W e l c o m e !
|
This is the www.victory4wifi.co.uk website, Phill's new internet domain for the wireless content which was on www.phillhills.net until May2006. In April the Devils Dyke Wireless LAN Project (DDWLAN) joined forces with www.Simplywifi.co.uk of Worthing to share resources and allow our wireless users to roam between the two networks. As a result we are now able to offer wireless internet access from a number of hotspot sites in the West Sussex area for as little a £1 per day (or Prepay: £20 per month) which include: Devils Dyke, Fulking Village, Washington, Findon, Worthing - Railway Station, Teville Road. and Worthing - Luna Italian Restaurant in Montague Place. See the coverage maps links on the left hand side of this page for more information. For those users who don't need the speed our wirelessMAX service offers there is still wirelessFREE access to the internet and email from the sites but at a lower standard speed. |
Wrexham & Shropshire becomes latest train company to announce free onboard Wi-Fi

Wrexham & Shrophsire have become the latest company to announce free Wi-Fi for passengers on it's rail services that operate from Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Telford to London Marylebone. The train operator will install the Icomera Moovbox M200R mobile broadband gateway which uses two 3G HSPA connections from Vodafone and Orange with patented SureWAN technology that provides intelligent routing and allows the gateway to switch seamlessly between the networks to ensure an always-on connection without interruption. Wrexham & Shropshire will also be adding at-seat power to their trains so users can plug their laptop in whilst using the service to ensure they get the most from it. The service is expected to be made available this summer.
The Moovbox M200R Mobile Broadband Gateway is a highly-ruggedised version of the award-winning M200 – a multi-radio, in-vehicle communications device that delivers Ethernet, Wi-Fi and GPS over a range of carrier-class backhaul networks. The IP65-rated (NEMA 4X) M200R meets strict EMC, shock & vibration and environmental requirements for rolling stock (EN50155) as well as E Mark (2004/104/EC) for road-based commercial vehicles. Whether for Internet services on passenger transport or secure VPN connectivity for public safety vehicles, the industrial grade Moovbox M200R works wherever there is cellular data coverage and supports plug-and-play operation with WAN technologies including 3G UMTS/HSPA, EDGE, EV-DO Rev A, TD-CDMA, HC-SDMA, FLASH-OFDM and mobile WiMAX 802.16e. Installed in trains, coaches, buses and ferries around the world, the Moovbox is simply the easiest way to provide connectivity wherever it's needed.
Three offer 3G Wi-Fi router to customers...

An annoying thing with the 3G data dongles is that they do not work with all USB devices. A good many mobile devices include Wi-Fi so a router that accepts a 3G modem and shares this out over Wi-Fi would make for a useful accessory, add a battery for mobility and you have a lot more options for where you can use the device. 3G routers have come down in price very quickly as mobile broadband dongles have increased in popularity. A quick search online reveals a number of devices available in the £50 to £90 bracket, including the Billion's 7402GXL router and Draytek's 2800VG, which both offer support for 3G modems and ADSL2+, with automatic fail over from ADSL2+ to 3G. 3G routers also will allow people to position their 3G modem in the optimal location in their home, if using mobile broadband as their main broadband service. Though for many a cheaper solution will be to see if the modem works over a USB extension lead. If using a 3G router to share the connection it would be wise to ensure you have security switched on, otherwise a 2 to 5GB monthly allowance could vanish over night.
The Wireless Router for 3 Mobile Broadband costs £69.99 when purchased with one of the 3 mobile broadband dongles. Beyond the basic price and options of a black or white model there is little other info apart from the fact the device is tied to the 3 service for 18 months. The D100 turns a regular 3 dongle into a wireless broadband connection which can be shared by multiple users in the same home or office. Just plug your dongle into the router instead of into your laptop and generate instant wireless access for the people around you. .
It's a sad day for Wi-Fi users, BT Openzone - Cloud roaming deal formed in 2005 comes to an end...

This doesn't bode well for the Wi-Fi market, particularly considering the news yesterday that mobile broadband has overtaken Wi-Fi in Internet usage away from home or the workplace.
