Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Specialty Hosting and Markets : Anyone Running/Starting a WISP?

[MyFocal]

I have been doing a lot of research lately at starting a WiFi wisp (mesh or not). All of the forums on WISPs that I have found haven't been very useful, or haven't been very well designed and are hard to navigate. I went ahead and put up this forum so that I can (hopefully) collaborate with others on what equipment and software to use and all that good stuff. If any of you are WISP-ers, please check out the site. Thanks in advance for your help!

http://www.wisptalk.com/

[tcsekhar]

The forum you are referring to doesn't seem to contain any posts..

[MyFocal]

There aren't many posts as it's a new forum. I'm letting people know in hopes that it will start being used. All of the other forums related to WISPs that I have found were more like message boards and were not laid out very well or easily navigable, and since I am interested in this topic, I thought it would be great to setup a site about it, with a URL thats easy to remember. Feel free to post on the forums.

[at0m]

With so much free wireless around in cities now (including municipal) it seems that the WISP business is getting even tougher. We looked at doing this in some neighborhoods near our downtown facility, since we have roof access, but there are too many free spots.

We experimented with a free service that was supposed to generate revenue through ads, but it was a losing proposition.

In rural areas however, it's still a viable business.

[MyFocal]

at0m, I disagree. I am working on a WISP directory, and have already over 600 WISP businesses listed, and I am nowhere near being finished (and even when I am, I am sure there are plenty more out there). Several are "in town" networks and seem to be doing a decent amount of profit. I think if a business can build a mesh network, or can build a large network (like Boingo.com), there is HUGE profit potential. A smart businessman would be willing to pay for "for sure" access to the internet, instead of having to hunt down an unencrypted wireless signal or a free hotspot. Especially if he can roam anywhere (like on a mesh network).

[IHNjustin]

I agree with MyFocal, and when comparing DSL or T1 or 2xT1 to say 5Mbps or 10Mbps wireless business Internet access, the WISP play is competitive, and as said by MyFocal, will include many firms in the market as it is localized, segmented by region in which they are offering the service. There are a lot of areas where wireless is free, but guaranteed access is demanded by businesses, and there is always a value and cost for this quantity demanded.

[Toby H]

WISPs seem to be bigger in the uk since there are little or no free hotspots around in most towns... I'd be interested to look into the workings of it to do something over here since there really is nothing...but currently dont have the time to even do research let alone start doing any planning

[fastdeploy]

Originally Posted by MyFocal

at0m, I disagree. I am working on a WISP directory, and have already over 600 WISP businesses listed, and I am nowhere near being finished (and even when I am, I am sure there are plenty more out there). Several are "in town" networks and seem to be doing a decent amount of profit. I think if a business can build a mesh network, or can build a large network (like Boingo.com), there is HUGE profit potential.

I researched starting a WISP several years back when there were no broadband options in the little town I live in. It seemed to me to be more work than I was willing to get involved in - climbing roofs, towers, etc. - and, given the equipment costs, I didn't see good margins. The best and most reliable equipment that delivered the most reliable signal, then as now, was quite expensive.

As it happened someone did startup a WISP in our little town and has done pretty well bringing wireless to the mostly rural surrounding area where there aren't and probably never will be broadband options from the telcos and cablecos. Until cable modem and DSL came, I used them for about a year and it was extremely flaky and unreliable. He's still around so I imagine he's gotten better quality equipment. I think he's also made a good business out of doing wireless consulting for local business as well.

A smart businessman would be willing to pay for "for sure" access to the internet, instead of having to hunt down an unencrypted wireless signal or a free hotspot. Especially if he can roam anywhere (like on a mesh network).

That's basically where Boingo comes in. The local WISP can benefit from that relationship but few will ever start a WISP on the scale where they're going to be providing service to lots of towns and cities and to those business people who roam around. It takes huge dollars to build that kind of infrastructure.

The thing I did like about the WISP business is it reminded me a lot of the "Wild West" aspect of the early days of dialup ISPs, which I was involved in. Very similar wide-open feel to that marketplace. Carefully managed, I think it's a good business to be in you just have to find the right niches.

[eger]

Me and a friend started a WISP in California a couple years ago. We ran it for about 2 years and eventually found a buyer interested in the network and infrastructure. The company is still live and running. Though it was not easy.

We went with a proprietary technology (not wifi) which was probably what kept it so strong. The biggest problems that came up were interference, line of sight, and equipment cost. Site surveying is your friend. Do NOT bring equipment to a customers premises and expect it to work. One of the next hardest things was just having to say "no, our service will not work here, sorry".

In the Bay Area the unlicensed wireless spectrum is just so crowded that it really hurt our growth. A lot of places we wanted to install and towers we wanted to turn up we just simply couldn't because all the spectrum had been used in both 2.4 and 5.8ghz and the interference was to strong to create reliable links that could compete with cable or DSL.

Though me and my partner are both techs and knew a lot about wireless technology, we learned a great deal by attending wireless seminars and classes.

[HostThree]

I'm with Tony, I would love to do it. Just don't know enough about it, but would be interested in listening to anything about it.

[viratshah]

your forum has just 9 members:|
bring it to life!

[Babushka99]

Look into www.meraki.net - and go through their forums. I would very strongly suggest you see the technology / services behind meraki and fromthe forums you can gauge the folks who are using it.

[Checkers]

Seems like some nice stuff.

[Babushka99]

Originally Posted by Checkers

Seems like some nice stuff.

It is indeed very nice. Strong signals, billing and manageability aspects are really slick. Deployment is a breeze, and still waiting for the pricing/release of the solar version.

[jzukerman]

I used to work for a WISP a couple years ago. I think they are still in business somehow. It was rather mis-managed and using junky hardware. Had no more than a 140 customers at one point.
For suggestions as to a good WISP forum, I'd recommend the DSLReports WISP forum. I've been reading it for a few years now, and has always been a good source for info.