BT and FON launch largest Wi-Fi community - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 4th Oct 2007, 19:47

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...fi_community/1

BT and FON have partnered up to help build the largest Wi-Fi community in the world but they need you to take part in order to make it grow.

Spacecowboy92 · 4th Oct 2007, 20:03

I signed up to FON when they gave away the free routers. It's a good service only no one comes up my street looking for a broadband connection.

Flibblebot · 4th Oct 2007, 20:43

Likewise, living in the country, there's no one round to share my connection

DXR_13KE · 4th Oct 2007, 21:00

i would consider if it had like 200m range....

devdevil85 · 4th Oct 2007, 21:07

until I get a laptop, I really could care less.....but it sounds neat.....

Andy Mc · 4th Oct 2007, 21:46

I've been with Fon now for about 2 years or so, which is almost from the start.

Currently running as a bill and i'm _actually_ getting paying users! although not many or much.

The idea is great, I just need to move near to a cafe/coffee shop/pub and see how it goes then....

Faulk_Wulf · 4th Oct 2007, 23:38

Is this on the State's side or just a European thing?
It sounds really cool. Over here there's alot of issues with people using other people's connections and the legality of it.
(My belief is that if you don't lock your router, its like someone watching your TV cause you have the blinds open.)
It would be nice to see something like this that does away with all that kind of stuff.
If its fast and secure then I say that it should be implemented with full force.
On the money side, what does it pay? About the same as putting banner ads on a website?
At anyrate, if the price was similar to typical broadband with comparable speeds, I'm all for this!

docodine · 4th Oct 2007, 23:46

I also signed up for the free router... I also managed to brick it while attempting to flash it to Linksys firmware. Oh well, I got a sticker and an ethernet cable out of it.

Bluephoenix · 5th Oct 2007, 04:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by docodine

I also signed up for the free router... I also managed to brick it while attempting to flash it to Linksys firmware. Oh well, I got a sticker and an ethernet cable out of it.

lol, just buy linksys next time. they last for damn near ever, and since 802.11n was recently ratified (was surprised it didn't make bit-tech) the first final rev wireless-n hardware will be out soon

Andy Mc · 5th Oct 2007, 05:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by docodine

I also signed up for the free router... I also managed to brick it while attempting to flash it to Linksys firmware. Oh well, I got a sticker and an ethernet cable out of it.

Was it the Linksys router that they shipped free that you bricked? if so in most cases they can be unbricked without resorting to soldering a jtag to the router.

Cupboard · 5th Oct 2007, 13:58

If you have FON, and someone downloads either lots of stuff (causing you to go over you bandwidth allowance) or illegal stuff, what happens then? I would guess you had to pay for the bandwidth, but how would you argue that it was someone else using your connections for pirating?

Also, for those of us that live in the middle of nowhere (me when i am at home) this just basically gives free wireless broadband in loads of locations doesn't it? I can't really see someone parking on our drive just to use the internet!

Andy Mc · 5th Oct 2007, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

If you have FON, and someone downloads either lots of stuff (causing you to go over you bandwidth allowance) or illegal stuff, what happens then? I would guess you had to pay for the bandwidth, but how would you argue that it was someone else using your connections for pirating?

Also, for those of us that live in the middle of nowhere (me when i am at home) this just basically gives free wireless broadband in loads of locations doesn't it? I can't really see someone parking on our drive just to use the internet!

The way I understand the law in the UK is that the owner of the access point is ultimately responsible for what happens on it.

From speaking to an ex-colleague (SysAd at an UK ISP) when he had to deal with the relevant Police department that deals with Internet crimes (I forget the actual name of it) they stated that having an open wireless network and claiming that 'someone else' used the access point to break the law is not an excuse in the eyes of the law, It is your access point and your responsibility.

This seems to have stemmed from issues where peado's would leave their wifi open so that when a knock on the door came from the law sicko would claim no knowledge and state that someone else must have done it as their wifi was not secure.

