Wireless APs in Homebrew Coffee Shops?

An anonymous reader writes "Having seen lots of complaints about the overpriced T-Mobile Wireless APs in Starbucks ($10/hr) got me thinking about setting up a wireless AP for the small, family-owned coffeeshop in my town under the tip jar model. I'm assuming ~$100 for the router, ~$500 for a PC to use to control quotas (to prevent over-zealous Kazaa users, block spammers and script kiddies and other would-be abusers) - but what software should I be using? Do enough people have 802.11a/g cards that it would be worth it to invest in that rather than an 802.11b router?" Has anyone considered making a Linux distribution for use by cybercafes, to handle wireless access and anything else such an outfit might need?

"Since this is a medium (50,000-ish) size town, and pretty much everyone in the coffee shop is a regular, would a tip jar model work? I'm figuring suggest a donation - what should I set that at?

Finally, keep in mind that the owner is not a geek - I'd be doing this when not studying (I'm a college student), so this would be set up over the summer, and most of the maintenance would be done on the weekends and/or via SSH.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated."

Where is TrollKore? GNAA? I'm disappointed.

[Anonymous Coward]

I was hoping for an all out FP war as was apparently scheduled today.

What's next?

[Craig3010]

Bluetooth at the local crack den?

But what would you call it?

[madgeorge]

Java Desktop System is taken, I believe. :)

The "tip jar business model"

[NateKid]

kinda reminds me of people who plan to make a profit giving software away for free...

Re:I think your estimates are way too high

[Golias]

Or, for that matter, pick up a used X-Box for about $125 and use the 007 hack to load Linux on it. Then you don't have a PC tower taking up precious restaurant space, just a tiny game console tucked under the counter somewhere.

Location, location, location

[Anonymous Coward]

Setting up a wireless access point is easy, as long as the coffee shop is located in a neighborhood where 50% of the residents will have left their 802.11 networks unsecured.

Re:I think your estimates are way too high

[Hanji]

... just a tiny game console...
XBox. Tiny Game Console. Riiiiiight....

Re:No PC

[mengel]

If that happens, invest in a roll of steel screen or chicken wire hooked to a ground wire...

Just put it between you and the neigbor where it won't block your customers.

Re:College Students

[Mantorp]

where is this place? sounds too good to be true