Where's Your Nearest Wireless Access Point?

bgp4 writes "The Global Access Wireless Database (GAWD) is a search engine that allows you to find your nearest wireless access point. It also allows you to search for access points based on provider such as PersonalTelco or Seattle Wireless. The catch here is all the access points are added by the community. If you are invovlved in a wireless project, feel free to enter the information on your AP's into GAWD. Even if you're not in a project, if you know of an access point somewhere (good examples are locations in airports, bus stops, locations on the BART, etc) feel free to enter them as well. The more AP's that are in GAWD, the more useful it will be to everyone. GAWD is still under active development. If you have any feedback or ideas for improvements, please let us know." Its still a little new since it doesn't have any significant amounts of data yet, but this is a really cool idea. Especially when everyone leaves unencrypted 802.11 lans hanging around their houses and you can simply ping your way to infinite bandwidth *grin*

Comments

Re:Internet overload

[wiredog]

We do not need wireless access
Unless, of course, you live in an area without wired access. If you live on the wrong side of the freeway in some areas it can cost thousands of dollars to get a phone line strung just 1/2 mile (1 kilometer). If cell phones are available there they are a much less costly solution. I know, different type of wireless, but it needs to be discussed, maybe I'll post it to K5.

No Kidding...

[Greyfox]

As if the SUV driving dipshits need any more of an excuse not to pay attention to the road. They're already veering all over the place while they play with their cell phones (Personally I think cell phones are a phallic representation used primairly by people who either don't have one or think theirs is too small.) Imagine how bad it'll get when those idiots can surf the web from their vehicle on a regular basis.

On the plus side, I suspect this will lead to much more rapid development of a self driving vehicle. Once that is designed, it will quickly become mandatory. It'd solve a lot of problems, though it'd see a lot of resistance here in the States, too.

Signal to Noise

[tagplazen]

I personally work on SeattleWireless, and as such I think GAWD is a great idea. However, there are things that start bothering you.

The people that jump on going "it's only got so and so number of points". Who cares? It was just announced, give it time.

The people that love bragging about how insecure access points are. Who cares if you can log in to someones network? Does that make you any better than a script kiddy bragging about how many shell accounts he has? Is 802.11 any different than securing any other xmission technology? Nope. So before bragging about the clueless users, why don't you help to educate them? Remember, at least a script kiddy has know how to dl a script to gather their accounts. :-)

To the luddite. Why don't you get involved with a similar project, user group, etc. etc. Then you'd see that you actually get more face to face time than you do sitting in front of a monitor writing screeds about how technology is disenfranchising the proletariat.

Okay, I've vented (and lost the first version of this due to fat fingers), but it just drives me nuts that every open source type of project you get into, for every one person that helps out and contributes, you get ten that sit around and tell you why you'll fail, and when it works, they get to tell you how it's flawed, politically unworkable, yadda yadda yadda. So Shmoo and any other groups that are contributing, they'll always get respect for taking the time away from rl in order to work on projects for other people. Thanks guys.

Before entering data

[f5426]

I'd like to see the license. I am surprised that, afert the cddb fiasco anyone is still ready to enter information into on-line without checking before how the database is licensed.

Cheers,

--fred

Security nightmare

[osgeek]

People leaving 802.11 networks completely unsecured would make a lot of problems on the Internet even worse.

Can you say "Drive by Spamming"? I thought you could.