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Last Visit n/a |Start Date 2005-09-28 11:29:31 |Comments 3 |Entries 14 |Theme |

Category: wifi

05/09/06 01:08 - ID#34095

RANT: Gateway Park WiFi

So, finally there is an up and running WiFi access point in Gateway Park in here NT for public use. So I think, Wow, now I can ditch my DSL line and save some money, which is the modus operandi in this 'taxed to death' area.

I get a nice deal and rebate on a sweet US Robotics wireless NIC card (125 Mbps capable) and fire the connection up. Connection comes up with a strong signal, IP address, and it looks just fine.

Open my browser up, and the homepage for 'buffalowifi.org' automatically comes up. It seems I must create a 'free' user account with them in order to use the connection, as each time I try to go to a different website their homepage keeps coming up.

Naturally, I am leery of creating an account to be able to surf, because that tends to make me suspect my surfing activity will be monitored. NOT cool.

Yet I create the 'free' user account, and try to 'login' where directed to access the Internet. No dice. It keeps bringing me back to the buffalowifi.org page.

So me, being the inquisitive little scamp that I am known to be, try messing around a bit. While the connection is still active, I open up Outlook to try to get my POP/SMTP email downloaded. No dice, as the connection to my server times out, much as I expected.

I then try to use Yahoo messenger. Again, no dice.

So why did these two programs fail to work properly? To me the answer is simple. This fucking buffalowifi.org shit must be a proxy server that only allows a web browser to use their services. This means Outlook will not be able to send/receive email, and IM software will not work either. Although I do not use the IM very much, I still expect it to work when I want it to.

Even more disturbing, when I went to look at the buffalowifi.org 'FAQ' I read that they filter their content for objectionable images, and also block downloading of files. So what I am I to do for my free music and free porn addictions? That's so fucked up!

The sad summary is that this bullshit WiFi access point is NOT like Spot Coffee's or Panera Bread's, where you just fire up your connection and you can use any Internet program you want with no restrictions. Here, you have to use a web browser only, sign-in to an account, and your surfing content is filtered.

Even sadder was the fact that $12,000 of NYS money was paid to create this fucked up and basically worthless WiFi access point.

Fuck this shit. I'm going back to DSL now.

Carry on.
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