Sorry for the plug for WISPCON-PAC, but the concept of giving the Telecoms a run for their money in broadband is at the very core of us U.S. based WISPs.

Anything I can do to make broadband available and take money out of the Telecoms pocket and put it into mine is well worth all my efforts.

Now here is the shamefull plug for WISPCON-PAC. The first days events are designed to teach people all the basics of wireless connectivity. RF fundamentals, antenna selection and RF propagation. Basic backoffice accounting and billing, controlling bandwidth (don't want one user eating up everything and leaving nothing for the rest of the network). On day 2, I've got you government coming in to explain the NZ rules for the General License use and also OSH is coming to help us all understand the NZ safety issues with climbing roofs and towers.

Lots of manufacturers and resellers are signing up.

Also, and the most important of all - I joined this forum for many reasons.

#1 is to see if I could be of any assistance through my experiences here in the U.S. I'm a WISP in the U.S. I've grown from a one user WLAN to well over 900 paying subscribers and cover almost 1,000 sq miles of Northern Illinois.

#2 is to see how I can help get the NZ government (and financial institutions) to recognize the NZ WISPs in the same light as the FCC did for us here. More spectrum, more power (EIRP), funding for rural wireless broadband, and the many other issues we all face.

#3 is to see what you NZ WISPs needs are. I've received a lot of requests to host our U.S. Based WISPCON (www.wispcon.info) in NZ. And now it's going to happen. May 22-24, 2005 at the AUT in Penrose. (www.wispcon.info/pac/center.htm). FOr those who don't know what WISPCON is; WISPCONs are conferences that actually teach you how to effectively use wireless as a business. We do not allow "marketing hype" in the training rooms (That's reserved for the exhibit hall).

Anyway, I really don't want this message to sound like a commercial, so if you have any other questions, I'll let you guys/gals initiate the thread. And I am sorry for the WISPCON plug. I ONLY thought it appropriate because it's something new that many of you may not have previously heard about.

I'm ready for the flames if you feel I need them.
Thanks
Michael