WiFi Access

Janie · 06-01-2004, 06:16 PM

Just out of curiosity, how many of you would pay say $29.95/month for WiFi Access from your boat at various marinas and public docks? How about at local coffee houses or ice cream parlors?

Thanks.

Island Girl · 06-01-2004, 08:14 PM

A little pricey for me, but then we could upload pictures as they are taken!

Pepper · 06-01-2004, 11:02 PM

Funny you should mention that, because we're seriously considering offering this very feature. We're currently researching the various options, along with costs, and wiring necessary, etc. Can't promise it will happen overnight, but I'm working on it! In the wake of our recent renovations, we feel it's the next step we need to take. Depending on the costs and how much disruptance the installation will require, we'll be making a decision soon. Once we've decided to move forward, I'll post here and let everyone know. Perhaps if we hear from a few of you here, it might be something we'd put at the top of the priority list. Waldo will need more convincing than I do, but perhaps if he sees from you folks that it's an important new step, he'll see that I'm not completely insane for having suggested it a few weeks back.

Janie · 06-02-2004, 09:00 AM

A business owner can implement a WiFi network for the use of his/her customers and offer it as a free service to get people to go to their place of business over their competition. Then, there is the ability for a company like Boingo where different owners of a store or shop, etc. put in a Boingo device and the endusers need a Boingo account to login but, they are able to login where ever their is a Boingo WiFi device weather its around the Lake or out at an airport or hotel California.

If you look at chain like Starbucks, they offer wireless connectivity for their users but those users need an account with their provider to login and its expensive. Then again, I read an article about this town out in California where they offer WiFi to everyone for free. They have the transmitters all over the town.

As far as being able to log into most WiFi that's probably right but you would need to create an antenna with a lot of gain or purchase one for a few hundred dollars and know how to use a sniffer and be knowledgeable. Otherwise, you would need to be sitting on the owner's front porch then, they may get a little annoyed and begin encrypting traffic and making it harder to login.

Now, for the common Internet user, an out-of-the-box, long range wireless Internet connection with a reach of up to 2 miles and the ability to be in the town or in a bay and gain access would be enticing, right?

Best,
Jane

Grant · 06-02-2004, 03:57 PM

As much of a net junkie as I am, I wouldn't want it up there. Sure, I rely heavily on the wireless connection here, and would never consider giving up my broadband connection at home, but the old dial-up works fine when I want to tap the e-mail from the Lake. In fact, I am trying to establish a new personal precedent -- e-mail-free family excursions. Last year, I was a pathetic sod -- doing client work on my laptop in the boathouse (the only place with a three-prong outlet, thanks to the bubbler). The solution: don't bring the laptop on vacation. I did it last weekend on a family excursion to Baltimore and DC -- it was great. Of course, I had 1500 e-mail messages to deal with upon return, but a small price to pay for losing the 'lectronic leash!

That being said, I will be a total hypocrite now and reiterate my wish for better GSM service in the region.

Lakegeezer · 06-02-2004, 04:50 PM

Lots of businesses are going wireless to attract customers. Not sure it would be a big hit at the lake, but in cities, its not hard to find free access, and many people take there business where they can get on the net. At the lake I use wireless at the cottage, linked in through an integrated dial-up modem. Its 56K slow but I can get access while sitting out on the front porch or the dock, and the limited bandwidth can be shared with others. I think that offering wireless on the lake itself would not be a viable business. For those that need it, you can use Verizon dial-up today and get 14.4kbps. Someday, Verizon may offer their high-speed wireless service in the lake region, where available, it currently goes for $99/month for all you can eat. If you need Internet access bad enough to use it on the water, you can probably justify the high cost as a business expense.

xmobe · 06-17-2004, 05:10 PM

The luxury of being able to get high-speed, wireless internet access on the water would be great. Especially for the latest weather conditions, such as radar.

