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City-Wide WiFi
Grand Haven, Michigan claims title
Grand Haven, Michigan is staking their claim as the nation's first city-wide WiFi broadband network (how a population of 12,000 is considered a city is not explained). "While a few other cities have announced their intent to build similar networks, Grand Haven is the first to provide access across the entire city limits, making it America's first 'hot city,'" says Ottawa Wireless CEO Tyler van Houwelingen. Monthly broadband prices start at $20 a month for 256 kbps, and the city is looking into providing VoIP service as well.
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CPM
Broadband, DSL, cable
join:2001-08-24
Denver, CO

CPM

Member

Small city

Grand haven is so small, one wi-fi router would cover it

And it probably does

Nerdtalker
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
MVM
join:2003-02-18
San Jose, CA

Nerdtalker

MVM

Re: Small city

said by CPM:
Grand haven is so small, one wi-fi router would cover it

And it probably does

I agree, probably a cheap router and a simple omnidirectional antenna.

LOL!!!
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Small city

Theres a few cities around Ohio that are that big that are considered Cities now.

But all you need is to put the antenna on a water tower the city owns and you got it set :p

DrTCP
Yours truly

join:1999-11-09
Round Rock, TX

DrTCP to Nerdtalker

to Nerdtalker
said by Nerdtalker:
I agree, probably a cheap router and a simple omnidirectional antenna.
While it is technically possible to use one of those cheap AP, only a limited number of users will be admitted. Typically cheap APs from Linksys, D-Link etc. can only accomodate 32 or so users at the same time. That is why enterprise/wisp grade access points are more expensive while seemingly offering the exact same service.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Small city

True.

They could have had some different software in the product. The DLink enterprise routers only allow 52 on it at a time i think.

Its hard telling what they use actually without going and finding out.
Hardworker5
join:2004-07-30
Chicago, IL

Hardworker5 to CPM

Member

to CPM
»www.freep.com/money/tech ··· 0730.htm

The Detroit Free Press says the "Wi-Fi network is made up of about 60 antennas, most mounted on utility poles."

This is a pretty impressive deployment.

It also says they get 2 million tourists a year.
B04
Premium Member
join:2000-10-28

B04

Premium Member

20 Bucks??


For what must surely be taxpayer subsidized or at least tax-abated service?

That is a tremendous rip off.

Even with higher-end equipment they're making a HUGE profit if half the town signs up.

-- B

sean151
Class 2008
Premium Member
join:2003-12-04
Auburn, WA

1 edit

sean151

Premium Member

More than one router

but wouldn't that make it a simple hack to get into the router if it was just one? The more the merrier right? So lets see, a couple wireless routers all hacker ready means road trip!

So I highly doubt there would be one, maybe one or two strong omni directional routers. It all depends on how far apart the people live and how big the city is.

Oh and $20 for 256kbps? I'm guessing this is their only choice for broadband.

dg2
Premium Member
join:2004-01-22
Lowell, AR

dg2

Premium Member

Re: More than one router

said by sean151:
Oh and $20 for 256kbps? I'm guessing this is their only choice for broadband.

Maybe not. Cox charges $34.95 for 128/128 kbps here. $20 for 256 would be a deal.

sean151
Class 2008
Premium Member
join:2003-12-04
Auburn, WA

sean151

Premium Member

Re: More than one router

Hmmm good point. Actually now that I think about it the price is actually pretty good for the basic user instead of having dial-up. I always forget I'm not the "basic" user.

DaSneaky1D
what's up
MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou

DaSneaky1D

MVM

Population size doesn't matter...

Just because a small number of people live there doesn't make it any less of a city.

But, it's only 5 sq miles, so coverage really wasn't too hard to attain.

»www.city-data.com/city/G ··· gan.html

sean151
Class 2008
Premium Member
join:2003-12-04
Auburn, WA

sean151

Premium Member

Re: Population size doesn't matter...

"But, it's only 5 sq miles, so coverage really wasn't too hard to attain."

Wow maybe it was just one or two towers. I wish my area had wireless, just for the upload.

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI

1 edit

1 recommendation

Nightfall

MVM

Wow! I am in Grand Haven all the time....

I guess I have never driven through the city with netstumbler and magnetic mount antenna and laptop. Looks like I am going to have to do that. I live not far from Grand Haven.

We HAVE to have a member from the location.

On a side note, I think you can remove the "how can 12,000 people be considered a city" crap. According to the government regulations, a city must be above 10,000 or more people.

sean151
Class 2008
Premium Member
join:2003-12-04
Auburn, WA

sean151

Premium Member

Re: Wow! I am in Grand Haven all the time....

"According to the government regulations, a city must be above 10,000 or more people."

I think it should be a pocily not a regulation.

Hall
MVM
join:2000-04-28
Germantown, OH

Hall to Nightfall

MVM

to Nightfall
said by news submitter:
(how a population of 12,000 is considered a city is not explained)
Nor is it up to you to "define" what qualifies as a city...

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI

Nightfall

MVM

Re: Wow! I am in Grand Haven all the time....

said by Hall:
said by news submitter:
(how a population of 12,000 is considered a city is not explained)
Nor is it up to you to "define" what qualifies as a city...

I hate to ask but....is that statement directed towards me or the news submitter?