BT Openzone customers will next week be cut off from public Wi-Fi provided by The Cloud, and will lose coverage at thousands of hotspots as a result. A deal between the two firms will come to an end at 9am on October 2, BT told Openzone users in an email. Both home and business broadband subscribers will be affected. In its email BT wrote: "It's a decision we haven't made lightly. While we know this affects the Wi-Fi coverage you might be used to, or hotspots you regularly visit, the great news is that because the availability of Wi-Fi from BT has grown significantly in the past year, we don't think you'll be too disadvantaged." It said customers will still have access to 3,000 UK hotspots, and 40,000 worldwide.
The Cloud told the register today that commercial negotiations with BT had failed. It said: "It's disappointing for BT Openzone customers that they will no longer be able to benefit from the convenience of our hotspots - we are disappointed that BT could not reach acceptable commercial terms, though we are certain everyone will understand that our service partners, O2, Orange, AT&T, iPass and many others are happy to do business with The Cloud." The Cloud offers Wi-Fi at train stations, airports, hotels, venues and in city centres. But BT wrote it was "sure you'll be able to find a BT Openzone or other roaming partner hotspot nearby". The Wi-Fi operator is offering BT Openzone users 30 days' free Wi-Fi if they take out a subscription. Steve Nicholson, CEO of The Cloud, said: "As disappointing as their decision over commercial terms appears, we are reliant on BT for PSTN amongst other services and will continue to work closely in the hope they reconsider their decision for the better of their customers."
Google, HSBC and Liberty Global back 'internet-for-all' start-up to give 3 billion more people internet access...

Google Inc, Liberty Global Inc, and HSBC Holdings Plc are backing a start-up called O3b Networks Ltd named for its ambition to bring Internet access to the "other 3 billion" people who lack it today.
The effort has begun initial production of 16 low-cost satellites that collectively will provide an Internet backbone to places lacking high-speed networking cable, including emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, O3b said. Bridging the gap between current satellites and fiber optic cables, O3b Networks will provide fiber-like trunking capacity to telecom operators and backhaul directly to 3G Cellular and WiMAX towers. The satellites will link with ground stations such as mobile phone towers that actually reach the customers. The satellites will offer low latency Internet backhaul to emerging markets and developing countries worldwide at speeds up to 10 Gbps with a combined total capacity in excess of 160Gbps.
Greg Wyler, Founder and CEO of O3b Networks, stated: "We have selected Thales Alenia Space for the manufacturing of our satellites as the result of a detailed opportunity analysis and competitive bidding process. Thales end to end system design experience and capabilities made them the best candidate to support our go-to-market strategy and provide the most reliable heritage and solution to support our unique mission. We are well under way with the development and will have the initial system in orbit by the end of 2010".
Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space added: “We are very proud to have been selected to design, build and assist with the launch of a new major Low Earth Orbit constellation project. For this innovative project, we will leverage our strong heritage in both LEO platforms and unique capabilities in mission-critical payloads. We have organized ourselves to execute flawlessly on this contract and look forward to the late 2010 launch of the first batch of satellites.”
O3b said in a statement Tuesday: "The O3b Networks system will completely change the economics of telecommunications infrastructure in the world's fastest-growing markets for communications services." The service should become active in 2010, the company said, and more satellites are a future option.
Google has aggressively pushed for more widespread Internet access, including municipal Wi-Fi and other wireless networking, which the company believes will increase its user base and its engagement with online services. That of course also could help sustain growth in Google's ad business. Larry Alder, product manager for Google's Alternative Access Team, said in a statement: "O3b's model empowers local entrepreneurs and companies to deliver internet and mobile services to those in currently under served or remote locations at speeds necessary to power rich web based applications."
Users of MySpace get free access via Wi-Fi ...
The Cloud has a history of adding content that is accessible for free from its wireless hotspots including BBC Content in October 2007 and the Nokia music store in December 2007. A partnership between MySpace.com and The Cloud will see MySpace users being able to access the site without the need for a hotspot subscription until October 2008. The partnership will see both parties promoting each other on their respective web pages. The Cloud will provide all new and existing MySpace users with free Wi-Fi access to myspace.com, giving them the opportunity to access the site and communicate with friends wherever The Cloud's network is available – in over 7,000 UK locations. The deal reaffirms the growing consumer demand for Wi-Fi access in public locations where The Cloud has a strong and growing presence through outlets such as McDonalds. The joint promotion, which will initially run until October 2008, will see MySpace branding and multimedia content featured on The Cloud's landing page and on signage located across The Cloud's network.