06-01-2004, 06:16 PM	#1
Janie Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newton - Tuftonboro, NH Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	WiFi Access Just out of curiosity, how many of you would pay say $29.95/month for WiFi Access from your boat at various marinas and public docks? How about at local coffee houses or ice cream parlors? Thanks. __________________ Jane 19 Mile Bay Cow Island Tuftonboro, NH

06-01-2004, 08:14 PM	#2
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Wifi A little pricey for me, but then we could upload pictures as they are taken! __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

06-01-2004, 11:02 PM	#3
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Funny you should mention that ... Funny you should mention that, because we're seriously considering offering this very feature. We're currently researching the various options, along with costs, and wiring necessary, etc. Can't promise it will happen overnight, but I'm working on it! In the wake of our recent renovations, we feel it's the next step we need to take. Depending on the costs and how much disruptance the installation will require, we'll be making a decision soon. Once we've decided to move forward, I'll post here and let everyone know. Perhaps if we hear from a few of you here, it might be something we'd put at the top of the priority list. Waldo will need more convincing than I do, but perhaps if he sees from you folks that it's an important new step, he'll see that I'm not completely insane for having suggested it a few weeks back. Last edited by Pepper; 06-01-2004 at 11:03 PM. Reason: fixing a typo

06-02-2004, 09:00 AM	#4
Janie Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newton - Tuftonboro, NH Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	There are a couple of ways to go about it... A business owner can implement a WiFi network for the use of his/her customers and offer it as a free service to get people to go to their place of business over their competition. Then, there is the ability for a company like Boingo where different owners of a store or shop, etc. put in a Boingo device and the endusers need a Boingo account to login but, they are able to login where ever their is a Boingo WiFi device weather its around the Lake or out at an airport or hotel California. If you look at chain like Starbucks, they offer wireless connectivity for their users but those users need an account with their provider to login and its expensive. Then again, I read an article about this town out in California where they offer WiFi to everyone for free. They have the transmitters all over the town. As far as being able to log into most WiFi that's probably right but you would need to create an antenna with a lot of gain or purchase one for a few hundred dollars and know how to use a sniffer and be knowledgeable. Otherwise, you would need to be sitting on the owner's front porch then, they may get a little annoyed and begin encrypting traffic and making it harder to login. Now, for the common Internet user, an out-of-the-box, long range wireless Internet connection with a reach of up to 2 miles and the ability to be in the town or in a bay and gain access would be enticing, right? Best, Jane __________________ Jane 19 Mile Bay Cow Island Tuftonboro, NH

06-02-2004, 04:50 PM	#6
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Wireless is great where you can get it Lots of businesses are going wireless to attract customers. Not sure it would be a big hit at the lake, but in cities, its not hard to find free access, and many people take there business where they can get on the net. At the lake I use wireless at the cottage, linked in through an integrated dial-up modem. Its 56K slow but I can get access while sitting out on the front porch or the dock, and the limited bandwidth can be shared with others. I think that offering wireless on the lake itself would not be a viable business. For those that need it, you can use Verizon dial-up today and get 14.4kbps. Someday, Verizon may offer their high-speed wireless service in the lake region, where available, it currently goes for $99/month for all you can eat. If you need Internet access bad enough to use it on the water, you can probably justify the high cost as a business expense. __________________ -lg

06-02-2004, 03:57 PM	#5
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	As much of a net junkie as I am, I wouldn't want it up there. Sure, I rely heavily on the wireless connection here, and would never consider giving up my broadband connection at home, but the old dial-up works fine when I want to tap the e-mail from the Lake. In fact, I am trying to establish a new personal precedent -- e-mail-free family excursions. Last year, I was a pathetic sod -- doing client work on my laptop in the boathouse (the only place with a three-prong outlet, thanks to the bubbler). The solution: don't bring the laptop on vacation. I did it last weekend on a family excursion to Baltimore and DC -- it was great. Of course, I had 1500 e-mail messages to deal with upon return, but a small price to pay for losing the 'lectronic leash! That being said, I will be a total hypocrite now and reiterate my wish for better GSM service in the region.

06-17-2004, 05:10 PM	#7
xmobe Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The luxury of being able to get high-speed, wireless internet access on the water would be great. Especially for the latest weather conditions, such as radar. Last edited by xmobe; 06-17-2004 at 05:26 PM.