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    Charging people to use my wireless?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by TheSavageMac, Oct 31, 2007.

  1. TheSavageMac

    TheSavageMac Notebook Geek

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    Hello hello!

    I live in a pretty crappy part of town where nobody can seemingly afford internet...yet they have computers. Anyway, I know this because I see anywhere between 8 and 12 computers connected to my wireless network (I unsecured it for a test).

    How can I direct these freeloaders to a page I design myself that says:

    WANT INTERNET? PAY JUST $8.50 A MONTH AND YOU GET IT!

    Give 'em my contact info, etc.

    Maybe make it so each person has a different key (so they can't share), and every 30 days give new ones?

    I see this as a great opportunity to pay my internet bill.

    Is this possible?
     
  2. simonfzhao

    simonfzhao Notebook Evangelist

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    lol i really doubt it..but you can put it info your network name, and tell the to contact you..and ask them for their computer names so you can see who's paying and who's not, then kick off the ones who are not :S that's my best suggestion, nice idea though :D
     
  3. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    What you can do is make a contract in writing, then use IP filtering to only allow those people that have paid you to connect to your network. Anyone else will not be able to, even if they know the password.

    That way, you get something in return, and only the person(s) that paid get access.
     
  4. noahsark

    noahsark Notebook Evangelist

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    I bet the TOS with your ISP forbid such a thing. Good idea, though.
     
  5. Waveblade

    Waveblade Notebook Deity

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    MAC filtering would do the trick
     
  6. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

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    Yup. Easiest way to do this. Also check if it's legal with your ISP to resell your internet access.
     
  7. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    It's probably not, but no one will know that you are getting paid for sharing your internet connection.
     
  8. saunders73

    saunders73 Notebook Guru

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    you could make it seem that you are charging them for access to your "network" which happens to have internet
     
  9. TheSavageMac

    TheSavageMac Notebook Geek

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    thanks guys I'm real excited about this.

    i figure I'm benefiting all parties: cheap internet for the less fortunate.

    and free internet for me :D

    its no different really than a corner cafe charging for their wifi (buy some coffee get the network key).
     
  10. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Opening your internet to the public is forbidden by your contract to your ISP. Your ISP will come down on you if people download too much stuff. If people download illegal stuff, like music or kiddie porn, you could have the RIAA and FBI on your tail.
     
  11. Metamorphical

    Metamorphical Good computer user

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    This is still not legal because you probably have a contract with your IP that forbids you from this sort of thing. You should contact them and find out what your contract states. In the meantime this thread is closed.