[ogWiFi] Wireless access for a whole community...How to do it

[Michael Richardson]

>>>>> "Ian" == Ian Gough <igough57 at gmail.com> writes:
    >> I've stated repeatedly that ogwifi is shooting itself in the foot
    >> by not having multiple classes of membership.

    Ian> What "classes of membership" should ogWifi have?

From: Michael Richardson <mcr at sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>
To: Ottawa-Gatineau WiFi <ogwifi at list.flora.ca>
Subject: two classes of hotspots
X-Mailer: MH-E 7.82; nmh 1.1; XEmacs 21.4 (patch 19)
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 22:13:00 -0400
Sender: mcr at marajade.sandelman.ca


Quite a number of people would like to make their wrt's into official
hotspots, but the $50/year seems to be a sticking point.

I would like to suggest that the board (?) consider two-types of
membership.  The lower tier could be at $10-$20/year, but it would not
come with the right to have your own IFRAME on the portal page.

Instead, the content would be from ogwifi, or perhaps some third party
source (e.g. google adwords?) 

====

From: Michael Richardson <mcr at sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>
To: Ottawa-Gatineau WiFi <ogwifi at list.flora.ca>
Subject: Re: [ogWiFi] two classes of hotspots 
X-Mailer: MH-E 7.82; nmh 1.1; XEmacs 21.4 (patch 19)
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 07:58:23 -0400

I understand the rationale for a fee, which is why I do not propose
free.  (I can afford the $50, and intend to, but others have said it's a
psychological barrier for them)

I would also be willing to become a paying member of ogwifi, without
necessarily having a hotspot. 

I understand the problems of funding, and of motivating volunteers.
I don't know how many "inactive" people are on the list (lurkers), but
from reading the list, it's often hard to know how to get involved.  
(I don't claim to have time, but perhaps others do)

====

From: Michael Richardson <mcr at sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>
To: Ottawa-Gatineau WiFi <ogwifi at list.flora.ca>
Subject: Re: [ogWiFi] two classes of hotspots 
X-Mailer: MH-E 7.82; nmh 1.1; XEmacs 21.4 (patch 19)
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 15:29:40 -0400
Sender: mcr at marajade.sandelman.ca


>>>>> "Emil" == Emil Mitev <quanttrom at gmail.com> writes:
    Emil> putting them in the OgWiFi Map.  If these hotspots are not on
    Emil> the OgWiFi Map , then any user coming into Ottawa and looking
    Emil> for internet will not be able to see them and will not use
    Emil> them. If they are not used by passing-by users , then the only
    Emil> people that will use them are permanent residents of the area.

    Emil> If the users are only the permanent residents then an open
    Emil> network with an SSID of "FREE INTERNET" will serve the purpose
    Emil> equally well as a small hotspots with a OgWiFi frontpage.

  You are looking at it backwards.
  Those privatish hotspots, which are not on the map, if they still
point through OgWifi, provide awareness to ogwifi.  

  (I wasn't saying that the "private" hotspots shouldn't be on the
map. I'd say that this decision is independant)

    Emil> I think what you kind of want is a database/map where people
    Emil> who want to offer free internet list their hotspots.

  I want to bring those people into the fold.

  ogwifi's auth system provides just enough authentication to make
people open up their APs.  (Me, I just run everything open. You even get
a public IP, and could run a web server...)