As far as I'm aware with Fon users must register when accessing the service, while this info can be faked, it at least gives you something to provide to the law in the event of someone breaking the law via your net connection.

Sorry if the above is not very coherent, i'm on night shifts this week and not getting enough sleep

tomfoth · 6th Oct 2007, 16:14

FON? I wonder what this stands for. Well, most of us in IT already know it to stand for Fiber Optic Network. But it isn't. Is it?

DougEdey · 6th Oct 2007, 16:36

I believe it stands for Free Open Network

4th Oct 2007, 19:47	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	BT and FON launch largest Wi-Fi community http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...fi_community/1 BT and FON have partnered up to help build the largest Wi-Fi community in the world but they need you to take part in order to make it grow. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

4th Oct 2007, 20:03	#2
Spacecowboy92 Gettin' Lazy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 757	I signed up to FON when they gave away the free routers. It's a good service only no one comes up my street looking for a broadband connection. __________________

4th Oct 2007, 20:43	#3
Flibblebot Free from artificial flavourings Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here, right now Posts: 2,227	Likewise, living in the country, there's no one round to share my connection __________________ My uber-system: 66Mhz 486DX2, 8Mb RAM, 20Mb hard drive, 256 colour VGA adaptor (goes all the way up to 800x600!), keyboard AND serial mouse

4th Oct 2007, 21:00	#4
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,469	i would consider if it had like 200m range.... __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

4th Oct 2007, 21:46	#6
Andy Mc Supermodder Join Date: May 2002 Location: Worcester, UK Posts: 487	I've been with Fon now for about 2 years or so, which is almost from the start. Currently running as a bill and i'm _actually_ getting paying users! although not many or much. The idea is great, I just need to move near to a cafe/coffee shop/pub and see how it goes then.... __________________ "Seemed a harmless little ****........But we unleashed the lion" 'Jeremy' by Pearl Jam

4th Oct 2007, 21:07	#5
devdevil85 Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 884	until I get a laptop, I really could care less.....but it sounds neat.....

4th Oct 2007, 23:38	#7
Faulk_Wulf Internet Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 280	Is this on the State's side or just a European thing? It sounds really cool. Over here there's alot of issues with people using other people's connections and the legality of it. (My belief is that if you don't lock your router, its like someone watching your TV cause you have the blinds open.) It would be nice to see something like this that does away with all that kind of stuff. If its fast and secure then I say that it should be implemented with full force. On the money side, what does it pay? About the same as putting banner ads on a website? At anyrate, if the price was similar to typical broadband with comparable speeds, I'm all for this! __________________ -- Faulken S. Wulf "Under the Willow, he sleeps and dreams, of Heaven." Attempting to post intelligently since the year 2000!

4th Oct 2007, 23:46	#8
docodine Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,494	I also signed up for the free router... I also managed to brick it while attempting to flash it to Linksys firmware. Oh well, I got a sticker and an ethernet cable out of it. __________________ Armagetron Advanced! ~~[ Cooler Master Elite 310 \| Intel E5200 \| Zotac 9600GT \| broken MSI G31 mobo \| Corsair 2x2GB DDR2-667 ]~~

5th Oct 2007, 13:58	#11
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,843	If you have FON, and someone downloads either lots of stuff (causing you to go over you bandwidth allowance) or illegal stuff, what happens then? I would guess you had to pay for the bandwidth, but how would you argue that it was someone else using your connections for pirating? Also, for those of us that live in the middle of nowhere (me when i am at home) this just basically gives free wireless broadband in loads of locations doesn't it? I can't really see someone parking on our drive just to use the internet! __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

6th Oct 2007, 16:14	#13
tomfoth What's a Dremel? Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	FON? I wonder what this stands for. Well, most of us in IT already know it to stand for Fiber Optic Network. But it isn't. Is it?

6th Oct 2007, 16:36	#14
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	I believe it stands for Free Open Network __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter