Dayton, Ohio: Free City-Wide WiFi 350
_Bunny writes "The City of Dayton, Ohio announced a plan to make all of downtown a WiFi hotspot - and as of last week, the network is live. This makes Dayton the first Ohio city to offer free WiFi access. Approximately one square mile of downtown is now live, including Fifth Third Field, the Oregon District, Webster Station and RiverScape. The WiFi project is a public/private partnership not funded by taxpayers, and comes at no charge to the end user." (According to the linked story at WHIO-TV, the city is actually paying about $5,000 per year, with advertisers picking up the rest of the tab.)
City Wide? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Insightful)
That's nice, but the plans are just Pipe Dreams (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:That's nice, but the plans are just Pipe Dreams (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:That's nice, but the plans are just Pipe Dreams (Score:2)
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:City Wide? (Score:4, Funny)
Fewer tornados?
Yagi antennae attract tornados, you know.Re:City Wide? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:City Wide? (Score:2)
I would imagine this is really just intended to cover downtown Dayton anyway. Most of the actual city of Dayton is low income enough that they probably don't have much of a use for WiFi anyway.
Re:City Wide? (Score:2)
Re:City Wide? (Score:2)
Re:City Wide? (Score:2, Funny)
For fuck's sake, at least read the summary...
The WiFi project is a public/private partnership not funded by taxpayers, and comes at no charge to the end user.
Re:City Wide? (Score:2)
Maybe they did it thinking that more people would come downtown. It would be good for business. Property values would increase.
Re:City Wide? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:City Wide? (Score:4, Insightful)
In this case, I think it is very smart on behalf of the city to be providing this service and more cities should think about implementing similar plans.
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Interesting)
I couldn't agree more. Many midwestern cities like Dayton and Cincinnati are experiencing a major problem getting people into their downtown entertainment districts outside of the 8-5, M-F work-week due to explosions in the suburbs. Offering something like this is a great way to improve publicity of the struggling city-centres and attract more revenue downtown. Even if it isn't heavily-used, its mere presence will be a boon to the downtown merchants.
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Insightful)
The cost is minimal not great, and the added value is HUGE.
The cost is like 5,000/year - which seems like a lot only to the people that have no idea what a city spends. 5,000/year is nothing to a city. Far less than how much it pays people to clean up a park's statues.
This however is a HUGE quality of life issue - it makes the city very attractive to a lot of people, grants internet access to some people that could not afford it. Many people can afford $500 one time paym
Re:City Wide? (Score:4, Interesting)
OK, so it's still on the 'build it they will come' notion / gamble then. I still don't see the great need for being connected like that all the time. I see wide open, anonymous access for hackers, virus authors and identity thieves. Of course nearly any WiFi access point qualifies for that.
I also see a viable network for distributed RFID readers to access their database back ends to make for greater ease in people tracking. I see web cameras, rather than the more costly dedicated units, all over the place, and the US becoming like the UK. I see the back end capability for the advertisement boards like in the Minority Report movie.
All of these things are intrusive and to my mind not good. And I'm by no means a luddite. I can just see no good coming from this. Granted other than reasonable free Internet connectivity.
Re:City Wide? (Score:4, Interesting)
There isn't. But it is fantastic to have it available anytime and anywhere you want it.
I see wide open, anonymous access for hackers, virus authors and identity thieves. Of course nearly any WiFi access point qualifies for that.
For that you can just go to your local library. Nothing new here - just easier access.
I also see a viable network for distributed RFID readers to access their database back ends to make for greater ease in people tracking. I see web cameras, rather than the more costly dedicated units, all over the place, and the US becoming like the UK.
Do you also see aliens? Seriously, you're just FUDing here.
I see the back end capability for the advertisement boards like in the Minority Report movie.
Specifically: when he walked into a store, he was greeted by name and asked whether or not he like the last thing he purchased. ie: he entered someone's personal property (the store), and the security/customer system identified him. Which is no different than having a guard/service rep at the entrance asking for your id and greeting you, except that it is automated. You don't like it, don't go in the store. It is private property.
All of these things are intrusive and to my mind not good. And I'm by no means a luddite.
All of those things are ONLY in your mind. All that is being offered here is city-wide WIFI. If that make you nervous, GET OUT NOW. There is already city-wide cellphone access. There is nearly Nationwide cellphone access. There is no difference between cellphone access and wifi access in terms of what they can do (allow you to connect to a network and send/receive data).
Get over your luddite self.
I can just see no good coming from this. Granted other than reasonable free Internet connectivity.
And there you've just explained it. The only thing coming from this is reasonable free Internet connectivity. So you have nothing to worry about.
Re:City Wide? (Score:3, Informative)
Is it really THAT expensive to install and operate a city-wide w
More on WPAFB, Mound Lab (Score:3, Interesting)
History in the making (Score:5, Funny)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Re:History in the making (Score:3, Funny)
Unless you want to do RF research, go to one of a few quite good engineering schools, or just really enjoy using snow chains, you probably want to avoid Ohio even if it has free, public WiFi.
Re:History in the making (Score:4, Funny)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
It snowed here yesterday with an inch of accumulation. Today it is 60. Never move to this state.
Re:History in the making (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Sweeeeet... *fires up VCR*
Anyone want a torrent?
Re:History in the making (Score:3, Informative)
Actually I have had to go to Ohio a few times and it was not that bad.
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Re:History in the making (Score:2)
Not True! (Score:3, Informative)
Cincinnati's also got a excellent art museum, one of the best zoos in the country, great public libraries, and that wonderful heartwarming Skyline Chili.
Dayton on the other hand . . . hmm.
Re:History in the making (Score:3, Insightful)
But... I guess you don't have to LIVE in Ohio to visit the park, so nevermind!
Re:History in the making (Score:2, Insightful)
Hopefully... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hopefully... (Score:2, Interesting)
I just hope this isnt something we look back on and say, "I really wish that ended up working."
Re:Hopefully... (Score:5, Insightful)
Static IP and Port Forwarding. I'm sure that many of you forward ports through your router/firewall for certain applications (http, ftp...). I can guarantee that the municipality will not support this feature, and it would be impossible to get a static ip. Once the municipality monopolizes the market, there will be no competition from the private sector. You can't compete with free. While private companies in other areas offer new features, lower price and more bandwidth (they have to compete, remember) you will be stuck paying high prices (taxes) for a slow connection. While the idea of other people who don't use the internet paying for your BitTorrent downloads seems like a great idea, it will cost you more in the long run.
Censorship. Once this municipality has the power to decide what you can and can't view on the internet, do you really think that it would never be abused. Some religious group will donate large amounts of money to a campaign, and the politician will have to repay that group with censorship legislation.
Internet access may seem high right now, and it is. Competition is real, prices have and will continue to go down as features are being added. My Comcast connection used to cost $59/mo, now I have more bandwidth and it's only $20/mo. Government is never as efficient as the private sector, it will cost everyone much more to let the government supply WiFi rather than a private company. Also, when was the last time you heard of a government program living up to it's promise? Do you think that this would be any different?
Re:Hopefully... (Score:2)
Re:Hopefully... (Score:2, Insightful)
And by the way...
Re:Hopefully... (Score:2)
How can they compete with free?
PITTSBURGH?!@ (Score:2)
I heard a statistic a while ago, that it costs less money to install a wireless network, than it does to supply the city with trashbags for the whole year.
Re:PITTSBURGH?!@ (Score:2)
Nice, but... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Nice, but... (Score:2)
Re:Nice, but... (Score:2)
Parking Lot LAN party! (Score:5, Funny)
Pay 4 bucks to park 24 hours, sit in your comfortable car with a laptop, and game it up on a free network... if only wireless didnt completely and totally suck for gaming
Re:Parking Lot LAN party! (Score:2)
Advertisers? (Score:3, Insightful)
Government spaces (Score:5, Insightful)
Plus being government there are probably some under the table considerations like zoning issues, fees, and similar. Remember a government providing an incentive or discount is not spending any taxpayer money. That is similar to what Washington does by labeling as a program spending cut the simple fact of not increasing the allocation of funds to it.
