Author Archives: Andrew

Could mesh green the planet?

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Probably not; but it could help us go nuclear free (and save a little money).

You see, that cable modem sitting in the corner is living off base-load power, and base-load power in Ontario is largely supplied by the Nuclear Industry. Eliminate the cable modem, and reduce our other base-loads, and we eliminate one of the excuses used to justify Nuclear. Now that has to be a good thing!

All we each need do is get together with some neighbours and build a little community mesh network! Unplugging 6W cable modems more than compensates for the 2W mesh nodes.

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One source of mesh nodes is http://www.open-mesh.com, I’m sure there are others.

If eliminating 6 watts by unplugging a cable modem doesn’t sound like much, try multiplying it by the approx 1 million internet cable subscribers on Ontario. It works out to the power output of several wind-turbines.

A Free Second Cup

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No not the coffee, the wireless. Second Cup has started making its wif-fi available for free. I guess the’ve realised that charging for wi-fi is a loosing cause.

They do expect you to register (and the form thinks you’re willing to provide all your personal detail just short of your first born 😉 but other than that its free.

Rogers/Fido lights TO core with true 3G

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With all the buzz last night at W.T.’s Civic Bandwidth Event, and much
discussion about both Toronto Hydro, and Bell/Rogers Wi-Max, one
sea-change was missed.

Rogers/Fido has started rolling out the latest 850mhz UTMS/HSDPA
network, that is currently sweaping the international telco community.
In fact, if you could get hold of a 850mhz 3G phone you could access it
in the down town areas. When will things get more official, and you can
buy that dick-tracy video watch, who knows.

HSDPA, which has better performance than Bell’s EV-DO service, has to be
viewed as a direct competitor to the wi-max and Toronto Hydro services.
Only this time with the advantages of compact technology and true
mobility. Overseas, in more rural areas, its is even becomming accepted
as the cost-effective solution for commercial Internet access. Far
cheaper than deploying land based solutions.

While this won’t affect Wireless Toronto, which is focused on free
access at the community level, it’s certainly going to make for fun
times at the commercial end of the market.