MJR has suggested I let the list know about this. As of very recent date (about 2 weeks ago) there is now an internet cafe in Soham. MJR tells me that there is (or used to be) one in King's Lynn, though doesn't know about Downham Market.. Elians will know that there is none in Ely. The Soham people tell me they're "the only place this side of Cambridge and Newmarket", which I can well believe. I forget what the Soham shop calls itself, but finding it is very simple. Once in Soham, find the Budgens car park. From there, take the footpath with the signpost "High Street". As you emerge from this, the Internet cafe is facing you on the opposite side of the High St. I found the proprietor (who runs it as a sideline to an insurance business) very friendly and helpful. Best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding@nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 29-Apr-05 Time: 00:30:27 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------
There are a few wireless hotspots in Bury but hardly anyone seems to use them. The best one is the Lounge bar in Hatter street (a few doors up from my Office) they have completely unencumbered and free Internet access. A few of the Greeneking pubs have either MyCloud or Purple Patch. The MyCloud ones are next to useless to me because I can't get out on ssh and VPN's won't work over them (I refuse to use a untrusted network any other way) and the Purple Patch ones annoy me because despite being a BT OpenZone they don't accept the OpenZone credits I get from my ISP. Oh and both of them are a pain to sign up to using anything other than I.E. There is another free hotspot opening in Northgate street next week as Number 3 (a bar/coffee shop) are putting one in. There used to be a internet cafe down St John's street, but it closed down after about 6 months. There is also a internet kiosk thingy in the street just off the buttermarket near Natwest Bank, I have never used it but I think it is a tourist information walled garden thing. Not forgetting of course the famous Internet Enabled Park bench in the Abby gardens. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/08/10/vandals_and_phreakers_plague_msn/ Although it's been offline for some time now as I recall and it's only dialup anyway.
I've added the live ones from Wayne's description of BSE to http://www.alug.org.uk/contrib/?BroadbandVenues and a special mention for the park bench. :-) -- Thanks, MJR/slef http://mjr.towers.org.uk/
Wayne Stallwood wrote:
There are a few wireless hotspots in Bury but hardly anyone seems to use them.
The best one is the Lounge bar in Hatter street (a few doors up from my Office) they have completely unencumbered and free Internet access.
Do you know what software they use?
A few of the Greeneking pubs have either MyCloud or Purple Patch. The MyCloud ones are next to useless to me because I can't get out on ssh and VPN's won't work over them (I refuse to use a untrusted network any other way) and the Purple Patch ones annoy me because despite being a BT OpenZone they don't accept the OpenZone credits I get from my ISP. Oh and both of them are a pain to sign up to using anything other than I.E.
You've got me thinking. If the big networks are so appalling, what software is out there to set up a wireless hotspot with free software? A quick search on the usual haunts turns up: * Public IP ZoneCD - http://sourceforge.net/projects/publicip/ * Less Networks Hotspot Server - http://sourceforge.net/projects/lesshotspotserv/ * Linux LiveCD Hotspot Server - http://www.wifi.com.ar/english/hotspot.html * mysqlWisp - http://openisp.net/mysqlWisp/ * WiFiAdmin - http://wifiadmin.sourceforge.net/ Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good. Has anyone ever done this? P.S. Sorry for sending this email to you privately by accident Wayne. -- Ben "tola" Francis http://hippygeek.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------- COMPUTER SUPPORT for small businesses and home users http://tolatech.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------
Ben Francis wrote on 07 May 2005 12:55:
Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good.
Has anyone ever done this?
Yes. We use it at work. Generally not too bad, but I've found that it can be a little flakey at the best of times (although they've now added the option of rebooting the server at 4am which helps with the stability issues) and if the public authentication server gets knocked out (which has done at least once) then nobody can login and have to wait until it's fixed. Regards, Martyn
Martyn Drake wrote:
Ben Francis wrote on 07 May 2005 12:55:
Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good.
