Open Source Hotspots

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Posted by michael on Tuesday May 25, 2004 @05:17AM from the freebie dept.

darthcamaro writes "Not that long ago it was a serious pain to get an 802.11b card to work on a Linux machine. [ed note: We love you Jean Tourrilhes!] Wi-Fi Planet has a story where they do an overview of a wad of open source Wi-Fi projects. Did you realize that you don't even need to spend the dough for an Access Point? - standard Linux routing is enough to create your own access point, with a few other tools like Public IP's Zone CD or the Less Networks Hotspot server, you can freely create a hotspot and manage it all in minutes. I guess all this means that both Wi-Fi and open source are literally 'everywhere'."

9 of 206 comments (clear)

Good Post! by Daemonik+CyCow · 2004-05-25 05:22 · Score: 2, Funny

and to think, when they finally get those tiny microdust processors working, we might even be able to cover the planet in wifi... Imagine that.... But would we have to suffer with the grey dust and wear versaci breathing masks?
What do you do, steal it? by tbase · 2004-05-25 05:22 · Score: 3, Funny

Did you realize that you don't even need to spend the dough for an Access Point?

They have Open Source hardware now?

--

666-607: 6th floor apartment of the beast
WAP fairies by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-25 05:27 · Score: 1, Funny

They also provide freshly made open-source footwear while you sleep.
1. Re:WAP fairies by Havokmon · 2004-05-25 05:51 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  They also provide freshly made open-source footwear while you sleep.
  Just as long as their not stealing my underwear as part of an incomplete business model..
  
  --
  "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
Within minutes? Is that a good thing? by 192939495969798999 · 2004-05-25 05:32 · Score: 3, Funny

So within minutes, my stuff can be available over wireless... or, within minutes, my cable modem can be saturated with pringles cans from miles(?) away! Wheee! That sounds like a plan. Hey, all I need is that 92 TB router, and then I just uncap my cable modem and watch as time warner's bw usage goes to the moon.

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stuff |
Yup by tomhung · 2004-05-25 05:33 · Score: 4, Funny

Did you realize that you don't even need to spend the dough for an Access Point?
Duh, I've been leaching off my neighbors for years.
Re:Hmmmm by m1a1 · 2004-05-25 05:42 · Score: 2, Funny

The whole point of an access point is that its small and discreat enough to be wall mounted, ceiling mounted, crawl space mounted or whatever.

Incredible. And all along I thought the point of an AP was to allow wireless network connectivity.
Re:Attention "Duh! A computer costs $300!" posters by advocate_one · 2004-05-25 06:06 · Score: 2, Funny

"Just compile in the kernel "hostap" patches, and away you go!"

you mean I'd have to compile my kernel??? I've managed to go 5 years now with Linux without ever having to compile a kernel...

--
Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
Re:Jean Tourrilhes by steve_l · 2004-05-25 06:48 · Score: 2, Funny

Jean does work in Palo Alto, BTW.

I only got wireless working on RH9 on my laptop (w/USB 802.11b) by taking it to his cube and refusing to leave till he sorted it out.