireless nor am looking for contributors toward my cost.

I unsecured it as a thank you to whoever unsecured theirs for me. It's the least I can do as a good neighbor.

[efrahin]

OK, now I see the money side of it. I was thinking about some cities that go wifi for free to everyone and the city foots the bill. I think that TV should do it and maybe add a few dollars to the ammenities charges (that will cover the cost). The current rate is about $30.00 from the cable companies, so a few bucks will be a relief for everyone. If TV dont do it, then we should get a group big enough to serve everyone who wants to join, and being out of the hands of TV will be better

[zcaveman]

OK, now I see the money side of it. I was thinking about some cities that go wifi for free to everyone and the city foots the bill. I think that TV should do it and maybe add a few dollars to the ammenities charges (that will cover the cost). The current rate is about $30.00 from the cable companies, so a few bucks will be a relief for everyone. If TV dont do it, then we should get a group big enough to serve everyone who wants to join, and being out of the hands of TV will be better


Why do people keep wanting to "add a few bucks to the amenity fees" to get something that only a small number of people actually want? I am very happy with my secured wireless network.

What you people are suggesting by piggybacking on someone's unsecured WiFi network without getting their permission is illegal and if caught you could be in big trouble. If I was able to find out who had the unsecured WiFi networks in my area I would go over and help them secure it. it is the least I can do as a neighbor.

I did write a letter to the editors about securing the WiFi networks. It was technical. They printed it. My golfing buddies read it and said they did not understand a bit of it. I asked it they had a WiFi network in their house. They said no. I told them they were safe but if they ever considered one, please let me know so I could secure it for them.

[renielarson]

zcaveman

My son tells me the same thing...

However, my question is this....Why is unsecured offered as an option if it is illegal for anyone to "tap" into it since obviously that is the purpose. It sounds like "baiting" to me.

Guess I don't understand why we would be given the option to unsecure or secure.

[zcaveman]

zcaveman

My son tells me the same thing...

However, my question is this....Why is unsecured offered as an option if it is illegal for anyone to "tap" into it since obviously that is the purpose. It sounds like "baiting" to me.

Guess I don't understand why we would be given the option to unsecure or secure.


First off, a nonsecured WiFi network is the easiest to install. Also, because some people are not technical enough to know what to do. These are the same people that run without anfirewall or an anti-virus.

I think that if a third party installs your WiFi network, they will automatically secure it for you. If you install it yourself, you have to do some reading to secure it.

Before I even started to install my WiFi network, I read several articles about securing the network because I had already read articles about people stealing your signal if the network was unsecured.

I asked the Villages Computer Club to put out some articles on securing the network but they declined. I don't remember why. That is why I wrote the letter to the Editor about it.

[travelstiles]

I set up secured WiFi through my Embarq account and it was very, very simple to do with the instructions provided, but if you have questions they have a good help line.

024

[handieman]

Sigh OK OK here I go ;D
I recently bought a Belkin Router wireless G. The estimated range is 400' clear view. I quote from the box " Belkin routers also include a guest Access feature that allows "trusted vistors" to share your broadband connection while keeping the rest of your network private. This lets you give your guests Web access without compromising the security of your files or other resources"
Now I don't profess to be an authority on this subject but I do think that the Belkin Company is. I therefore stand by my pledge to share my internet via my wireless router LEGALLY
Handie :joke:

[renielarson]

It was no more difficult to install non-secured than to install secured. It's only a click of a few buttons and I can opt to change my unsecured to secured at any time. Oh, btw...I AM computer literate.

I did unsecured by CHOICE.

[renielarson]

Handie

It's not a question of whether you share it legally.

It's a question of those who choose to share it with you illegally.

[handieman]

Call it what you want I'll get Belkin to bail me out of prison ;D
Handie :joke:

[zcaveman]

Sigh OK OK here I go ;D
I recently bought a Belkin Router wireless G. The estimated range is 400' clear view. I quote from the box " Belkin routers also include a guest Access feature that allows "trusted vistors" to share your broadband connection while keeping the rest of your network private. This lets you give your guests Web access without compromising the security of your files or other resources"
Now I don't profess to be an authority on this subject but I do think that the Belkin Company is. I therefore stand by my pledge to share my internet via my wireless router LEGALLY
Handie :joke:


"Trusted visitors" is different than giving the guy across the street access without you knowing it. My network is secure but I can give people a key which will allow them to use my network. I do that when I have friends visiting that want to get on the internet.

[JohnN]

In reality, how many people get arrested by the law for picking up on an unsecured signal?
Answer- none for practical purposes.

I read an online article recently about the first guy in Illinois (or somewhere) who was the very first person to be charged on tapping into a signal without permission. There's just no enforcement, kinda like our borders, so what does it matter?

It's a personal choice then. If you leave a signal unsecured, you're providing an opportunity for folks to grab it. You own it, you have the power, use it at your discretion.

I still think TV should offer free wifi or some entreprenuer set up an inexpensive system supported by ads or something.

[billy2fish]

8) JohnN I totally agree with you if TV will not do ti for free then there might be another way to do it for free or at a very low cost. I'm in south Florida and i have wifi with comcast total bill for cable and wifi $ 185.00 a month of which $ 45.00 is for wifi. When I get to TV one way or another I'll have wifi. :bigthumbsup:

[Rag Bagger]

I am not all that familiar with the laws but I do not think any are enforced and maybe not even enforsable regarding using unsecured web sites.

I have used neighbor hood sites regularly. No problem and it doesn't seem to be a problem to the people who have the wifi site. I do understand that if too many get on the site with big down loads it will get plugged up.

We are RVers soon to be Villagers and in the RV community I have run across many that will knowingly share their wifi signal. No big deal. I sort of think of the securing issue like this is my lot and I am putting up this fence. I hate fences. :(

Regarding wifi providers. We are Thousand Trails members. All their Preserves have free Wifi. I know it's not totally free but it can't cost very much or they wouldn't do it. They use a company called Tengo net. Wonder if Tengo net could set up a network in TV.
In the campgrounds sometimes its only at the lodge but in many it covers the entire preserve.

Does anybody know about Tengo net? When I get settled in I am going to check it out to see if it could be used on a neighbor hood basis. Seems Like TV could make the arrangement.

Some high end parks use Tengo and charge way too much often $3/24hrs for day by day or $30 for a month.

Just some food for thought.

[zcaveman]

Many states have criminal laws that prohibit accessing any computer or network without the owner’s permission. For example, in Texas, the statute is Penal Code section 33.02, Breach of Computer Security. It says, "A person commits an offense if the person knowingly accesses a computer, computer network or computer system without the effective consent of the owner." The penalty grade ranges from misdemeanor to first degree felony (which is the same grade as murder), depending on whether the person obtains benefit, harms or defrauds someone, or alters, damages, or deletes files.

The wording of most such laws encompasses connecting to a wireless network without explicit permission, even if the wi-fi network is unsecured. The inclusion of the culpable mental state of "knowing" as an element of the offense means that if your computer automatically connects to your neighbor’s wireless network instead of your own and you aren’t aware of it, you haven’t committed a crime -- but if you decide to hop onto the nearest unencrypted wi-fi network to surf the Internet, knowing full well that it doesn’t belong to you and no one has given you permission, you could be prosecuted under these laws.

A Michigan man was arrested (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070522-michigan-man-arrested-for-using-cafes-free-wifi-from-his-car.html) for using a café’s wi-fi network (which was reserved for customers) from his car in 2007. Similar arrests have been made in Florida, Illinois, Washington, and Alaska.