Jim Kirk, CCNA, CCDA
Cisco Systems
Program Manager
CA WW Partner Programs Development/Management
408 853-6577
408 242-3856 (mobile)
408 853-4178 (fax)
800 365-4578 (pager)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 11:45 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: wireless digest, Vol 1 #788 - 11 msgs
Send wireless mailing list submissions to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
You can reach the person managing the list at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of wireless digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Graphical meters for Linux (Sameer Verma)
2. VBScript to monitor WAP11 (Adrian Brinton)
3. BAWUG] Re: TI ACX100 in WAP11v2.2 (Glenn Fleishman)
4. Re: wireless issues in New Zealand (Glenn Fleishman)
5. External antenna for LinkSys WMP11 (Roger S. DeReu)
6. RG1100 - PoE (Tony Parker)
7. Re: RG1100 - PoE (Sameer Verma)
8. Re: wireless issues in New Zealand (Cliff Skolnick)
9. Re: Graphical meters for Linux (Scott L. Thomas)
10. Re: Fwd: Wireless on the train - flat-rate Verizon (Kenneth Thomas)
11. Wi-Fi in the Steel City - $20/month (Jim Kelly)
--__--__--
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 12:03:54 -0700
From: Sameer Verma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Daniel Curry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: "Bawug (E-mail)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Rob Flickenger
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] Graphical meters for Linux
Daniel Curry wrote:
>I am looking for signal strength, speed, power, etc meters for 802.11b
>cards that run on Linux showing real-time values.
>I am also looking for a way to identify number of connections to an AP
>(Linksys WAP11 and WAP11 v.2.2, in this case) with their relative stats
>for speed, signal strength, quality, etc.
>
>Thanks
>
>Daniel Curry
>--
>general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
>[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
>
>
http://archive.nocat.net/list?mss:1271:200204:cgmmkfakblgebmgoogii
WPM by Rob Flickenger
Sameer
--
Sameer Verma, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor of Information Systems
San Francisco State University
San Francisco CA 94132 USA
http://verma.sfsu.edu/
--__--__--
Message: 2
From: "Adrian Brinton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 20:38:09 +0100
Subject: [BAWUG] VBScript to monitor WAP11
Ok, I got the SNMP working, thanks to Roman's suggestion to reset to factory
defaults... I've written a VBScript to monitor the statistics available from
the WAP11. I couldn't find where anyone had posted anything like this
before, so I though I'd send it along...
The output formatting could easily be changed to use this with MRTG, but I
don't have MRTG set up yet and so I haven't done it. It uses smtputil.exe to
query the WAP11, which (I think) is installed with Win2k by default. Change
the target, community, and OID to suit your needs... OIDs for wireless and
ethernet statistics and offsets are listed at the bottom.
(save text below with .vbs extension)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
option explicit
dim snmputil, snmpcmd, target, community, oid, oShell, oArgs, oArg
dim cData, BaseTX, BaseRX, BaseAckFailure
target = "192.168.0.250"
community = "public"
oid = ".1.3.6.1.4.1.410.1.2.3.1.0"
snmputil = "c:\winnt\system32\snmputil.exe"
snmpcmd = snmputil & " get " & target & " " & community & " " & oid
set oShell = wscript.CreateObject("wscript.shell")
'GetMatches polls the WAP11 and returns the HEX statistic values in a RegExp
Matches object.
Set cData = GetMatches()
'GetStat parses the HEX values and returns the Decimal value of the
statistic.
'Usage: GetStat(<Matches Object from GetMatches>, <offset of statistic you
want>)
'The offsets are listed below.