Anthony Lukom, Managing Director of MySpace UK commented: “MySpace users want to easily communicate with their friends and discover exciting, relevant content wherever they happen to be. The Cloud now offers them this opportunity in thousands of great locations, whether it's their local McDonalds, a travel centre or even sports stadiums.”
Steve Nicholson, CEO of The Cloud said "MySpace is renowned as one of the world's leading social networking platforms, which makes it an ideal partner for us. The Cloud is delighted to be working with MySpace to provide many millions of its users free access to their music, video and friends over Cloud Wi-Fi."
Broadband Service Providers need to get smarter...
Service providers (ISPs) can generate more revenue by offering smart services such as home security, monitoring and home automation, according to research analyst Yankee. It says the idea of ISPs offering such services is becoming more accepted and there's evidence that consumers in the USA would be willing to pay for them. In the report, Yankee says that, although ISPs are in a position to capitalise on the new services by providing customers with reliable delivery and keeping costs down, they need to adopt a phrased approach to launching them. It says they first need to create brand awareness to change the mindset of consumers who are more used to adopting such services from home security providers and home improvement equipment retailers.
Yankee recommends ISPs partner with traditional home security providers to provide services, ensure they keep the price of services in line with the current market and keep them simple by offering both do-it-yourself kits for those with technical know-how and professional installations for those who need them.
Easynet Connect have published findings of a survey showing how SME's are becoming more reliant on broadband services, but seem unwilling to switch ISP when standards drop...
Easynet Connect have published findings of a survey they conducted in conjunction with Quocirca showing how small and medium sized businesses are becoming more reliant on broadband services over the last few years, but seem unwilling to switch providers when service standards drop. The report asserts that not only is Internet access becoming a critical part of the operations of a modern business, but SMEs are increasing their expectations of their suppliers. The research shows that 1 in 7 businesses wouldn't be able to manage for more than a day without broadband , and 77% had faced service problems, but only 1 in 10 were considering switching broadband service providers, distinct to consumers who are far more likely to switch if there is a better deal on offer. Two thirds of those questioned confirmed their company had been with the same broadband provider for over five years and only about 10% were considering switching to another supplier. The problem is compounded by the jargon in the industry, making it difficult for non-IT staff to manage the purchasing decisions.
Rob Bamforth Principal Analyst at Quocirca said “As more and more businesses regard the internet as the backbone of their day-to-day processes, it is important that they understand that internet connectivity can and should be tailored to fit. Whilst speed and cost have become the buzzwords in the consumer space, businesses owners need to look beyond to added value and support, working closely with a provider that understands their specific needs, as opposed to one that takes a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Lack of understanding - The report highlights a lack of understanding within the general business community about the technology and issues with many having a simplistic view of how Internet connectivity works. It suggests only a third of those asked understand the benefits of symmetric Vs asymmetric services and the benefits of faster upload speeds. Similarly, users tend to be focused on advertised speeds, not quality of service (although it was a recognized issue), contention of resources, etc.
Critical Infrastructure - In today's connected world, many companies are using the Internet for a key part of their operations from e-commerce, sales and marketing to general communications. The unavailability of even e-mail services alone can disrupt the modern efficient workforce which has learnt to rely on it, not to mention the impact on companies with VoIP platforms. The Quocirca research emphasizes this with the statistic that 22% of SMEs stated they couldn't cope without Internet access for more than an hour, rising to 71% when this was raised to 24 hours. The real question managers should ask is, are they taking this into consideration in their provisioning of IT services, risk assessments and contingency planning scenarios. With the increasing tightening of business models, is your broadband provider financially stable to stay in business for the next year?
Chris Stening Managing Director of Easynet Connect said “poor service levels and lack of support are currently being tolerated - this should not be the case. SMBs should be as demanding as consumers.”
If you run a small or medium sized business and haven't already asked yourself these questions, it's about time you did . The full report can be downloaded here .