Legal Issues... (Score:4, Interesting)
Is the city monitoring the traffic to prevent kids under the age of 18 from viewing illicit material?
Will the RIAA come after them if someone uses this hardware to download illegal songs?
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:2, Insightful)
In your analogy to the park, if the town didn't provide the park, then they would go into the street, or if the street wasn't there then they would go into the woods. So them providing "space" is not something they can avoid.
Now if the city was providing a large dome, under which there was no surveillance, no police, and nobody checking who goes in and out, and crimes are committed there, then yes, I would say they are liable for be
And the answer is... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:2)
Also, you can have free access, but still require a login for tracking of usage.
There are a number of wireless hotspots that offer free, or free for some ammount of time access, that still require a login.
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:2)
Given that its not the city providing the wifi, I'd say no. Probably "no" to all of your other questions. I'd also say that its not "unmonitored", or at the least not "uncontrolled". It probably strictly consists of a http proxy which adds whatever ads the advertising money that is paying for this service wants you to see.
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:2)
"The city will pay about $5,000 a year for it, but most of the cost is paid for by the advertisers."
Re:Legal Issues... (Score:2)
It never ceases to amaze me that computers (at least at the hardware level) are very logical things, but people seem to have their IQ reduced by about 1/2 in front of them and think very illogically.
I'm not complaining about free wireless access, but aside from roads and parks, what other freebies do city governments provide? How long do you think this will really last? What about the security/privacy issues?
I guess I can applaud the thought, but this makes no sense that I have
A little skimpy on the details. (Score:3, Informative)
COOL! (Score:2)
Re:COOL! (Score:2)
Mobile Echolink is always something I wanted to do (albiet, not with me
1 mile radius == entire city (Score:2, Informative)
Re:1 mile radius == entire city (Score:2)
Advertising (Score:4, Interesting)
Can't find this in TFA, all I can get is:
"HarborLink will basically offer some advertising to the end user to offset the cost that would normally have been passed on to the user. This allows the service to be offered at no cost.
Re:Advertising (Score:3, Interesting)
This might not even be that bad of a thing if the majority of the ads came from stores in the area, people would get (semi) relevant ads for stores in their immediate location, and could even help the econ
Mirrored links (Score:4, Informative)
_Bunny [networkmirror.com] writes "The City of Dayton, Ohio [networkmirror.com] announced a plan to make all of downtown a WiFi hotspot [networkmirror.com] - and as of last week, the network is live [networkmirror.com]. This makes Dayton the first Ohio city to offer free WiFi access. Approximately one square mile of downtown is now live, including Firth Third Field [networkmirror.com], the Oregon District [networkmirror.com], Webster Station [networkmirror.com] and RiverScape [networkmirror.com]. The WiFi project is a public/private partnership not funded by taxpayers, and comes at no charge to the end user." (According to the linked story at WHIO-TV, the city is actually paying about $5,000 per year, with advertisers picking up the rest of the tab.)
Countdown in 3, 2, 1... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Countdown in 3, 2, 1... (Score:2)
Are the telecoms asleep?? (Score:4, Interesting)
"Do the Right Thing. It will gratify some people and astound the rest." - Mark Twain
No problems with Hotspots (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Are the telecoms asleep?? (Score:2)
Man government is awsome!
Corpus Christi TX just did this (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Corpus Christi TX just did this (Score:2)
"See "a herf="http://www.downtowncorpuschristi.com/wiki/D
Ya know, I've looked all over the place for a HERF [psycom.net] device so I can do something about those pesky thump-mobiles. Haven't found one that I like just yet...