Has anyone ever done this?
Yes. We use it at work. Generally not too bad, but I've found that it can be a little flakey at the best of times (although they've now added the option of rebooting the server at 4am which helps with the stability issues)
Hmm ok. A reboot seems like a bit of a crude way of solving the problem, but using a LiveCD for a full time server must have its problems I suppose.
and if the public authentication server gets knocked out (which has done at least once) then nobody can login and have to wait until it's fixed.
Am I right in thinking you can run your own authentication on your own server if you want to? From reading the web site I'm not exactly sure what services are providede by Public IP and which ones you run/can run yourself. And do you use a USB stick for the config? -- Ben "tola" Francis http://hippygeek.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------- COMPUTER SUPPORT for small businesses and home users http://tolatech.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------
On Saturday 07 May 2005 12:54 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
Do you know what software they use?
Unfortunately they do not use any software, it is simply an open access point. At least I managed to convince them to put the AP on a timeswitch so that it is only operational when the place is open. Not that way I would have done things :-(
A few of the Greeneking pubs have either MyCloud or Purple Patch. The MyCloud ones are next to useless to me because I can't get out on ssh and VPN's won't work over them (I refuse to use a untrusted network any other way) and the Purple Patch ones annoy me because despite being a BT OpenZone they don't accept the OpenZone credits I get from my ISP. Oh and both of them are a pain to sign up to using anything other than I.E.
You've got me thinking. If the big networks are so appalling, what software is out there to set up a wireless hotspot with free software?
I haven't actually looked into that yet, there are a few appliance based solutions. I've seen a D-link one that has a little ticket printer for the access codes and there is something similar by another company. But they are both quite expensive (so much so that it would take a while just to recoup the equipment costs let alone pay for the broadband and make a profit)
A quick search on the usual haunts turns up:
* Public IP ZoneCD - http://sourceforge.net/projects/publicip/ * Less Networks Hotspot Server - http://sourceforge.net/projects/lesshotspotserv/ * Linux LiveCD Hotspot Server - http://www.wifi.com.ar/english/hotspot.html * mysqlWisp - http://openisp.net/mysqlWisp/ * WiFiAdmin - http://wifiadmin.sourceforge.net/
Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good.
Hmmm I will have to take a look at that. The main issues with the paid for solutions are that they tend to be subscription based, the idea behind the openzone stuff being that it should work for more than one place. Personally I prefer the ticket based systems where you pay for the access at the counter and get given a time limited access code. Anyway in my experience the portability of OpenZone credit can not always be assured (although I have confirmed that it works between GK pubs). Also in my mind it tends to be expensive.
Has anyone ever done this?
No but I do want to. Without looking at your links this is the system I want. I want the only interface to the Bar staff to be a ticket printer with a single print button. Pressing the button prints a ticket with a unique reference code, this code then unlocks the access portal users are greeted with when they try and access the Internet from a connected laptop. The printing action is recorded in a log somewhere which is available to the back room PC via a web interface or something, this way bar staff cannot print out free tickets for their mates without it appearing in the logs (and therefore the till being short), Actually on second thoughts perhaps it would be better if the printer can do a z total at the end of the day and print a journal to go in the till's cash drawer. The brains of the system should not need to be in or near the bar area (trust me unless you can budget for industrial spec machines or yearly replacement, you do not want a PC anywhere near a bar) Perhaps there should be some sort of transparent SMTP relay (that is perhaps limited to 10 messages per ticket and message size) Could be useful (but I don't know if it is worth the bother) Part of the problem is I think the way Wireless Access is viewed by business. It really needs to be an indirect revenue stream not a direct one (more of my lunchtime beer money will go to the closest pub in Bury that has workable free (or simple to access and very cheap) internet access for customers) In that case the ticket printer prints free tickets for paying customers....then you go back to the whole argument of whether the system is worth the effort and cost in the first place (so maybe the guy at the lounge bar is right after all)
Wayne Stallwood wrote:
On Saturday 07 May 2005 12:54 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
You've got me thinking. If the big networks are so appalling, what software is out there to set up a wireless hotspot with free software?
