Why we need an Open Wireless movement
1–10 of 51 posts
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#2I'm all for open Wi-Fi networks but I'm not quite sure how it's a "tragedy of the commons". People locking their Wi-Fi network aren't harming other users of the RF spectrum, which is the common resource. The resource being locked out is the telco's backhaul, which isn't really a commons, is it?
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#3I'm not sure how making your wireless network open is the "socially responsible" thing to do anymore then letting strangers come in and use your bathroom at will is.
Sure, most people won't cause any harm, but it only takes one asshole (or too many people taking advantage) to make it a nightmare for you.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#4Previous discussion at: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2491686
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#5This seems like a non-issue to me, especially in the age of smartphones with personal wifi hotspot abilities.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#6I wish this could some how be shoe-horned into the current standards. Microsoft, Apple and the OWA aren't known for their speed.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#7Too little, too late. Free Wifi was interesting a decade ago. Nowadays in most countries 3G is so cheap that nobody bothers trying to find an open access point. I currently pay 4 Euros per Gigabyte per month (or optionally 9 Euros for 9 Gigabytes) - that's all, no other monthly fees, no minimum charges, can be (optionally) combined with a voice plan. And in addition most newer laptops provide (optional) builtin 3G modems, so you don't even need a USB modem to use your 3G connection.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#8I'm all for open Wi-Fi networks but I'm not quite sure how it's a "tragedy of the commons". People locking their Wi-Fi network aren't harming other users of the RF spectrum, which is the common resource. The resource being locked out is the telco's backhaul, which isn't really a commons, is it?
I think that's the point being made here.
Access to extra bandwidth everywhere, all the time, could be a commons for all of us, with the appropriate legal and software protections.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#9Too little, too late. Free Wifi was interesting a decade ago. Nowadays in most countries 3G is so cheap that nobody bothers trying to find an open access point. I currently pay 4 Euros per Gigabyte per month (or optionally 9 Euros for 9 Gigabytes) - that's all, no other monthly fees, no minimum charges, can be (optionally) combined with a voice plan. And in addition most newer laptops provide (optional) builtin 3G mo…
Your 3G plan, in your country. Please don't be so quick to dismiss movements that could help other people but not you.
Here, a 3G plan with 1 gigabyte cap costs 90 bucks per month. The 8 GB plan is almost half the minimum wage. I would kill to have open wifi everywhere.
Re: Why we need an Open Wireless movement
#10Too little, too late. Free Wifi was interesting a decade ago. Nowadays in most countries 3G is so cheap that nobody bothers trying to find an open access point. I currently pay 4 Euros per Gigabyte per month (or optionally 9 Euros for 9 Gigabytes) - that's all, no other monthly fees, no minimum charges, can be (optionally) combined with a voice plan. And in addition most newer laptops provide (optional) builtin 3G mo…
While yes mobile data is getting better (I'm in a similar situation to you paying EUR5 for 500mb per month) part of the problem is that of security. If you want to have a public access point then there should be ways in which you can do this but still isolate users and protect their respective traffic.