WiFi Broadcasting??? the future of community radio??

[oldies1077]

Hi Guys,

Ever consider wifi broadcasting?? there are wifi boomboxes and now a
portable wifi walkman for receiveing streaming stations. with a good wifi
setup you can easily cover a town w/o the need for a license. you can stream
full stereo at 128k or more. multiple stations can also band together and chip in towards a wifi installation and each can have his/her own virtual channel

the gears are turning


<P ID="signature">______________
Oldies 1610 AM Stereo

"Proud User of Chris Cuff's Alfredo Lite 100mw"

http://www.part15.us
Largest Part 15 Website in the World</P>

 

[jcolletta275]

I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the horizon that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a great idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition sooner than corporate radio would care to even think of <P ID="signature">______________
The Radio Blog: regular updates are a good thing.
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>

 

[xmusicmatt]

> I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the horizon
> that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a great
> idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition sooner
> than corporate radio would care to even think of
>

The day wifi radio takes off, is the day you see every Infinity and Clear Channel station magically start webcasting! I almost bet it will happen!

--Matt<P ID="signature">______________
Program Director/Music Director
X Music Online
The X
Today's Best Music
http://www.xmusiconline.com/</P>

 

[ajhenderson]

> I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the horizon
> that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a great
> idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition sooner
> than corporate radio would care to even think of

All these webcasts people think are going to kill terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents were so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from corporate stations around the country would be calling them. Fact is, you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio. Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will expand their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do, they'll dominate it.

 

[Russty]

> Fact is,
> you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.

Where do you get your facts from? I think there are a lot more than a few, and they ain't that random. A lot of people listen to web radio at work, because most of tadays cheap radios can't get most radio stations in office buildings. Besides, space is usually a commodity, and so to be able to get a signal over the computer, and save the space that a radio would take up. Some people listen to web feeds of broadcast stations, while others venture out into the world of Shoutcast and others like it. There are a lot of people listening to web radio in the office. The WiFi that currently exists and the Long Range Broadband Wireless that is on the horizon will enable people to listen out of the office as well. That is when web radio will really catch on.

> Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will expand
> their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
> they'll dominate it.

This could very well be true. I know that Clear Channel and CBS Radio (formerly Infinity) are actively building a webcasting and podcasting infrastructure. The things to keep in mind about mass webcasting is that it is expensive. Each connection uses more bandwidth. The pipeline to supply such bandwidth is costly. The computer programmers and engineers are trying to work on this as well. I don't think they are as close to solving that problem as they are to implementing Long Range Broadband Wireless.

Don't forget about licensing either. ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, AFTRA and everyone else will still be looking for their cut. This is why I tend to agree that the big companies will continue to dominate the distribution of media, just because of the sheer expense involved. The other thing that sets them up to succeed is the fact that they are already in the radio biz, and have the perfect venue to promote their new venue.

Hey, I think if you want to be a contender as a broadcaster in the future, you seriously need to consider building content on the internet. Like it or not, this is the way things are moving. Oh, this doesn't just apply to Radio either. Sure video is more complicated than audio, but really when you come right down to it, TV is basically just radio with picture.

 

[jcolletta275]

> > I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the horizon
>
> > that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a great
>
> > idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition sooner
>
> > than corporate radio would care to even think of
> >
>
> The day wifi radio takes off, is the day you see every
> Infinity and Clear Channel station magically start
> webcasting! I almost bet it will happen!
>
> --Matt

They already are!

Post 1040 dedicated to WHO, Des Moines.<P ID="signature">______________
The Radio Blog: regular updates are a good thing.
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>

 

[dbdigital]

> > Fact is,
> > you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
>
> Where do you get your facts from? I think there are a lot
> more than a few, and they ain't that random. A lot of
> people listen to web radio at work, because most of tadays
> cheap radios can't get most radio stations in office
> buildings. Besides, space is usually a commodity, and so to
> be able to get a signal over the computer, and save the
> space that a radio would take up. Some people listen to web
> feeds of broadcast stations, while others venture out into
> the world of Shoutcast and others like it. There are a lot
> of people listening to web radio in the office. The WiFi
> that currently exists and the Long Range Broadband Wireless
> that is on the horizon will enable people to listen out of
> the office as well. That is when web radio will really
> catch on.
>

The facts are these: 54% of young adults prefer listening to music via the internet verses AM/FM radio. So it's not just a few random geeks who are listening to internet radio.

But that's not all. According to vnunet magazine, the market for Bluetooth equipped vehicles is expected to grow at an annual rate of 27.1% from 2005 to 2010.

