mobileCategory: 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.
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.
Permalink: RANT_Gateway_Park_WiFi.html
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Just wanted to drop a follow up comment to your blog entry about Buffalowifi and make sure you knew I am curious to see if you've gotten online at Gateway park yet - we're still happy to help, if possible.
My email is mike at thinwires dot com - feel free to drop us a line.
MK
I own Thinwires, LLC in Buffalo, NY and we service Buffalowifi - heck, we created every location they have running in one way or another and it's our service that allows users online.
Yes, they have content filters - and guess what: in a public place reading penthouse is going to get people upset. Due to the nature of the Internet, as much as I'd like it to be wide open content wise, it's just not a good idea to have unbridled connections. Public officials sponsor these sites. Local Businesses pay to see these sites go up! No one wants a headline saying "Mayor of your favorite town provides free porn to youngsters in the park on their Nintendo DS"
Here's the other thing about that location - there is a local business DONATING their own bandwidth out of their own offices for your use! It's NOT MEANT as a public, all you can eat network. It's meant to grab some webmail, write a blog entry, check your mail (Which will work once you've signed on). And no, it won't allow you to download music and movies, either.
Perhaps there's yet another way to attack the argument:
Paneras provides it free. Do they really? Can you really go in for three hours and surf the web without buying a cup of coffee for 2 bucks which cost them .07 to make?
Spot provides it free. Hmmm....really?
Yes, it's possible to sit on the sidewalk and surf away, but seriously - you generally blow 5 bucks easy in either location. And if that suits you - FANTASTIC!
I take some of this personally because my company has donated more than $25,000 to Buffalowifi in services, equipment and installation over the past 4 years. We have most of main street Buffalo covered, several marinas, lots of parks and it's been done completely on the cheap! 12K for a public network covering 3 square miles over two towns (both NT and City of Ton) spanning two counties and donations from several parties along the way is dirt cheap! Can you imagine what it was like to get public officials, private business owners, building owners, etc all on the same page to put up a free service for their towns? Everyone was way happy to help, but it took 9 months to put together.
You can reach me personally at mike at thinwires dot com. Send me your username on buffalowifi and I'll see if I can spot a problem on that network for you.
Ultimately, for me its an issue of control. Using someone's wifi service has implications regarding content and that is something I have a major problem with. I would never be mad about a service I'm not paying for imposing rules for usage. Its their service and they have a right to regulate it. This is why I'd never give up a residential connection or avoid one in lieu of a free service... unless it was high quality, extremely reliable and had no default controls that would limit content.
Why do you think it is bascially worthless? Is it because you can't do what YOU want to do? Do you think that people would be better off if they weren't able to surf the net at all in Gateway Park or Layafette Square or the Zoo?
To echo old Mr. Young: just because it doesn't mean that much to you, doesn't mean that it might not mean that much to someone else.
I don't think that Buffalo Wifi is supposed to be a replacement for a business or residential broadband connection.
For that matter, I don't that Spot's and Panera's wifi service is supposed to be a replacement for your own personal broadband connection.
As always I could be wrong.