Another wisp in different trailer park

wifiwannabe · 01-24-2003

I am not sure if this is the correct place for this question but was reading the other post on a wisp in a trailer park and didnt want
to jump on his thread.

I have had the same idea about starting a wisp in a rv park I am a member of, but in this trailer park no one can stay longer than
2 weeks. So there would be alot of changing of customer units.

There are hundreds of rv's changing every week and was trying to figure out what would be best for the customer units? I was
thinking USB connections would be the best, and how difficult
is it to change the units from cust. to cust?

Because of the location of the rv parks I would have to go with
a satellite connection, is there any problems with that type of feed I should know about? And there is more than 1 rv park people go to so is it possible to set the same thing up in different locations have customers buy there units and use them in the different locations?

Thanks

Thorn · 01-24-2003

The trouble is that the customers will have different PCs and therefor different connections. I'd recommend USB units (eg. WUSB11) for general use, and keep a couple of Ethernet units (eg. WET11) for those with Ethernet but no USB, and some cards (ORiNOCO) for those with laptops. Changing is no big deal, the customer will need to run the install program for the first unit.

Satellite sucks due to lag, but if that's all you have, just warn the customers. Online gamers would notice the most. In fact it's almost impossible to game on a satellite connection.

Sure it's possible to have them roam to another location. That's more network planning than anything. If they do that, you might want to setup some type of captive portal with a walled garden to supply setup/signup info.

Your biggest problem may be the billing if they're roaming around.

Wombat · 01-24-2003

I think your idea is a good one. It wouldn't be any different than providing WiFi access in hotels like Wayport and others are doing. In fact, you'd probably have a better revenue stream since the RVers stay for up to two weeks at a time. (Longer with park switching for the 'week out' requirements.)

Several places offer ISP "in a box" solutions (you have to get the high speed line yourself) and they provide the billing service and split the revenues with you.

A couple that come to mind are Boingo http://www.boingo.com/hso/wisp.html and Fatport http://www.fatport.com

Let me know if you develop this further. I live in AZ (Winter RV heaven) and there are quite a few parks near me.

You might also look for parks that offer a place nearby for the 'week out' requirement that many membership have -- that way you can cover them in both parks!

Good Luck!

01-24-2003	#1 (permalink)
wifiwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: colorado Posts: 4	Another wisp in different trailer park I am not sure if this is the correct place for this question but was reading the other post on a wisp in a trailer park and didnt want to jump on his thread. I have had the same idea about starting a wisp in a rv park I am a member of, but in this trailer park no one can stay longer than 2 weeks. So there would be alot of changing of customer units. There are hundreds of rv's changing every week and was trying to figure out what would be best for the customer units? I was thinking USB connections would be the best, and how difficult is it to change the units from cust. to cust? Because of the location of the rv parks I would have to go with a satellite connection, is there any problems with that type of feed I should know about? And there is more than 1 rv park people go to so is it possible to set the same thing up in different locations have customers buy there units and use them in the different locations? Thanks __________________ just learning

01-24-2003	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,096	The trouble is that the customers will have different PCs and therefor different connections. I'd recommend USB units (eg. WUSB11) for general use, and keep a couple of Ethernet units (eg. WET11) for those with Ethernet but no USB, and some cards (ORiNOCO) for those with laptops. Changing is no big deal, the customer will need to run the install program for the first unit. Satellite sucks due to lag, but if that's all you have, just warn the customers. Online gamers would notice the most. In fact it's almost impossible to game on a satellite connection. Sure it's possible to have them roam to another location. That's more network planning than anything. If they do that, you might want to setup some type of captive portal with a walled garden to supply setup/signup info. Your biggest problem may be the billing if they're roaming around. __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

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01-24-2003	#3 (permalink)
Wombat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Smalltown, AZ Posts: 82	I think your idea is a good one. It wouldn't be any different than providing WiFi access in hotels like Wayport and others are doing. In fact, you'd probably have a better revenue stream since the RVers stay for up to two weeks at a time. (Longer with park switching for the 'week out' requirements.) Several places offer ISP "in a box" solutions (you have to get the high speed line yourself) and they provide the billing service and split the revenues with you. A couple that come to mind are Boingo http://www.boingo.com/hso/wisp.html and Fatport http://www.fatport.com Let me know if you develop this further. I live in AZ (Winter RV heaven) and there are quite a few parks near me. You might also look for parks that offer a place nearby for the 'week out' requirement that many membership have -- that way you can cover them in both parks! Good Luck!