"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
On 11/24/2013 4:09 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 11/24/13, 4:02 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 11/24/2013 3:06 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 24 Nov 2013 12:59:45 -0500, John H
wrote:

On Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:38:18 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Comcast just enabled a new feature on our home wifi system. You have
to have the new, updated equipment and modem/router that is
provided by
them for it to work.

What they do is enable your wifi router to transmit and receive
another
independent signal. It shows up as "XFINITYWiFi" on your computer
available networks list, iPad or cell phone. It is unsecured and
doesn't
interfere with your existing, secured connection, nor does it slow
anything down. Anyone signed onto it is *not* connected to your
existing, secured network, so they can't access any file sharing or
anything you have set up on your network.

It's designed to allow guests, visitors or anyone within receiving
range
of the signal to access the Internet and email virtually anywhere as
long as you are a Comcast customer. It means that once they upgrade
everyone, you could drive down the street and access the Internet
anywhere there is a home WiFi system provided by Comcast. That's a
lot
of free "hot spots" in our area since Comcast dominates the cable TV
and
Internet market in our area.

In our case nobody driving on the road will benefit from our house
because we are too far from the road for them to get the signal. But
in most areas with houses close to the road, you should be able to
access the internet everywhere. It can also be used by house guests
and
visitors as long as they have a Comcast account.

When you first connect to it, it doesn't indicate that you have
Internet
access. Says "local only". But, if you open a browser, it takes
you to
a Comcast page where you enter your user name (or Comcast email
address)
and your password. You only have to do this once per device. Once
you've done that, you have full access to the Internet.

You can also request that this capability be disabled on your
modem/router if you don't want it. Personally, I think it's pretty
cool
and a clever way to make Internet access available to Comcast account
holders almost everywhere.

Funny, not too long ago it was a big deal to be "stealing" someone
else's WiFi connection. Now they are encouraging it.





Sounds like socialism, to me.
John H. -- Hope you're having a great day!

Their plan is that you are still paying for that hot spot by being a
comcast data customer. They want a monopoly in data sales


I am not defending Comcast, but I recall years ago that the future
promise of Internet access was to have WiFi access accessible virtually
anywhere in the country. If each Internet access provider does
something similar to this, that may become a reality. Otherwise, some
DC Congress member will decide it would be a wonderful Federal project
to take on, using taxpayers' money, farming out the software development
to CGI Federal.




Government regulation in Europe gives citizens there high speed
broadband TV, internet and telephone for between $50 and $100 a month,
less than half of what similar service in this country costs.

As usual, we're being ripped off by corporations.

There are many cites about this. Here is one you might find interesting:

http://tinyurl.com/3s2hub6

There are also companies offering wifi on a month to month basis for $10
to $15 a month and there are plenty of free wifi hotspots.



I am all for competition between the Internet service/media delivery
companies. The technology benefits and it keeps costs under control. I
think that's what is missing in many American industries today. Too
little competition and too many government bailouts.

The cable companies all have government mandated monopolies. With no
government over site of what the monopoly charges.