BaseTX = GetStat(cData, 0)
BaseRX = GetStat(cData,28)
BaseAckFailure = GetStat(cData,56)
'you can add your own output formatting here.
wscript.Echo("TX: " & BaseTX & " RX: " & BaseRX & " AckFailure: " &
BaseAckFailure)
Function GetMatches()
Dim oExec, sStdOut, regEx, match, matches
set oExec = oShell.Exec (snmpcmd)
sStdOut = oExec.StdOut.ReadAll
set regEx = new RegExp
regEx.Pattern = "\<\w*\>"
regEx.Global = True
set Matches = regEx.Execute(sStdOut)
Set GetMatches = Matches
End Function
Function GetStat(cMatches, offset)
offset = offset + 3
Dim i, hval
For i = 0 to 3
hval = hval & mid(cMatches(offset - i).value,4,2)
Next
GetStat = ConvertHex(hval)
End Function
Function ConvertHex(HexVal)
Dim x, y, z, v
For x = 1 To Len(HexVal)
y = Mid(HexVal, ((Len(HexVal) - x) + 1), 1)
On Error Resume Next
v = CLng("&H" & y)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
wscript.Echo("Invalid Hex Value")
Exit Function
End If
On Error GoTo 0
z = z + (v * 16 ^ (x - 1))
Next
ConvertHex = z
End Function
' Offsets for OID .1.3.6.1.4.1.410.1.2.3.1.0 (Wireless Stats)
'0 UnicastTransmittedPackets;
'4 BroadcastTransmittedPacets;
'8 MulticastTransmittedPackets;
'12 TransmittedBeacon;
'16 TransmittedACK;
'20 TransmittedRTS;
'24 TransmittedCTS;
'28 UnicastReceivedPackets;
'32 BroadcastReceivedPackets;
'36 MulticastReceivedPackets;
'40 ReceivedBeacon;
'44 ReceivedACK;
'48 ReceivedRTS;
'52 ReceivedCTS;
'56 ACKFailure;
'60 CTSFailure;
'64 RetryPackets;
'68 ReceivedDuplicate;
'72 FailedPackets;
'76 AgedPackets;
'80 FCSError;
'84 InvalidPLCP;
' Offsets for OID .1.3.6.1.4.1.410.1.1.7.1.0 (Ethernet RX Stats)
' or OID .1.3.6.1.4.1.410.1.1.7.2.0 (Ethernet TX Stats)
'0 TotalPacketsRx;
'4 PacketCRCErrorRx;
'8 MulticastPacketRx;
'12 BroadcastPacketRx;
'16 ControlFramesRx;
'20 PauseFramesRx;
'24 UnknownOPCodeRx;
'28 AlignmentRxError;
'32 LengthOutOfRangeRx;
'36 CodeErrorRx;
'40 FalseCarrierRx;
'44 UndersizePacketsRx;
'48 OversizePacketsRx;
'52 TotalFragmentsRx;
'56 TotalJabberRx;
--__--__--
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 12:37:31 -0700
From: Glenn Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: BAWUG wireless <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [BAWUG] BAWUG] Re: TI ACX100 in WAP11v2.2
>> Stefan Schueller wrote:
>>> Also the ACX100 support 22mbits which would mean the WAP11 might be able
to
>>> do this as well if it is modified. Linksys may provide a firmware
upgrade
>>> once the FCC approves the use of 22mbits.
>
> The FCC already approved this, I thought, by allowing OFDM to run in the
2.4
> GHz band sometime middle of last year.
Actually, the WECA group is saying that the May 16, 2002, FCC order (just a
few days ago) that allows non-DSSS/FHSS modulations in the 2.4 GHz range
includes OFDM, thus freeing the 802.11 Task Group G to finalize the spec
with the compromise mandatory/optional modulations.
I'm assuming PBCC gets swept into the big tent with this as well, as it's a
conforming spec: non-DSSS but has similar characteristics that allow to
qualify.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Fleishman, Unsolicited Pundit: read my work at http://glennf.com
freelance journalist for Wired, New York Times, Seattle Weekly, et al
Practical Mac columnist, Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/ptech/
interested in wireless 802.11b networking? http://80211b.weblogger.com
I live in Seattle, WA. I write about technology http://blog.glennf.com
--__--__--
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 12:39:33 -0700
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] wireless issues in New Zealand
From: Glenn Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: BAWUG wireless <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On 5/21/02 9:53 AM, Cliff Skolnick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> The last line is funny. I always thought that transmitting a packet at
> 11mpbs would use less airtime than using 2mbps. Silly me, guess this guy
> knows some special math. I hope he was just misquoted since it takes away
> much of his credibility.
Don't let me defend fuzzy thinking, but I believe that the slower
frequencies are not just more resistant to interference, but also use FHSS.
So, ostensibly, running at 2 Mbps might produce less interferring signals
and be less interferred with?
