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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/07/10/tech:.wi-fi/

Tech: Wi-Fi crackdown, nVidia nForce chips...

updated 12:55 pm EDT, Wed July 10, 2002

 
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Afternoon tech news: Broadband providers are cracking down on Wi-Fi networks, threatening to cut service to customers who set up the inexpensive wireless systems and allow others to freely tap into their Internet access; VoiceStream Wireless is in talks to merge with AT&T Wireless Services, a move that would create the second largest cellular phone company; and Graphics chip manufacturer Nvidia is expected to announce next week a new generation of nForce, its integrated product that combines graphics and chipset functions.


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  1. MacNN.com Reader

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2001

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    07/10, 02:21pm | report spam | Reply |

    Is it illegal?

    Is something illegal just because a company says it is?

    i mean, it could be a local network for my house but if others hop onto it..is it my fault??

  1. MacNN.com Reader

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

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    07/10, 03:51pm | report spam | Reply |

    Not illegal...

    ...but against their "Terms and Conditions" of providing service. Read them. Some providers specifically say you cannot have more than one computer attached in the same home (like amteritech/SBC)!

    They could say you can't surf the net naked, and if they found a way to detect it (ewwwww!) they could stop you or disconnect you IF they say you can't do it.

    I see no problem with sharing bandwidth as long as you do not overload the system or have too many downloads. Most people say, "I pay for unlimited service at 768kbps. I can use it 24hrs a day. So what if I share it?" I agree.

    This is not like stealing cable TV, where hundreds of people all watch differnt channels on different TVs. This is like sharing water from a pipe. You pay for the water you use, but only so much water can come out. You can't get 10 gpm out of a 2gpm hose. You can't get 2Mbps out of a 768kbps dsl/cable modem.

    Get bent providers and live with it!

  1. jimothy

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2000

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    07/10, 04:38pm | report spam | Reply |

    Not like sharing water

    It's not like sharing water. At least from my utility, I get charged by the amount of water I use. So, if I want to share water, no problem...I just get charged more.

    I'd say it's very much like stealing cable TV. The fact is, it costs money to provide broadband Internet access. If people continue to share Internet access like this, the provides will lose (even more) money, and before you know it, there won't be any broadband access to share. Say all you want about the telcos and cable companies, but you can't expect them to be profitable if they charge $50/month to provide 100 people will Internet access.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:59pm | report spam | Reply |

    your right

    I believe it is fair of the providers to do this. The prices are set for a user or household, not for this type of thing. If they were forced to accept this, then I'd say that prices would soon rise to high levels.

  1. darcybaston

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: May 2000

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    07/10, 06:40pm | report spam | Reply |

    change bandwidth policy

    My ISP has a dl/ul consumption cap. No more than 2Gb upload, no more than 5Gb download MONTHLY. If I go over, they drop my broadband bandwidth to that of a 56k modem and I suffer until I exceed another amount and then I'm interrupted. :)

    If I go around sharing, then I may only get a week of useful access and the rest of the month I'm severely inconvenienced. This is a good model. It lets me go wireless for my own use and prevents me from sharing with the neighborhood unless I'm feeling charitable, but then what I'd be giving people is nothing more then a few days of convenience.

    I can understand with an unlimited access contract, the ISP can get upset when you share via wireless, just as they would if you ran ethernet cable from a router or something to your neighboors homes.

    BUT, if the contract you've agreed to for this internet access has a maximum usage agreement in terms of instantaneous throughpout or residual accumulation of use, then anything you try to take above it will cost you in court and you'd probably lose.

    I compare it to paying for a McDonald's soda and taking 25 refills if there are NO ul/dl caps and paying for a drink and passing it around to friends WITH an ul/dl cap. The former is unclear but subject to your absue and the second is quite clear.

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