racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

I was quite surprised with Abe’s latest post, where he shares that PLDT DSL is bundling in WiFi access with their plans. High-end plans get it free, while lower-end ones have to pay PhP 99 per month (promo price; regular price is PhP 199 per month) for unlimited access via AirborneAccess.

I was thinking of asking someone with PLDT DSL or even Smart BRO since my unlimited AA account has already run out.

But then I checked Bayantel’s promo page, and I discovered they’re offering a similar service. You just have to add PhP 99 to your DSL subscription monthly to get unlimited AirborneAccess access. This is good for 12 months, then afterwards the rate will be PhP 199.

That’s just an additional ~ $2 per month. Not bad! If you have to pay prepaid, then PhP 100 is just good for one hour!

This is great for us mobile workers/telecommuters. I used to enjoy unlimited WiFi much, since I sometimes worked at WiFi-enabled cafes instead of just staying at my home office. Since my unlimited account expired, I just used prepaid those few times I get to access at WiFi-enabled cafes.

AA reload is quite expensive compared to these bundled packages. I believe a month’s subscription will set you back PhP 950. A six month reload is PhP3,500, while a year’s reload is PhP 6,500. With these PhP 99 services, a year’s worth of unlimited access will just be PhP 1,118! Even if you make it PhP 199 per month, that’s just PHP 2,388 per year!

Now if they could just also hook up with Globe. Some areas are Globe WIZ only, like Greenbelt, Glorietta, etc. Count on the Ayalas to set up a WiFi monopoly in their territory!

It’s either you’re not that well-versed in wireless technology or you’re a really generous person. But since your router says “default” as its access point name, I reckon it’s the former!

I’m at our new apartment right now, since we’re transferring some of our stuff (hey, it’s only three houses down after all, so a gradual move would do). I was actually surveying the scene again for active WiFi hotspots and this time I brought the PowerBook, and this time I found a signal. It was a bit weak, though, and it only reached the room facing the back of the lot. Hey, at least I’m connected. And it’s at the right place, since this is where I intend to set up my new home office, anyway.

I got tired of holding the laptop in my arm with the Cardbus (the one that pretends to be an Airport Extreme card because it has a Broadcom chipset ) facing the window, so I thought of using the USB WiFi adaptor instead. The advantage? It’s obvious–I could extend the “antenna” by connecting the adaptor via a USB extender. So if you see a USB dongle dangling off the second-floor window, that’s probably mine.

Repeater

I can theoretically set up the desktop here to connect to the live access point and run the second (PCI) WiFi adaptor as an access point. I’ll then set up Windows NAT sharing so I can share the ‘Net across the computers via WiFi–sort of like a repeater.

Of course, if Bayantel beats me to it, then even better! I’ll be sending in my application forms tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll get connected within a few days. I’m thinking of signing up for the lowest plan for now–PhP 899 per month for the 384 Kbps plan. I’ll only have to add PhP 300 to bundle in the telephone connection.

We’ll be completing the move in a few days. So I won’t have to worry about connectivity for the time being. I’m looking forward to getting better work and living space. Watch out–my productivity meter will be shooting through the roof in the next few weeks. Maybe I’ll get that million-dollar idea by then!

By the way, if you’re wondering about the legal and ethical implications of WiFi leeching (and even leaving unprotected WiFi hotspots out in the open), I have a post about this dating from last year.

In the end, those who own and operate the access points should be
responsible for securing their systems. There are various means
of doing this, such as limiting access to specific MAC addresses, use of WEP, WPA, or even a simple http firewall.

After all, perhaps one of the better wardriving tools is Windows XP’s Wireless Zero Config! So anyone with WinXP SP2 can be a perpetrator, or at least his/her computer has the propensity to.

Isn’t an ounce of prevention better than a pound of cure?

We’ll be moving to a bigger apartment within the month, and I’m worried about connectivity. Being able to share the DSL connection via WiFi at my parents’ place here in our existing apartment (within the same compound) is sure easy. But now that my family needs a bigger–and better–living space, I’ll have to take care of these things over again. Signing up for Bayantel/Sky DSL was easy because I’d been a loyal subscriber and our line has been running for about ten years now.

Of course, by “fags,” I mean cigarettes–you know, the Brit and Aussie slang, lest you accuse me of being homophobic or something (no comment!). Those who know me personally would know I don’t smoke (never tried). And I’m quite allergic to cigarette smoke, so I try to keep distance from smokers–at least, while they’re doing their thing, that is.

An experience yesterday (Philippine time, of course) led me to come up with this writeup on ForeverGeek. Went to Seattle’s Best to do some work, but I had no place to stay except the smoking area (I should’ve settled down first before buying coffee, as I usually do). Guess what? Most of the tables were occupied by WiFi junkies.

So what have I learned from all this? I guess this just affirms my theory that in some instances, you could indeed assume the worst from people (which was pointed out in a comment posted here)–at least in some instances. Of course, it’s probably unfair to put people at fault for enjoying the facilities. Hey, I’m also here to do the same. What I’m pointing out is that there’s probably a better alternative for establishments attracting business this way–things that could discourage abuse.

Pretty fun/light stuff.

Enjoy!

A salesperson gave me two cards for free while I was surfing at a local cafe a couple of weeks ago. Thing is, I have an unlimited Airborne Access account good until next year. So I thought of keeping it just in case I find someone to give it to, or for some reason I need to connect using prepaid.

But I just realized recently that expiry will be today, April 30th, 2006! They’ll be good for about 23 hours from now.

So whoever wants them, please do email me by posting a comment below (WordPress will automatically notify me), or send me and SMS (my number’s posted at my sidebar) and I’ll give the first two to contact me the login details.

The cards are worth PhP 300 each, and are good for up to five hours WiFi access (not necessarily contiguous) at any Airborne Access hotspot.