I love 802.11b
 

So I'm sitting here in my townhouse, looking at my lovely PowerBook, thinking about Apple's new browser <a href="http://www.apple.com/safari">Safari</a> and wishing I could play around with it. Unfortunately, Safari is kinda useless without webpages to render. Then I remember that I <b>am</b> living in a townhouse, and 802.11b is becoming more popular - especially to people that can afford these townhouses (rent: almost $4,000 a month - that's the kind of location I'm living in). I pull up my PowerBook, turn the Airport card on and - voila! - there's an 802.11b network called "linksys" - with no password. My network location for the Airport profile (it's hard to describe - use Mac OS X and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about) is set to DHCP, so I hop on the network and I'm crusing webpages in no time flat. My signal strength wavers between 3/4 and 1/2, and that's with the PowerBook (which has poor reception when compared to the iBook). So I'm guessing they're relatively near.

Anyway, as long as I don't use it too much, they probably won't notice. But it'll be nice to be able to check mail and read the Cellar while I'm home.

When I get my base station back and set up, I will not be so stupid as to leave a password-free 802.11b network for my neighbors to use. :)

Like magic!

maybe im naive, but how the _fuck_ does a townhouse cost $4000 a month? i pay a little over 800 a month for mine, and while its nothing special, its nothing to sneeze at either. i guess im just amazed that rent can be that high anywhere.

~james

Rofl, good work on your l33t h4xoring. I"m going to get an 802.11g card for my desktop box and use it as a bridge between my existing network and my soon-to-be-bought 17" powerbook, cannot wait =)

The DC area is one of the most expensive markets in the country, Northern Virginia tends to be the most expensive part of the area (with the exception of maybe Capitol Hill), and Tysons Corner is tre chic (a large upscale mall, office buildings abound, etc.). I believe Mr. Ham's temp joint is a 3 or 4 BR place, and those are a premium.

Rho and I paid $650 for an alright 1BR in a so-so part of Maryland (Prince George's County, near the University of Maryland). That was 3 years ago...it's now $750. Damn.

damn. guess its time to stop bitching about prices here. its always nice to get some perspective. :)

~james

It's a 3-story townhouse with a garage. Two full bath, two half bath. Master bathroom has a jacuzzi. Out back has a pretty big deck and a decent patio under it. Living room is good size. Kitchen is big. Dining room is good size. Two fireplaces. Downstairs is fully finished. Rec room downstairs is pretty big. Master bedroom is very large.

All of this means fuckle. Location, location, location. I am 2 minutes driving from Tyson's Corner and Tyson's Galleria, two of the most ritzy malls you'll find any place (Apple opened its first store here - that's how much of a great location this is). It's right near the beltway and easy access to DC and Northern Virginia.

If it were in the middle of bumfuck, it would probably cost $1,500 a month. Unfortunately for my insurance agency, it's not. :)

How did you go from Juneau, Alaska to Tyson's corner? Was that a joke? I guess I am disappointed that you dont live in Alaska now.

Maryland.... sheesh.

I dont request a formal report from Poindexter verifiing all the profile information of all the characters here, no. :D

Hey!! You pulled a slang!

I bet you thought he was a porn actor too.

(I pulled the last post b/c I was going to say something else, but then I decided not to say that. So, this is the post that you're going to get.)

You mean........he's not? I usta think Dave was cool. ;)

(slang wonders to himself if Dave's real name isn't Harold or some other less cool name)

I see you found your pants Syc. Congrats.

Regarding 802.11b, can one set up a big antenna and provide for the whole neighborhood, cheaply? I'd like to do that.

Depends on the size of your neighborhood.

But current WiFi equipment is operating under Part 15 in frequency bands allocated to amateur radio--modifying the equiment is a violation of FCC regulations.

Also, if your operation of a Part 15 device interferece with a licenced user you are required to eliminate the interferenece...this may require turning the equipment off.

Shit, looks like we're moving out to Oaks!

It's Virginia, actually.