[Ham-Mac] Re: WiFi

[Gerry Curry]

First:
WiFi is the trade mark for products endorsed by the Wireless Ethernet
Compatibility Alliance. You can get all the details from:

http://www.weca.net

Second:
I agree with most of what you say, However, in technical terms they are not
altering the physical characteristics of the equipment. At most they are
downloading and "flashing" their cards and Access Points with software
specifically designed for that purpose and the leadership seems to be aware
of the ERP and interference restrictions set by the FCC.

>From a Ham perspective, I have been concerned about their total lack of RF
knowledge. As I said to one of their more experienced members, I don't think
it will be too long before they run into problems by destroying their
transmitters or getting nailed by the FCC for over-ERP or causing
interference, because they are not using any appropriate test equipment to
make sure that everything is within spec.

I have suggested that they team up with local Hams so they can benefit from
our experience on the RF side and it seems that many of them are doing so.
So I guess we will have to see how that works out.

The core group at Seattlewireless are serious IP professionals with
considerable TCP/IP networking experience, so I would be careful with your
network comments. Regardless of the fact that they live next door to the
"evil empire," most of them are UNIX guys who wouldn't dream of dirtying
their fingers with Windows, so they are already one notch up in by book.
There's quite a few Mac guys too.  They appear to know the problems that
can/will arrive as more and more nodes are linked up. This stuff is in its
early infancy, even at the pro level, so these guys are really at the
cutting edge from that perspective. After all, no one has ever tried to do
this before.

As far as "pirate" Internet access is concerned there is a serious ethical
problem here, and it will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. And
I'm sure it will be...one way or the other ;-)

But at least these guys aren't hanging around 80 meters talking about their
last gall bladder operation!

Gerry Curry
VE1GU
Curry Systems & Consulting
546 Cedar Lake Rd, R.R. 1
South Ohio, NS, B0W 3E0
phone (902) 649-2368   fax (902) 649-3191
gerry@currysystems.com
www.currysystems.com

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