Jeremy341
Bye
Premium Member
join:2000-01-06
localhost

Jeremy341 to Nightfall

Premium Member

to Nightfall
said by Nightfall:
On a side note, I think you can remove the "how can 12,000 people be considered a city" crap. According to the government regulations, a city must be above 10,000 or more people.
Little things like facts mean nothing in a BBR "article"!

jap
Premium Member
join:2003-08-10
038xx

1 edit

1 recommendation

jap

Premium Member

Actual info for the early posters' foot-in-mouth

From the only link in the article that *none* of you previous posting anti-muni and/or anti small-city snobs read:

" ... Developed and managed by Ottawa Wireless, ... the system uses several hundred WiFi (802.11a,b,g) radios ... to blanket its six square miles and provide coverage 15 miles into Lake Michigan. ...
Grand Haven, population 12,000, has more than 2 million visitors each year. Some hotels and marinas subsidize the wireless service ... Local public safety agencies and the hospital are in the process of connecting to the network.

... many technology, right-of-way, and line-of-sight challenges to build ... across ... waterways, tall trees and rolling hills. ... [using] Proxim ORiNOCO AP-4000 tri-band access points and the Proxim Tsunami MP.11a point-to-multipoint wireless backhaul system

... advanced services, such as point-to-point dedicated VPN connections, remote wireless video surveillance, and high-speed access for boaters up to 15 miles offshore and at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. City-wide mobile WiFi VoIP telephone calling is currently in beta testing with full launch expected in the next few months. Monthly prices for always-on broadband Internet starts at $19.99 for 256 kbps, and unlimited mobile VoIP calling is $29.99."

Sure, it's only a press release - but it clarifies what some early-posting, lazy-butt, naysaying posters to this thread were wondering about out loud. 256/? is an issue but I'll bet they raise it in short order.

SSX4life
Hello World
Premium Member
join:2004-02-13

1 recommendation

SSX4life

Premium Member

Re: Actual info for the early posters' foot-in-mouth

hey hey come on now, no more slamming grand haven MI plz (I'm a michagander @ heart). Even if it's small it's a step in the right direction. Not to mention I've been to that town before (most towns in Michigan are under 30K if you didn't know) And I think it's cool that they are the 1st to have the city hotspot.

jap
Premium Member
join:2003-08-10
038xx

1 edit

jap

Premium Member

Re: Actual info for the early posters' foot-in-mouth

SSX4life: your "hey hey come on now" post is in reply to my topic change (Actual info) - but I am defending both Grand Haven & muni connectivity. My wrath was raised by the spat of early posters to this thread that knew nothing of the project and dissed it for "so small who cares" and "prolly or 2 transmitters" and "public money rip-offs" yadayadayada. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough though.
psiu
join:2004-01-20
Farmington, MI

psiu

Member

10,000 & Coast Guard

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om ··· Michigan

Link to the entry Omer, MI. City with a population of 337, as of the 2000 census.

Oh, and don't forget, Grand Haven is also Coast Guard City, USA, and the big festival should be beginning or already underway.

Driving over for the fireworks next Saturday.

Oh, and that's (wi-fi) definitely a cool perk to living there. Never would of expected that from that city.

canesfan2001
join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL

canesfan2001

Member

Re: 10,000 & Coast Guard

My grandparents live in Lake "City", MI.

When I was 15 the population was 667, and it had long been named a "city"

Uhawl
-- watching --
Premium Member
join:2000-10-21
Asylum

Uhawl

Premium Member

Grand Haven deserves credit...

I absolutely agree with Nightfall See Profile in saying ptffpt to all those who don't know Grand Haven and it's community. It is almost a beach resort town (the movie American Pie 2's beach stuff was filmed in Grand Haven and the movie series is about the screwed up West Michigan life ) and the residents are good people who deserve to be put in the technical spotlight. Granted, 20 dollars is expensive when considering that you can get comcast out here for about 30-40 bucks a month and it is a wired city (it's the county seat as well). So, before you all start stomping on us from the area as if we're under developed, look at the article and read what it says. Ptffpt... One wifi router could cover it all... Whatever.

jipper
join:2001-01-04
Stanton, MI

jipper

Member

other options also

The real kicker is they have Cable, DSL and about 3 other wireless providers. Grand Haven was one first city in Western Michigan to have broadband. Now granted Charter and SBC but still why the hell did they do this? As stated waste of tax payer money

Jon Geb
Long time member
join:2001-01-09
Howell, MI

Jon Geb

Member

12,000 isnt that small....thats just residential

12,000 can easily be a city. I live in Howell,Michigan. The city is just over 10,000 and it spans over 5 miles long and 3 miles wide. Its certainly not New York, but it has a sizable area. A very typical city in just about any state.
benwaynet
join:2003-07-10
Grand Haven, MI

benwaynet

Member

Wirless boat action

I live in Grand Haven township and ottawa wireless spoke to the company I work for about using there services.
I can tell you that the current and projected wireless coverage covers more than just the city, it covers some of the township and they have plans for moving south down the coast line.
One of their core demographics would be people visiting with their boats. We have Charter and DSL in Grand Haven. But neither offer a $20 package. For someone on a tight budget and wants to be able to stay mobile (notebook,pda,game console) this is not a bad solution.

jb
tasmithe
join:2002-09-16
Graham, NC

tasmithe

Member

Re: Wirless boat action

Well if you have Charter...like I do...you don't have much. They are, without a doubt, one of the worst run cable companies/ISPs I've ever run across.
benwaynet
join:2003-07-10
Grand Haven, MI

benwaynet

Member

I'm not sure why you feel that way. I currently get 3 meg downloads and 768 uploads for about $40 a month. The only issue I have is the fact that they block port 25 outgoing, so I cannot use my web host's smtp server and they block ports 25 and 80 incoming.

Other than that my service has been great.
Hardworker5
join:2004-07-30
Chicago, IL

Hardworker5

Member

They Make a Good Case for Being First Wi-Fi City

I like the way they made the case that they were the first Wi-Fi city in the country:

»www.walkersands.com/Was- ··· irst.htm

and

»www.walkersands.com/City ··· aire.htm