George <george@nospam.invalid> hath wroth:

>Mountain Mike^^ wrote:
>> No, I have the admin all figured out. I'm not going to do any:) It's gonna
>> be free, and free means no support. Later, I'll just jerk it all out.

>Thats even worse. From my experience when you undervalue or give away
>your services people don't appreciate it. And since everything is free
>they will expect lots of extra free stuff. You are in for a real
>experience about human nature if you become the free ISP on your block.

I need a rant...

That's what I was going to say. I don't charge my neighbors although
I do expect some help when it comes time to do some digging or tree
climbing. All are appreciative, considerate, and tactful when they
call me on the phone at midnight, on a holiday weekend, to ask if the
system is down. Never mind that I have a local web server with
traffic and status information for them. Never mind that I showed
them all how to use ping to check for connectivity. Never mind that
most of them have more than one computah and can easily check the 2nd
machine. Never mind that it's a brand new laptop the kid got from the
grandparents for skool and is now desperately trying to get it online
so he can impress his friends at skool tomorrow. Too bad it's not in
my MAC address filter table so it won't connect. So, at midnight, I
get to do sysadmin for a new computah with the help of a kid that
can't read the MAC address off the bottom of his laptop without
getting at least two digits transposed.

The theory is that if one is very polite and respectful, offers the
appropriate compliments and familiarities, one can get away with just
about anything. That's amazingly true except that most wireless users
haven't figured out that this method of getting free support becomes
really old after a while.

Two days ago, it was early in the morning instead. I had apparently
lost the wireless link to one of the neighbors. Everything at that
end of the neighborhood was dead. I spend an hour preparing a
replacement bridge, drive over, and find that their refrigerator is
sitting on the deck defrosting directly in front of their wireless
antenna in the window. I make a mental note to move their antenna.

It goes on and on like this almost continuously. If I had 100
neighbors connected with wireless, it would probably be a full time
job dealing with the questions and problems. I was in the hospital
last month for a few days some luser called with a computer question.
I was too drugged to answer or remember the conversation.

I've heard the zero support theory of free networks before. I have
yet to see it work or last. That's why I suggested that one start
with a small number of users. so they can get a feel for the support
and admin load.

God, grant me the serenity to accept users that will not change;
the courage to educate those that are willing and able;
and the wisdom to spot the difference before trashing the whole day.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558