Council plugs free internet for tenants - Solihull residents to get connected through sockets
Solihull Metropolitan Council is planning to offer housing tenants in six buildings free internet access through their power points. The residents of the eight multi-storey buildings around North Solihull, near Birmingham, will be able to get internet access at broadband speeds through an internet connectivity unit that plugs into the wall sockets, with a three-pin interface on one side and an Ethernet port on the other. Internet access will be delivered to the buildings over a wireless connectivity service called RedKite, provided by ISP CI-Net. The base station is located five miles away on a Solihull Community Housing (the organisation that oversees council housing for the authority) building. Access will be financed by the authority and the initiative is an effort to bridge the digital divide among council tenants who are likely to be the most socially disadvantaged in the area. Around 180 residents will benefit.
Solihull Community Housing head of IT Chris Deery said "We are aware of the disadvantages suffered by the residents in these blocks and this is part of the council's attempt to improve their life chances." The first block will be cabled for internet access through June, with roll out to the other five completed by the end of the summer. The rollout will then be used as a pilot to apply for further funding for more council buildings. The initial set up cost is around £60,000 with a service cost of £24,000 per year. Deery expects the cost to come down if the council is able to add more buildings to the network.
WiFi-based positioning technology developed by Spotigo achieves accuracy of 5m in London
May 14, 2008

The German software and service provider Spotigo announced that its WiFi-based Positioning Solution (“WiPS”) has set new standards in positioning accuracy. Spotigo developed a beta version of a real-time location tracking application that can be installed on any WiFi-enabled device. It was tested in London and achieved an accuracy of up to 5m in the city center.
"The results are amazing.", states Daniel Prümers, CEO of Spotigo, "You see your exact current location without any support by GPS or GSM. And this calculation is done even faster than by conventional positioning technologies."
Spotigo's WiFi-based positioning technology identifies the user's position on the basis of the received WiFi signal patterns. It is the perfect complement to GPS since it compensates the limitations of satellite-based positioning: Especially in urban areas with high buildings and narrow streets, WiPS usually generates more reliable and more accurate results than GPS. Another important advantage of this new technology is the indoor and 3D functionality.
Since it also works perfectly as a standalone positioning solution, Spotigo's WiPS now makes it possible to offer location-aware content on all mobile devices without GPS module. As a B2B company, Spotigo offers WiPS to companies, municipalities and organizations interested in offering high quality location-based services or location-based advertising.
About Spotigo
Spotigo started operations in the beginning of 2005 and became one of the leading European software- and services companies providing innovative technology to the WiFi and LBS market. Spotigo distributes a WiFi SmartClient, a software solution that enables internet users to find and log on to WiFi hotspots automatically. Another core product is the WiFi-based Positioning Solution (“WiPS”), which works independently from any GPS-hardware or GSM-operators. Furthermore Spotigo manages the largest search-service for WiFi access points with over 250.000 listed hotspots worldwide.
For more information see www.spotigo.com . Contact: Phone: +49 (0) 211 – 416 52 86 or E-Mail: press@spotigo.com
BT bets its future on broadband 20 times faster than now ...
BT is boosting Britain's attempt to remain at the top of the global broadband market with plans to install a network at Ebbsfleet in Kent that offers speeds 20 times faster than the average UK household connection. The company hopes its deployment of the UK's fastest ever residential network, at the development of 10,000 new homes, will be a crucial testbed as the government, regulator Ofcom and industry come to decide how to upgrade the country's broadband network.
From August, BT's Openreach unit will start installing super fast fibre connections rather than traditional copper phone lines at the Ebbsfleet site, owned by Land Securities. It will offer the lines to BT Retail and rival ISPs and media companies such as Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk and BSkyB, on a wholesale basis, enabling these companies to provide a host of bandwidth-hungry services such as high definition TV and film downloads.
"Openreach will provide the basic infrastructure and service providers will have the opportunity to build their own services on the back of it," explained head of Openreach Steve Robertson.
In any discussion of ultra-fast broadband, South Korea and Japan always loom large. South Korea has an estimated 90% of its population plugged into broadband with the average advertised speed, according to the OECD, at 43MB a second. In Japan - where take-up ranks alongside the UK's at about half the population - the average advertised connection is 90MB. Japan's largest communications company, NTT, plans to have fibre-optic networks plugged into 95% of homes by 2010. . Continued Here...
Schoolchildren in 174 primary schools in East Sussex are to reap the benefits of wi-fi ...
