War Car Offers Wi-Fi

NetGyver writes "news.com has an interesting story about public hot-spot operators that use a weapon in protest against the growth of commercial Wi-Fi networks: Michael Oh's "war car." The 1997 Saturn has enough Wi-Fi equipment installed on its bumper and rooftop to create a 150-foot wireless network, said Oh, who helps run a free wireless network covering two Boston city blocks and is one of hundreds of so-called public hot-spot operators who believe Wi-Fi networks and the Internet access they offer should remain free."

Comments

Ut oh

[Adam9]

So if this car got into an accident.. would that be a Denial of Service attack?

Re:Ut oh

[Kredal]

No, it would be a packet collision.

he shot who in the what now?

[deander2]

he's trying to put a hole in their business model? and try proving it should be free? is this guy on crack?

no hole, because it's only within 1500' of his base, and he's not parked outside the starbucks all the time.

and to prove a business should offer it for free? how much money did he spend? how much time did he spend? what business is going to invest that for a guaranteed no return?

don't get me wrong, i think businesses would do well to offer value-add services like wireless internet inside their stores free-of-charge just like they do restrooms. I think starbuck's plan will go the way of the pay-toilet. but this guy is going about demonstrating it the wrong way.

the crack monkies are definitely among us.. :-)

Re:he shot who in the what now?

[GigsVT]

i think businesses would do well to offer value-add services like wireless internet inside their stores free-of-charge just like they do restrooms. I think starbuck's plan will go the way of the pay-toilet. but this guy is going about demonstrating it the wrong way.

If it weren't for those brave rebels who dared to park their porta-potty in the parking lot of stores with pay toilets then we would all still be paying to use the toilet.