Muni-wifi delayed again
NSW is about to roll out a free Wifi service… Oh wait, that was last years’ news. Did Unwired get picked for the Sydney free Wifi? Nope, as apparently “Complexity delays free Sydney wireless network“. Unwired just introduced their pre-paid plan, which is a nice idea but pretty slow (320k), limited and expensive (starting at 150Mb over 7 days for $10 AUD). If they were to provide the free Wifi, how would that fit in with their business plan? Where does Unwired actually fit into Channel 7’s business plan?
It is pretty easy though, just pick up a Meraki for 49 USD (+ shipping), and hook it up. Then your neighbor does the same. You’ve got a network. Although a business district does need a decent Wifi provider of course, as community Wifi doesn’t provide any warranties for service. And the free Wifi network would seem to be only covering the CBD’s, so that leaves the regular folk out in the cold. So, yes, in the end, we need to do it ourselves.
Can I just say your site seems to be taking off from http://www.sydneywireless.com/ This is the sydney wireless network site. However, it has not been used recently. I suggest the author of this site and this post looks into the FON project and suggests Advertising your wifi network as free or open if it is so. For example - OPEN-PUBLIC-OOOWIFI . You do not the special Meraki to do this kind of stuff. I know those things provide meshy stuff. But if people want to do this with what they already have they can. IF you do follow this path, i recommend you have secured your network and where possible ensure that you have properly set up your sharing and set administrator passwords. I.E. don’t share your entire hard drive to strangers if you did not set an admin password in windows xp (not sure what vista does).