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<TITLE>RE: [MLB-WIRELESS] grumpy people - get a move on</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Alex,</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I think the main thing slowing people down at the moment are access to wireless cards and other equipment.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>I mean look at all the people who jumped up and down when I said I could get 20 Orinoco Silvers for AU$115 each from the states. These are all people who are obviously not active but want to be and just needed some motivation like this.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I think if we can strike up some deals to obtain cheaper cards, antennas and anything else required then things will move along faster. A good idea for antennas might be for a couple of enthusiastic people to go and find as many Galaxy antennas as possible and sell them to list members for $25-35 after they have been modified to work for 802.11.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I'm sure when you ask most people who aren't yet operating what is holding them back, most of them are going to say, ah well, it's just getting equipment and stuff together. So the solution is, make it easier for them to obtain some or all of the equipment.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Then interest will surely increase exponentially as their friends see something in operation and want to jump on the wireless bandwagon too. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I've got many friends who i've crapped on about wireless stuff to since I became interested and most of them say the same thing, "Sounds pretty cool, but I'd like to see it going."</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>From: Alex F [<A HREF="mailto:alexf@optushome.com.au">mailto:alexf@optushome.com.au</A>]</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Sent: Wednesday, 9 January 2002 13:50</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>At 12:44 PM 9/01/2002, you wrote:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I agree with this.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Has anyone else had a look at the statistics on the node database & map?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Total of 301 nodes registered.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>There are about 18 nodes "operational", let's say 20 to count those who </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>haven't updated their status.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>What's the point here?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>A pretty sparse node map and not many operational nodes after many months </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>in Melb Wireless' existence?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I think there is some lack of motivation to get this thing up and running, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>even as a community based network without leeches and internet </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>access. There are many nodes which are interested, but won't commit to </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>buying anything unless their nearest node (or someone else in range) </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>becomes operational to give them someone to connect to. We get into a </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>cycle just with this. Some people probably wouldn't even fork out $50 for </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>an antenna or go to the effort of setting up, even if you gave them a </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>wireless network card for FREE, in the chance that there won't be anyone to </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>connect to.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Now let's say that every node becomes "operational", there are still plenty </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>of nodes on the fringes who would out of range to someone. What's the </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>motivation for these people to get set up?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Have I missed anything?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>We have to find a way of achieving critical mass and moving forward.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Alex F</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>BGI, operational</FONT>
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