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FreeNetworks Conference in Las Vegas

Posted by michael on from the radio-is-your-friend dept.

belial writes "The FreeNetworks Conference is in less than a month (June 6-8). If you want to find out what's happening in the Community Wireless Network world, this is the place to be. Keynotes include Tim O'Reilly, Cory Doctorow from BoingBoing, and a whole gaggle of wireless geeks from the FreeNetworks community. Find out about the latest happenings from BAWUG, Consume, NoCat, NYCWireless,SeattleWireless, WirelessLeiden, and more!"

4 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, the irony by Wonko42 · · Score: 5, Funny
    How ironic. I just happened to be bored at work, so I popped open my laptop and attempted to connect to a wireless network from a nearby office. Lo and behold, they aren't using WEP and they're running a DHCP server. The first thing I did after connecting was browse to Slashdot, and I find this article at the top of the page.

    Hooray for free (as in beer) wireless!

  2. this could be cool by the-dude-man · · Score: 5, Interesting

    this could turn out to be quite a cool conference....I'm planning on attending..there is a few problems with wi-fi right now that need to be addressed....such as the lack of security....I have driven thru downtown boston with a laptop and a wi-fi card....and roamed thru about 30 networks, getting on all of them...and succsfully emailing the sysadmins from them too.

    There are certian issues, such as security, transmitability and frequency collisions wich need to be addressed, Supposivly the conference plans on addressing these....I'm curious to see what they have.

  3. Viability by Brett+Glass · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of the issues not often discussed by the cheerleaders for community wireless networks is how to make them viable. I founded the first wireless community network, in 1994, and we're still going strong; however, our policies are very different than that of the Johnny-come-latelies. In particular, we require accountability (to avoid drive-by spamming, which could in turn cause our upstream link to be cut off) and have dues (bandwidth and equipment are not free, and we want to be a going concern). We're thus a "cheapnet," not a "freenet." But our model works, and the members appreciate the fact that we'll be there tomorrow. I don't get the sense, from the Web site, that many of the people who are doing these projects are thinking about many of the issues we've faced....

  4. Re:Vegas? by tedtimmons · · Score: 4, Interesting

    plane fair? What, you ride planes instead of the normal fair rides?

    Seriously, the advantage of Vegas is the exhibition and meeting space. There are a plethora of moderately priced hotels and convention space, so you can get a bunch of geeks together. Plus, there are easy flights from most US cities direct to Vegas, most reasonably priced. Cab rides are only a few dollars from the airport to the hotel, since everything is located close to the Strip.

    Then there is SF: too many people and buildings crammed on a little peninsula, incredibly expensive hotels and conference space, inconvenient to the rest of the US- especially the East Coast, overcrowded airport and roads, need I continue?

    The linux/freenetworks movement isn't about spending dot-com cash in flashy Bay Area venues. Vegas fits- tacky, but cheap and accessible.

    Not to mention the geek factor of CSI.

    Personally, I hate Vegas. But it's good for conventions.