Not the smartest idea this... (Score:3, Insightful)
AFAIC, it's for nothing unless you use secure tunnels and proxies to keep them from snooping on you. No, this isn't tinfoil hate time. This is plain old reality. I love my country, but I fear my government as I should. I can't see the same dingbats who can't get water fountains in the parks fixed within five years as being trustworthy with a cordless phone never mind my Internet access. No thanks.
Re:Not the smartest idea this... (Score:2, Insightful)
Just like it is so stupid to let the government defend you, make laws, build streets, educate children...
its the FUCKING job of a government to provide basic sevices to the people. And now internet access is one of those
Re:Not the smartest idea this... (Score:2)
So when you are able to buy a new TV that comes from the government. But it cuts both ways. The government you elected is responsible for child labour the rising price of oil and allowing you to be ripped off at best buy.
so easy (Score:2, Interesting)
Anyway. I dont see what the big deal about this is, talk about simple shit to set up. Installed a dlink dwl7200 at a golf course the other day that will reach a lil over 5 football fields long that was only like 820$... Hrm yeah I was right:
802.11a/g (Full Power with 5dBi gain diversity dualband dipole antenna)
Indoors:
98ft (30m) @ 54Mbps
112ft (34m) @ 48Mbps
128ft (39m) @ 36Mbps
154ft (47m
Troy, Ohio came way before Dayton even started (Score:2)
Booyaka! Home, sweet home (Score:2, Funny)
Although I wish my submission would've been the one that was accepted. Oh well, I can hope for the dupe
~aj~
Similar Idea (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.ezwv.com/ [ezwv.com]
http://www.wirefire.com/ [wirefire.com]
http://www.sequelle.net/ [sequelle.net]
I've never done anything like this so I'm curious if anyone has an opinion what precautions I should take to protect myself. We're trying to roll this out as quickly as possible as a movie begins filming in out humbl
The big unanswered question... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:The big unanswered question... (Score:2)
I guess we will find out May 20,21, & 22 [hamvention.org]
Uhm.. ok (Score:4, Interesting)
Although there *is* Mendelsons. Where old stuff from the Wright Patt air force base goes to die.. a huge warehouse..
Re:Uhm.. ok (Score:3, Funny)
And Dayton should have funded this for some other city?
Too bad Dayton's dead (Score:2)
If you've been to Downtown Dayton, there's really not much left. One square mile is covered so far? There's not much more then that
Re:Too bad Dayton's dead (Score:2, Insightful)
How free is it? (Score:2, Insightful)
How can something be publicly funded without tax payers money? And than the cost of the decision making process of the council, admin, p.r. etc.
"(According to the linked story at WHIO-TV, the city is actually paying about $5,000 per year, with advertisers picking up the rest of the tab.)"
How do advertisers make money? Do users have to accept ads to enjoy a 'free' service? How free is it?
Most Downtown cities will have this anyway. (Score:2)
Thanks to comments on
The unit goes off, (beeps and vibrates to show an access point), every step I take in any major business area.
More so in places like the University of Alberta.
I'm thinking this would be the case anywhere in the world.
Although, some places like coffee shops do this on purpose, I don't think other open access points are as intentio
Dayton (Score:2, Interesting)
mandatory cheesy update (Score:2)
Dayton and the Universe (Score:3, Informative)
not sure (Score:3, Interesting)
Build it, sure, but when you add-in controls to prevent these kinds of abuses, it's going to make the whole operation look less efficient (thus validating the claims of the Free Market Fundamentalists).
Try Athens GA (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.nmi.uga.edu/mmc/inside.php?s=environmen t&p=3/ [uga.edu]
T-shirts (Score:2)
Sweet. Now the downtown masses will be able to easily order these nice Dayton, OH t-shirts with the free WI-FI.
[cafepress.com]Re:T-shirts (Score:2)
http://www.cafepress.com/daytonohio [cafepress.com]
You don't wanna go Downtown (Score:2, Informative)
Goin' to Visit Grandpa! (Score:3, Funny)