Airtime t'ain't the issue, I hope.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Fleishman, Unsolicited Pundit: read my work at http://glennf.com
freelance journalist for Wired, New York Times, Seattle Weekly, et al
Practical Mac columnist, Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/ptech/
interested in wireless 802.11b networking? http://80211b.weblogger.com
I live in Seattle, WA. I write about technology http://blog.glennf.com
--__--__--
Message: 5
Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: "Roger S. DeReu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 15:49:11 -0500
Subject: [BAWUG] External antenna for LinkSys WMP11
Looking for external antenna enhancement - either cable for existing antenna
or cable w/ better antenna.
Techsplanet.com has them but isn't very easy to get hold of.
thanks,
Roger.
--__--__--
Message: 6
Reply-To: "Tony Parker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: "Tony Parker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "BAWUG wireless" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 14:53:54 -0700
Organization: IP Flow
Subject: [BAWUG] RG1100 - PoE
Anyone know it the RG-1100 supprot PoE?
-Tony
--__--__--
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 15:55:55 -0700
From: Sameer Verma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Tony Parker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: BAWUG wireless <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] RG1100 - PoE
Tony Parker wrote:
>Anyone know it the RG-1100 supprot PoE?
>
>-Tony
>
>
>--
>general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
>[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
>
>
No it does not. Not unless you hack it. http://www.nycwireless.net/poe/
Sameer
--
Sameer Verma, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor of Information Systems
San Francisco State University
San Francisco CA 94132 USA
http://verma.sfsu.edu/
--__--__--
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 17:59:03 -0700
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] wireless issues in New Zealand
Cc: BAWUG wireless <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Glenn Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: Cliff Skolnick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Actually I just got a note from the engineer who was quoted, and my
guess was correct. What he was trying to say was than people seem to be
pumping more data with the higher bandwidth available to them. So data
rate to him was how much data. He did also say he tried to explain to
the reporter that he was an RF guy, not a wi-fi guy.
Sure lower data rates will put less RF into the air if all things are
equal, but not significantly less for most modulations. I'll still
stand by my on air/off air time (combined with power and antenna gain)
as the best measure of total energy that interferes with other signals.
Now if you want to call me out on how lower data rates may have less
chance of a re-transmission I'll break out some fancy math. Instead you
may want to take a peek at the paper Jim Thompson mentioned earlier in
this thread. Sure it is an 80+ page thesis, but the guy who wrote it is
smarter than me, writes better too.
http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/shepard95decentralized.html
Cliff
On Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at 12:39 , Glenn Fleishman wrote:
> On 5/21/02 9:53 AM, Cliff Skolnick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>> The last line is funny. I always thought that transmitting a packet at
>> 11mpbs would use less airtime than using 2mbps. Silly me, guess this
>> guy
>> knows some special math. I hope he was just misquoted since it takes
>> away
>> much of his credibility.
>
> Don't let me defend fuzzy thinking, but I believe that the slower
> frequencies are not just more resistant to interference, but also use
> FHSS.
> So, ostensibly, running at 2 Mbps might produce less interferring
> signals
> and be less interferred with?
>
> Airtime t'ain't the issue, I hope.
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Glenn Fleishman, Unsolicited Pundit: read my work at http://glennf.com
> freelance journalist for Wired, New York Times, Seattle Weekly, et al
> Practical Mac columnist, Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/ptech/
> interested in wireless 802.11b networking? http://80211b.weblogger.com
> I live in Seattle, WA. I write about technology http://blog.glennf.com
>
> --
> general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
--__--__--
Message: 9
From: "Scott L. Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Bawug \(E-mail\)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] Graphical meters for Linux
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 21:07:27 -0500
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0042_01C2010B.831D03A0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I have added to Roman Festchook's AP Utils at =
http://ap-utils.polesye.net . My Linux box now successfully monitors 6 =
Linksys (version 2.1) AP's in client mode gathering signal strength and =
quality for MRTG. I am finishing up the source code and will be sending =
it to Roman where it may be included in upcoming release. In the =
meantime feel free to e-mail me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and I will be =
happy to share the code and MRTG config file. Keep in mind however the =
program only works on Linux using version 2.1 of Linksys AP's in client =
mode attaching to another access point in AP mode. Also it should be =
known by gathering signal strength and quality you reset the wireless =
and Ethernet stats. This is ok if all you care about is the delta =
between reads - the only thing you lose are the beacon broadcasts.