I haven't actually looked into that yet, there are a few appliance based solutions. I've seen a D-link one that has a little ticket printer for the access codes and there is something similar by another company.
But they are both quite expensive (so much so that it would take a while just to recoup the equipment costs let alone pay for the broadband and make a profit)
Cool, an appliance which does it all out of the box :D I've had a look and the DLink solution definately looks the best. The only thing that really compares is some SMC kit but it doesn't look quite as good. With Ticket Printer * DLink o DSA-3100 DLink Wireless Service Gateway ~£410 - http://www.dlink.co.uk/?go=jN7uAYLx/oIJaWVUDLYZU93ygJVYKOhST9vhLPG3yV3oWIB3k... o DSA-3100P DLink Wireless Hotspot Ticket Printer ~£130 o D-Link DWL-2000AP+ 54Mbps Wireless Access Point ~£45 o DLink DSL-504T ADSL Modem/Router ~£35 * SMC o SMCWHSG44-G UK 54Mbps Wireless Hotspot Gateway (802.11b/g) ~£320 (£399 RRP) - http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_GBR&cid=94&scid... o SMCWHS-POS UK Mini-POS Ticket Printer ~£230 http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_GBR&cid=94&scid... Without ticket printer * Linksys WRV54G 54Mbps Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router - http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=565 ~£150 (not really sure it does the same thing) BT OpenZone route * BT OpenZone Kit http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=119260 * Netgear WiFi HOTSPOT-IN-A-BOX http://www.netgear.co.uk/wifi_hotspot.php ~£300 More obscure brands * Nomandix range http://www.connectronics.com/nomadix/ ~£400 Nomadix Wireless Gateway - AG-2000w * ZyXEL ZyAIR G-4100 - Radio access point - 802.11b, 802.11g external http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?product_id=ZYNJG410...
Personally I prefer the ticket based systems where you pay for the access at the counter and get given a time limited access code.
I've never used a wireless hotspot myself, but this sounds very sensible to me.
Without looking at your links this is the system I want.
I want the only interface to the Bar staff to be a ticket printer with a single print button.
Perhaps a few buttons, to allow them to enter the amount of time the ticket is valid for.
Perhaps there should be some sort of transparent SMTP relay (that is perhaps limited to 10 messages per ticket and message size) Could be useful (but I don't know if it is worth the bother)
I'd be interested to know how this works. I think perhaps telling people they can only use webmail would not be very popular so something like this would need implementing. One of the main thing people are going to want to do is sit there with Outlook (or less evil equivalent) open, answering a few emails. When I move between my house, my girlfriends house and work I'm constantly changing the smtp server in Thunderbird to the corresponding ISP, but only because I've not got round to finding a better solution. Presumably an SMTP server that requires authentication can be used from multiple locations? How do other people send emails from multiple locations?
Part of the problem is I think the way Wireless Access is viewed by business. It really needs to be an indirect revenue stream not a direct one (more of my lunchtime beer money will go to the closest pub in Bury that has workable free (or simple to access and very cheap) internet access for customers)
I agree with this, but like you said later, that makes the initial outlay harder to justify. -- Ben "tola" Francis http://hippygeek.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------- COMPUTER SUPPORT for small businesses and home users http://tolatech.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------
On Saturday 07 May 2005 9:07 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
When I move between my house, my girlfriends house and work I'm constantly changing the smtp server in Thunderbird to the corresponding ISP, but only because I've not got round to finding a better solution. Presumably an SMTP server that requires authentication can be used from multiple locations? How do other people send emails from multiple locations?
