"rob" <aqwh54-NOSPAMPLEASE-@dsl.pipex.com> hath wroth:

>I've got some friends who are crying out for a wireless hotspot where they
>live.
>My question is, what do I need to do to provide the wireless hotspot and
>allow access once someone has paid to use the service. Just as you do when
>you sign up for a 24 hour pass at a wireless hotspot.

Never mind the technical aspects of becoming a WISP. There are
numerous products that will make it happen. You should think about
the political and social aspects instead. What you're doing is
setting up everything required of a wire line ISP, with the added
enjoyment of an unreliable method of delivery. When you say "where
they live" I'm assuming that this will be a replacement for a DSL or
cable modem for home use, as in a neighborhood WLAN, not a coffee shop
hot spot.

So, who is going to monitor the system for abuse?

What do you do when someone complains about the speed?

How do you handle interference from other systems?

Bandwidth managment and QoS to keep one user from all hogging the
bandwidth? Are you going to limit use and abuse such as Bitorrent?

Be prepared for phone calls at odd hours and inconvenient times.

Who's gonna do the bookkeeping and accounting?

Maybe it's best that you let your friends cry and have them get their
own broadband connection? Unless you have answers to the previous
rhetorical questions, you might be jumping into a potential social
problem. I run a neighborhood WLAN/LAN and have a good idea of how
such things work. Methinks you should discuss the implications with
someone that already operates something similar to what you're
planning, and verify that you actually want to do it.

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