Regards,
... Scott
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Sameer Verma=20
To: Daniel Curry=20
Cc: Bawug (E-mail) ; Rob Flickenger=20
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] Graphical meters for Linux
Daniel Curry wrote:
>I am looking for signal strength, speed, power, etc meters for =
802.11b
>cards that run on Linux showing real-time values.
>I am also looking for a way to identify number of connections to an =
AP
>(Linksys WAP11 and WAP11 v.2.2, in this case) with their relative =
stats
>for speed, signal strength, quality, etc.
>
>Thanks
>
>Daniel Curry
>--
>general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
>[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
> =20
>
http://archive.nocat.net/list?mss:1271:200204:cgmmkfakblgebmgoogii
WPM by Rob Flickenger
Sameer
--=20
Sameer Verma, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor of Information Systems
San Francisco State University
San Francisco CA 94132 USA
http://verma.sfsu.edu/
--
general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
------=_NextPart_000_0042_01C2010B.831D03A0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2716.2200" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have added to Roman Festchook's =
AP Utils at=20
<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><A=20
href=3D"http://ap-utils.polesye.net";>http://ap-utils.polesye.net</A><FONT=
=20
face=3DArial size=3D2> . My Linux box now successfully =
monitors 6 Linksys=20
(version 2.1) AP's in client mode gathering signal strength and quality =
for=20
MRTG. I am finishing up the source code and will be sending it to =
Roman=20
where it may be included in upcoming release. In the meantime =
feel=20
free to e-mail me at <A=20
href=3D"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> and I =
will be=20
happy to share the code and MRTG config file. Keep in mind however =
the=20
program only works on Linux using version 2.1 of Linksys AP's in client =
mode=20
attaching to another access point in AP mode. Also it should be =
known by=20
gathering signal strength and quality you reset the wireless and =
Ethernet=20
stats. This is ok if all you care about is the delta between =
reads -=20
the only thing you lose are the beacon =
broadcasts.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>... Scott</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A [EMAIL PROTECTED] href=3D"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Sameer =
Verma</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
[EMAIL PROTECTED]=20
href=3D"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Daniel Curry</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
[EMAIL PROTECTED]=20
href=3D"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Bawug (E-mail)</A> ; <A=20
[EMAIL PROTECTED] href=3D"mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Rob Flickenger</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 21, 2002 =
2:03 PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [BAWUG] Graphical =
meters for=20
Linux</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Daniel Curry wrote:<BR><BR>>I am looking for signal=20
strength, speed, power, etc meters for 802.11b<BR>>cards that run =
on Linux=20
showing real-time values.<BR>>I am also looking for a way to =
identify=20
number of connections to an AP<BR>>(Linksys WAP11 and WAP11 v.2.2, =
in this=20
case) with their relative stats<BR>>for speed, signal strength, =
quality,=20
etc.<BR>><BR>>Thanks<BR>><BR>>Daniel=20
Curry<BR>>--<BR>>general wireless list, a bawug thing <<A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.bawug.org/";>http://www.bawug.org/</A>><BR>>[un]s=
ubscribe:=20
<A=20
=
href=3D"http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless";>http://lists.ba=
wug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless</A><BR>> =20
<BR>><BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://archive.nocat.net/list?mss:1271:200204:cgmmkfakblgebmgoogi=
i">http://archive.nocat.net/list?mss:1271:200204:cgmmkfakblgebmgoogii</A>=
<BR><BR>WPM=20
by Rob Flickenger<BR><BR>Sameer<BR><BR>-- <BR>Sameer Verma, =
Ph.D.<BR>Asst.=20
Professor of Information Systems<BR>San Francisco State =
University<BR>San=20
Francisco CA 94132 USA<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://verma.sfsu.edu/";>http://verma.sfsu.edu/</A><BR><BR><BR><BR=
>--<BR>general=20
wireless list, a bawug thing <<A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.bawug.org/";>http://www.bawug.org/</A>><BR>[un]subsc=
ribe:=20
<A=20
=
href=3D"http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless";>http://lists.ba=
wug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless</A><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0042_01C2010B.831D03A0--
--__--__--
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 23:03:36 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Kenneth Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [BAWUG] Fwd: Wireless on the train - flat-rate Verizon
What sort of authentication does the Verizon system use? Is it potentially
viable to share the same account with two devices, assuming no concurrent
use?