The ones I include in a couple of hosting packages I sell certainly do that and I am sure there are many others. For remote mail I do the following For work stuff, I am embarrassed enough to say that we run a Windows 2003 server and have the full remote web workplace thing going, so I have access to Outlook Web Access if I need it. We also have a VPN should I need access to another machine or something. This also links up to my mobile phone and sync's the mail calendar and address book so Work email I can get and send from just about anywhere. For remote access to home mail I just ssh into my machine, bandwidth allowing I tend to just launch kmail with the ssh x forwarding stuff enabled. I do find with this that I need to kill any kmail sessions already running first otherwise funny things happen sometimes....that said I haven't tried it since updating to KDE 3.4 so maybe that it fixed now.
On Saturday 07 May 2005 12:54 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
Do you know what software they use?
Unfortunately they do not use any software, it is simply an open access point. Not the correct way to do things, at least I managed to convince them to put the AP on a timeswitch so that it is only operational when the place is open. Not that way I would have done things :-(
A few of the Greeneking pubs have either MyCloud or Purple Patch. The MyCloud ones are next to useless to me because I can't get out on ssh and VPN's won't work over them (I refuse to use a untrusted network any other way) and the Purple Patch ones annoy me because despite being a BT OpenZone they don't accept the OpenZone credits I get from my ISP. Oh and both of them are a pain to sign up to using anything other than I.E.
You've got me thinking. If the big networks are so appalling, what software is out there to set up a wireless hotspot with free software?
I haven't actually looked into that yet, there are a few appliance based solutions. I've seen a D-link one that has a little ticket printer for the access codes and there is something similar by another company. But they are both quite expensive (so much so that it would take a while just to recoup the equipment costs let alone pay for the broadband and make a profit)
A quick search on the usual haunts turns up:
* Public IP ZoneCD - http://sourceforge.net/projects/publicip/ * Less Networks Hotspot Server - http://sourceforge.net/projects/lesshotspotserv/ * Linux LiveCD Hotspot Server - http://www.wifi.com.ar/english/hotspot.html * mysqlWisp - http://openisp.net/mysqlWisp/ * WiFiAdmin - http://wifiadmin.sourceforge.net/
Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good.
Hmmm I will have to take a look at that. The main issues with the paid for solutions are that they tend to be subscription based, the idea behind the openzone stuff being that it should work for more than one place. Personally I prefer the ticket based systems where you pay for the access at the counter and get given a time limited access code. Anyway in my experience the portability of OpenZone credit can not always be assured (although I have confirmed that it works between GK pubs). Also in my mind it tends to be expensive.
Has anyone ever done this?
No but I do want to. Without looking at your links this is the system I want. I want the only interface to the Bar staff to be a ticket printer with a single print button. Pressing the button prints a ticket with a unique reference code, this code then unlocks the access portal users are greeted with when they try and access the Internet from a connected laptop. The printing action is recorded in a log somewhere which is available to the back room PC via a web interface or something, this way bar staff cannot print out free tickets for their mates without it appearing in the logs (and therefore the till being short), Actually on second thoughts perhaps it would be better if the printer can do a z total at the end of the day and print a journal to go in the till's cash drawer. The brains of the system should not need to be in or near the bar area (trust me unless you can budget for industrial spec machines or yearly replacement, you do not want a PC anywhere near a bar) Perhaps there should be some sort of transparent SMTP relay (that is perhaps limited to 10 messages per ticket and message size) Could be useful (but I don't know if it is worth the bother) Part of the problem is I think the way Wireless Access is viewed by business. It really needs to be an indirect revenue stream not a direct one (more of my lunchtime beer money will go to the closest pub in Bury that has workable free (or simple to access and very cheap) internet access for customers) In that case the ticket printer prints free tickets for paying customers....then you go back to the whole argument of whether the system is worth the effort and cost in the first place (so maybe the guy at the lounge bar is right after all)
participants (6)
-
Ben Francis -
Martyn Drake -
MJ Ray -
Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk -
Wayne Stallwood -
Wayne Stallwood