Rolling DSL and Wireless Access Out In One Swoop

B1ackFa1c0n writes: "Finally those of us in telecom valley (Petaluma/Santa Rosa, CA) are getting DSL with a twist... Vista Broadband is beginning to roll out DSL to those of us beyond the SBC limit. Rumours have it that every home that installs gets a wireless router and an antenna on the roof - effectively expanding Vista's wireless network at the same time. If enough people sign up, this would allow seamless wireless coverage for the whole area *at a profit* to Vista."

Comments

Not a bad deal

[Restil]

It also kinda puts a sock in the mouth of those that complain about people "reselling" their bandwidth by offering up wireless access points. Now Vista does it themselves, its endorsed and they can maintain some control over it while still providing the same level of advantage to the customers that desire it.

Makes sense to me anyways.

-Restil

Not too shabby

[slakdrgn]

Seems like a kewl idea, I wish they had something like this in orlando.. The only thing I see (tho I dunno how cali laws/rules are) is problems with people who rent.. down in florida, your reqiured to have permission to setup any type of attenna.. It'll be interesting to see how this works out.. I wonder what protocol they will use. :)

Also how strong the signal is without an atenna.. be kinda like wirless internet for thoes laptop people, when the infastructure gets big enuff, from soo many residental users. I hope this works out :)

Security?

[glh]

What about security... This seems like it could really be a privacy issue. I would think anyone driving around with a portable could sniff your network (assuming they had the right wireless adapater)! Anyone know more about the technology that is used here?

Gnutella, and now Broadband

[KenSentMe]

Interestingly enough, the technique they are using to "expand" their coverage area is remarkably similar to the distributed nature of peer-to-peer sharing networks, such as Gnutella.
I wonder how well it will scale. Will users' bandwidth drop as more and more customers in their area sign on, due to the heavy relaying of traffic?

Re:How Fat's the Pipe?

[Wintersmute]

The QoS may be there - while I was under the impression that current traffic maxxed out the DSL pipe, I'll just assume I'm mistaken - but that still doesn't explain how Vista is going to protect their own wireless traffic nodes (forget the end-user) from mobile attacks.

Wouldn't they have to deploy high-end security for each router that gets an antenna to prevent every deadbeat with an 802.11b device and some sniffing technology from surfing for free?

Creative Use of Coffee Cans

[Goldenhawk]

If you're really concerned about sharing your new DSL line's bandwidth with a roof-top antenna, or you worry about security, but you don't want to (or cannot) cut the power cord, a coffee can over the antenna, or some tinfoil, would probably block enough of the signal to prevent any useful connections to YOUR rooftop, and divert those connections to a neighbor.