Schoolchildren in 174 primary schools in East Sussex are to reap the benefits of wi-fi – thanks to a £3 million contract with BT. The BT deal with East Sussex County Council will provide a managed wireless service for the schools under the council’s next generation network (NGN) programme. BT says its relationship with the council is now valued at nearly £12 million - with an option to extend the wireless service to cover an additional 130 council sites.
Stephen Pitcher, BT sector sales manager in local government, said: “The decision to go wireless means the council can achieve greater levels of flexibility – without the financial outlay of fixed connectivity. “The lower cost of ownership, greater bandwidth capacity and increased speed of delivery allows the council to develop its voice and data convergence strategy.” MLL Telecom will supply the wireless solution via a framework contract, which will enable BT to engage more rapidly on future opportunities, he added
London borough Waltham Forest is to pilot a public wireless network after joining forces with BT as part of the telco's Wireless Cities initiative...

BT will pay for and construct the network over the coming months by fitting wireless transmitters to lampposts and other street furniture. The network will initially cover a square mile around Walthamstow town centre, with several three-month trials due to take place this autumn.
The project will boost council services and bring benefits to local residents and businesses, according to the council's e-transformations manager, Max Carter. Carter said: "One of the key things is that it gives us the flexibility to pursue our objectives. There really are opportunities there." He explained the network will greatly impact council service delivery, with social workers and other staff able to remotely access back-office systems. Carter added: "This gives us more opportunity for flexible working and working from home. It gives us a lot more flexibility from where staff can operate from. "The beauty of this initiative is we're not involved in the expense of constructing the network."
The local economy should also benefit. Carter said the aim is to give local business people "affordable and agile internet connectivity". He added it is hoped the wireless network will encourage businesses to stay in the area while attracting new ones to it - reversing the current high turnover of businesses. Local residents will have free access to online council services but have to sign up with BT Openzone to get full internet access. There are also plans to provide full wireless web access in the borough's local libraries. The network will support mobile CCTV cameras which can be moved to trouble spots around the area at minimal cost. The agreement follows BT pilots in 12 other major UK local authorities, including Birmingham, Newcastle and Westminster.
Heathrow Express gets T-Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot...
Uninterrupted broadband access of speeds of up to 8Mbps will be available to customers for the 23-minute journey, from Paddington to Heathrow airport terminals, including all 6km of tunnel sections. Users will be able to purchase Wi-Fi HotSpot passes on the trains or elsewhere, and use them at other T-Mobile HotSpots after they have disembarked.
Nigel Wallbridge, chairman and co-founder, Nomad Digital - T-Mobile's solution partner adds: “This is not only a significant enhancement to Heathrow Express passengers but it is also a technology breakthrough. For the first time ever, the Wi-Fi service offered to passengers on the Heathrow Express trains will utilise WiMAX technology underground, thus creating a seamless and uninterrupted internet connection throughout the journey between Paddington and Heathrow Airport.”
The new Wi-Fi HotSpot service will enable customers aboard the Heathrow Express to make more effective use of their time; catching-up with those last minute emails, Googling that pre-meeting research, checking that their flight is on time, or even watching the goal they missed while they were in the air. The Heathrow Express carries 5.3 million passengers per annum, and includes a relatively high proportion of business travellers.
Making waves: WiFi is now available on the River Thames...
"If you were trying to run a single, conventional mesh down 22km you would have to do it over 30 or 40 IP hops which just can't happen technically," says Meshhopper's CTO, Chris Spencer. "We've currently got eight injectors into our network and your [Wi-Fi] session stays up across all eight. It makes us scalable and is what gives us our technical edge."
Existing Thames services are provided by equipment operating in three frequency bands: backhaul to the network's fixed points is over a specially licensed (802. 11 c) 5.8GHz connection; a 5.4GHz service (802.11b) to transmit to boats on the move; and a standard 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal to connect to subscriber devices. Thames Online is using Proxirn's dual radio architecture ORiNOCO AP-4000MR outdoor mesh access points for "additional locations and services". Meshhopper's relationship with the Thames began by providing CCTV, WiFi. and GPS tracking for London's river boats in addition to its own real-time passenger information system technology. Following that, it was invited into locations like St. Catherine's Dock to provide ISP services.
