Wireless Bandit

Smart Antennas

Smart antennas to expand Wi-Fi range - Computerworld

What would be really cool is if they could multiplex access from multiple access point for higher bandwidth. I think that in the future there will be in some places multiple access points and rather than just choosing one, it would be nice to use them all simultaneously... What would be even cooler is if antennas had a built in location system so that once you plugged in your card you instantly had access to a realtime mapping system of where you could get free/pay for access. I'd give this 2-3 yrs to be a reality.

Ah nothing like leading edge technology to brighten our spirits in late 2003.

Canadians supposedly want to pay $25/month for WiFi

Wi-Fi Networking News: Canadians Are Less Stingy

Umm, right. Who was the study done on? Millionaire businessmen? I can't believe that one can extrapolaet that 17% of the 18-34 yr old market uses hotspots. Maybe 1.7%, but 17%. Sounds like someone wants to sell some WiFi service and hired a firm to confirm their marketing build-out plan... Geez.

Security Protocol Problems Still Hamper WiFi

Controlling the Air Waves

An interesting article about how lack of strong security in WiFi is forcing some managers to create hybrid plans. It's amazing to me that in late 2003 we still don't have the SSL-equivalent in WiFi that people trust and that actually works.

Prediction for 2004: We still won't have security figured out in WiFi. In the meantime, campuses will have more and more cheap 802.11b "dormshares" set up to share music, video etc with a much more local community, your buddies on your floor and the floors around you... I can imagine a cool little piece of software that instead of sharing your music to the whole world just shares it with the people that are on your WiFi LAN...

New Feature - Email this Entry

Hi faithful readers...

You may notice a new link near every entry on Wireless Bandit - Email this Entry. This link will take you to a form that will allow you to email the link of that entry to your friend. We don't collect any of the emails that you fill in, and the maximum is 250 characters per email, so don't go writing any long novels in your email to your friend...

Cheers and happy holidays!

100,000 Page Views!

Hey good news! Wireless Bandit has reached 100,000 page views since we launched back in May 2002. The visit below experienced the 100,000th page view (apparently from the Toronto Public Library)...

Visit Detail
on.ca @ 12/22/2003 4:33:20 PM
IP Address 192.30.226.28 filter28.tpl.toronto.on.ca
Operating System Microsoft WinNT
Browser Netscape 4.72
Time of Visit Dec 22 2003 3:47:17 pm
Last Page View Dec 22 2003 4:33:20 pm
Visit Length 46 minutes and 3 seconds
Page Views 27
Referring URL http://www.wififreespot.com/can.html
Visit Entry Page http://wirelessbandit.nerdsunderglass.com/
Visit Exit Page http://wirelessbandit.nerdsunderglass.com/archives/000044.html

Terrific Linksys Router Page

ShadowGameWorld - Linksys Help Page

This is a terrific page with snapshots of the Linksys admin interface and what all the features do, including some handy debugging tools... Definitely check this out if you are having problems with your Linksys router.

Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport

Physical Landmark: Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport
Major Intersection: 427 and Airport Rd (Terminal 3)
GPS Lat: 43.68635
GPS Lon: -79.60115

Network Name: ?
WEP: No
Type: Free
Location: Store
Contributor: Robert
Comments: best signal 2nd floor. Parking available across the road down the street in various buisness lots after hours. Get an hour at one sitting.

A map to this CAP.

Sam the Record Man - 347 Yonge Street

Physical Landmark: Sam the Record Man, 347 Yonge Street
Major Intersection: Yonge and Elm (between Gerrard and Dundas)
GPS Lat: 43.65767
GPS Lon: -79.38147

Network Name: ?
WEP: No
Type: Free
Location: Store
Contributor: Robert
Comments: : a little difficulty in getting the signal, and keeping it, plugs
along the wall. You can grab something from outside and bring it in.

More:Sam's has a mini cafe in their store and advertises a free WIFI
Hotspot on their window advertising.

There are tables in the store (in the dvd/video section along the
window) and of course once the weather is nicer, there is the outdoor
seating where people tend to play chess and checkers.

A map to this CAP.

Howard Johnsons - Queen and Kennedy - Brampton

Physical Landmark: Howard Johnsons - Queen and Kennedy - Brampton
Major Intersection: McLaughlin & Steeles, main building
GPS Lat: 43.69556
GPS Lon: -79.74944

Network Name: tsunami
WEP: No
Type: Free
Location: Hotel
Contributor: Robert
Comments: : bar and cafe adjacent, had trouble keeping the signal in the cafe, plug at back. Bar could be better.

A map to this CAP.

Sheridan College - Davis Campus - Brampton

Physical Landmark: Sheridan College - Davis Campus
Major Intersection: McLaughlin & Steeles, main building
GPS Lat: 43.65639
GPS Lon: -79.74385

Network Name: tsunami
WEP: No
Type: Free
Location: Campus
Contributor: Robert
Comments: : parking available, lower floor cafeteria has a couple of electrical plugs, top floor study area has a nice open glass ceiling with a plug.

A map to this CAP.