STL Wi-Fi

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 9:05 am

http://www.o2connect.net/

This company is installing 42 blocks of free wi-fi access is downtown St. Louis....can we get that here?

I don't see it ever working...I mean how can a company just provide free access in all of downtown? Great idea and plan but not fiscally possible...good luck to them though.

kcteen · Post by **kcteen** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:43 am

that'd be awesome. Come on, we can do it!

Who's paying for the installation BTW?

kcteen

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:51 am

I guess the 02connect people...I just don't see how it's possible...bandwidth alone for that much area is expensive, imagine the cost of the equipment....maybe their "downtown council" or something.

Post by **dangerboy** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:53 am

There is a company doing the same thing here, but I forget there name. Also, http://www.kcwireless.net has a list and map of currently available hot spots, mostly in Midtown and Eastern Jax. Sprint recently announced a wi-fi service simiilar to T-Mobile's, and hopefully they will include good coverage in KC.

A lot of times you can find access Downtown just from the companies that have unsecured wireless networks.

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:09 am

we just put our wifi in here at work and don't understand these companies that don't secure their stuff...it's so easy.....

the difference between what's going on here and what this o2connect company is doing is the STL version is free, the company planning hot spots here are charging from what I've read. That's the only way that it can maintain I would think and I would easily pay monthly for a service with solid coverage.

Also it sounds like the STL version is more than just hot spots but more like hot zones...much broader areas I guess.

kcteen · Post by **kcteen** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:34 am

people have to understand with wifi that it is NOT secure at all. Even WEP encryption has published flaws... it should always be regarded as low security. But, nonetheless, it would be cool to have official and free downtown.

What about at least in union station? You would think they would have it there or maybe in crown center or other public and transportation places

kcteen

Post by **dangerboy** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:38 am

They will have to come up with a revenue source at some point. A lot of these companies are starting out with free service to get people interested and generate more overall deman for wi-fi. Odds are that at some point in the future they will start charging or mabye putting in advertisements.

It's pretty easy for a small business with it's own IT department to put in a few wireless access points and never realize that they need to take some extra steps to secure it. Many companies also have problems with employees putting in rogue access points that have become so easy to use they start spewing out bandwidth as soon as you plug them in.

hartliss · Post by **hartliss** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:11 pm

There is going to be WiFi access at the airport. You have to pay for it however

Post by **dangerboy** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:57 pm

Is that the Expedia Cafe being built in one of the terminals, or will it be throughout the airport?

Post by **dangerboy** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 11:18 am

The Kansas Speedway has a wireless network available for $30 for a weekend.

UPDATE: Flash Network (http://www.flashnetwork.net) has hotspots in the Mr. Goodcents at 31st and Main and the City Market . The City Market Coffee House is due to go online in a week or two. Although their web site only lists a couple of Joco locations. They charge $30 per month for access at any hot spot.

hartliss · Post by **hartliss** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 4:46 pm

There is a free hookup at Expedia Cafe, in terminal C. The WiFi technology will be available throughout the airport.