$99 is high for single user, but would be fine if it could be shared
without concurrent use.
-Ken
At 06:04 PM 5/20/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>[from a mailing list for riders of Amtrak's Capitol Corridor
>Oakland-Sacramento trains --Raines]
>
>For those pining for a Ricochet replacement...
>
>Verizon Wireless Starts Flat-Rate Plan
>
>Express Network offers high-speed Internet connections for e-mail
>
> and the Web from laptop computers and personal digital assistants.
>
> Typical speeds are about 40 to 60 kilobits per second -- the
>
> equivalent of a home dial-up connection -- but can be as fast as 144
>
> kbps.... Under the new Verizon price plan, consumers pay $99.99
>for
> unlimited data with some restrictions. Other plans range
>from
>$35 for 150 voice or data minutes to $75 for 600 minutes....
>
>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=582&ncid=582&e=7&u=/nm/2002
>0520/wr_nm/telecoms_verizonwireless_dc_3
>--
>general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/>
>[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
--__--__--
Message: 11
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 22:40:53 -0700
From: Jim Kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-to: Jim Kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [BAWUG] Wi-Fi in the Steel City - $20/month
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-918439.html
Wi-Fi in the Steel City
By Ben Charny
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
May 20, 2002, 4:45 PM PT
update A growing number of cities are setting up Wi-Fi access in
public outdoor areas
like parks for business districts.
The latest is Pittsburgh, where an outdoor public Wi-Fi network was
launched Monday. It is run
by 3 Rivers Connect, a nonprofit whose major source of funding is
the state of Pennsylvania.
Private wireless company Grok Technology is managing the network.
The network, which became available for public use on Monday, is
free to use for now.
Organizers envision charging $20 a month for access once the
network, covering a
4-square-mile area of downtown Pittsburgh, is built, according to
Executive Director Ron
Gdovic.
So far, the so-called Pittsburgh Public Wireless Internet (PPWI)
project is limited to two
downtown parks, Gdovic said. A pair of antennae on the eighth floor
of a downtown building are
showering the parks with 10-megabit Internet access, Gdovic said.
Pittsburgh joins the small, but growing, number of urban areas with
public Wi-Fi projects.
Officials in Jacksonville, Fla., and in Ashland, Ore., have created
"wireless zones" in shopping
areas and neighborhoods to allow people with wireless modems to
access such networks for
free.
Pittsburgh is creating the network to show off its technological
savvy and attract new
businesses to move there, Gdovic said. "We're looking to help
Pittsburgh...be perceived as a
wired city," he said. The city of Jacksonville created a wireless
network to drum up foot traffic
in an area of shops the city wants to revitalize, city officials
said.
Wireless local area networks, or WLANs, let anyone with a laptop and
a modem get wireless
Internet access from up to 300 feet away. Although wireless LANs
operate through the 802.11
standard, there is an alphabet soup of versions of 802.11 that have
varying levels of security or
speed.
For example, the wildly popular Wi-Fi networks operate on 802.11b,
but 802.11a and 802.11g
have been developed to be more secure or to travel on more channels.
The 802.11b version
runs on three channels in the unregulated 2.4GHZ spectrum, which is
also used by cordless
phones, microwave ovens, and many Bluetooth products. Because the
information is
transmitted through the air, a person can "capture" the information
as it travels.
The 802.11a strain is an approved standard that broadcasts a more
powerful signal, running on
12 channels in the 5GHZ spectrum, and transfers data up to five
times faster than 802.11b.
There are only a very limited number of 802.11a networks, even
though the 802.11a chipsets
have been sold for nearly a year. While it is faster, it has not
been backward compatible to
802.11b.
Another Wi-Fi standard, known as 802.11g, which is more secure than
802.11b and has the
speed of 802.11a, is in the works as well, but it has yet to be
approved by the appropriate
standards bodies.
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