"It has made us develop our product massively because we see day-to-day operating problems which box-shifters don't," says Spencer. "We've developed features like auto-setup because our guys have been out there trying to install kit with a laptop in the rain. We've gone a long way into making our products simple for us and our customers." Thames Online subscribers pay £9.95 per month with no minimum contract The company also operates a SIP-based VoIP system and has roaming deals with several "high profile WiFi operators."
Europe's most advanced Wifi network...
The City of London, in association with The Cloud, has recently enabled what they're calling 'Europe's most advanced WiFi network' in a deployment across the entire City of London – the famous Square Mile. More than 350,000 people who work in and visit the area now have wireless broadband access throughout the City. The service should help people who are out and about keep in touch and up to
date on developments and allow access to cheaper telephone calls using VoIP
services such as Skype. Access is available through the usual partners of The
Cloud such as O2, BT Openzone, iPass, Truphone and Skype on various handsets.

Twelve months of development and testing has enabled The Cloud and the City of
Reinforcing the Square Mile’s status as a world-leading financial and business centre, the City-wide WiFi network has been designed and built onto existing street furniture including lamp posts and street signs.
UK faces broadband deadline threat...
The digital divide could deepen further and the economy suffer unless the UK improves its plans for the next generation of broadband within the next two years. If the UK fails to offer the same bandwidth as other countries, the pace of innovation in the economy could slow, according to a report from the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) - a government advisory group on broadband and digital convergence.
The BSG's three main recommendations for a high-speed broadband Britain
♦ The industry needs to develop business models to more accurately reflect the costs involved in providing next-gen broadband.
♦ Ofcom needs to improve its regulatory framework for next generation broadband to balance investment incentives and competition to make the market work.
♦ The government must reduce some of the costs operators face when deploying next-gen networks and understand the implications of what will happen if the UK does not act now.
The government has 12 to 24 months to develop and implement broadband policies to ensure a market-led transition to next-gen broadband - offering download speeds of 20Mbps or more - according to the Pipe Dreams? Prospects for next generation broadband deployment in the UK report.
Antony Walker, CEO of the BGS, told silicon.com it is likely there will be a similar range of benefits from the switch to faster broadband, as was seen from the move from narrowband to broadband. The report knocks ADSL2+ - which is run over copper-based networks - as a possible next-gen player because the download speed offered by the technology decreases the further the user is from the exchange.
Although wireless technologies will play a part, the move to super-broadband will require the deployment of optical fibre deeper into the local access network, either to the street cabinet or directly to the customer premises by fibre to the home (FTTH) technology, said the report.
The cost of providing FTTH to 90 per cent of UK households has been estimated at €14bn, according to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. But last week BT announced investment in its all-IP next generation network – known as 21CN - has knocked hopes of FTTH technology in the UK. Walker added: "There isn't yet the right balance of incentives in the market, either commercial or policy or regulatory, that would make that a sensible decision for BT."
Thursday, June 22nd 2006. This morning I received a nice suprise text message from Andrew who had just climbed to the top of the Teville Gate muiltistory carpark with his mobile wifi kit.
The test message confirmed something we had seen the night before in the Worthing access point logs, that the Teville Road node can see Devil's Dyke node and so now it is only a matter time before we can finally link these two nodes together via wireless.
Wiana logs are also confirming the the Devils Dyke node is also talking to the Washington node (see inset) but some work is still required at Washington to improve the signal quallity. We will also be looking at improving the coverage in the Washington Village area at the same time.
Andrew said "Sunday I held my XDA running Wi-Fi-Fo-Fum and saw both my antennas from over 1 mile away from the antenna on the hill and today I stood on a 6th floor of the multistory carpark and got wifi from twelve plus miles away... SimplyWifi are very happy today!".
08th-July-2006: Victory4wifi working together with Simplywifi now have a working demo live network google map overlay on the site. The map page is currently in testing and is made availible for our network users on demo basis. Live Map..
Left: Andrew, perched next to the main mast and mesh node, ready to remove the radio cards. Centre: Longshot of the current mast at Devils Dyke Hotel. Right: Andrew pulls out the cards while Phill looks on and ready to assit. Photos by Tina Hills. © 2006. More photos...





™
™