The implementation of Wi-Fi technology in cars is expected to begin in 2008 with BMW's introduction of the technology in its premier models, the BMW 5 and 7 series, which will serve as a catalyst for greater market growth.

A good friend of mine who works in radio once observed that the holy grail for internet radio is when it can reach commuters. All indications show it will soon happen.

Don't blow off internet radio, embrace it.

db

 

[murphmac]

> > I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the horizon
>
> > that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a great
>
> > idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition sooner
>
> > than corporate radio would care to even think of
>
> All these webcasts people think are going to kill
> terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents were
> so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from corporate
> stations around the country would be calling them. Fact is,
> you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
> Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will expand
> their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
> they'll dominate it.
>

I doubt it! Apparently you really haven't looked at the numbers that internet radio brings in. I was in "terrestrial radio" for many years. It's all about the $$. Don't even let me get started on the way cooperations have destroyed the industry. The fact is I wouldn't want to work in cooperate radio again. To be on the air is extremely boring. You sit there watch a computer screen and about 4 or 5 times an our read a liner card or the weather!! You have no say or creativity in this business anymore only if your Imus, Stern and the like - where have you been?

Jim

 

[ironbear]

> All these webcasts people think are going to kill
> terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents were
> so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from corporate
> stations around the country would be calling them. Fact is,
> you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
> Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will expand
> their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
> they'll dominate it.

Famous. Last. Words.

Turns out, there's amazing content exclusively on the internet. Ask Bill Goldsmith, a great programmer (KPIG) who also operates Radio Paradise if people are listening (and if it's a successful business model).

Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio, except when I'm fixing their transmitters. I do listen to a couple narrowcast type streams on Sirius, and for music it's mostly Shoutcast and Live365 stations. I'm hardly the only one who's noticed the garden of delights that exists outside Clear Channel.

WiFi is relatively easy to do, and cheap. Welcome to the future.

 

[murphmac]

> > All these webcasts people think are going to kill
> > terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents were
>
> > so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from
> corporate
> > stations around the country would be calling them. Fact
> is,
> > you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
> > Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will expand
>
> > their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
> > they'll dominate it.
>
> Famous. Last. Words.
>
> Turns out, there's amazing content exclusively on the
> internet. Ask Bill Goldsmith, a great programmer (KPIG) who
> also operates Radio Paradise if people are listening (and if
> it's a successful business model).
>
> Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio, except
> when I'm fixing their transmitters. I do listen to a couple
> narrowcast type streams on Sirius, and for music it's mostly
> Shoutcast and Live365 stations. I'm hardly the only one
> who's noticed the garden of delights that exists outside
> Clear Channel.
>
> WiFi is relatively easy to do, and cheap. Welcome to the
> future.
>


Check out my oldies station on Live 365 - EDGEWATER RADIO. It
s been #1 in oldies for over two years and gets about 130,000 listeners a month.A significant number for a radio "geek" wouldn't you say. That guy is either a radio consultant (WHO HAVE REALLY DISTROYED RADIO!) or is a corporate exec who is totally out of touch with radio or reality. We are on our way to being able to pick up internet stations on radios at home, Sony came out with a phone/walkman capable of picking up internet radio, soon (2008) it will be in cars! We're almost there - no transmitters - FCC - no freekin consultants chopping radio playlists to bits and convincing management that they know what they're doing - (a JOKE, a REAL JOKE ) and hopefully no corporations to deal with.

jim

 

[apco25]

> > > All these webcasts people think are going to kill
> > > terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents
> were
> >
> > > so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from
> > corporate
> > > stations around the country would be calling them. Fact
> > is,
> > > you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
> > > Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will
> expand
> >
> > > their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
> > > they'll dominate it.
> >
> > Famous. Last. Words.
> >
> > Turns out, there's amazing content exclusively on the
> > internet. Ask Bill Goldsmith, a great programmer (KPIG)
> who
> > also operates Radio Paradise if people are listening (and
> if
> > it's a successful business model).
> >
> > Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio,
> except
> > when I'm fixing their transmitters. I do listen to a
> couple
> > narrowcast type streams on Sirius, and for music it's
> mostly
> > Shoutcast and Live365 stations. I'm hardly the only one
> > who's noticed the garden of delights that exists outside
> > Clear Channel.
> >
> > WiFi is relatively easy to do, and cheap. Welcome to the
> > future.
> >
>
>
> Check out my oldies station on Live 365 - EDGEWATER RADIO.
> It
> s been #1 in oldies for over two years and gets about
> 130,000 listeners a month.A significant number for a radio
> "geek" wouldn't you say. That guy is either a radio
> consultant (WHO HAVE REALLY DISTROYED RADIO!) or is a
> corporate exec who is totally out of touch with radio or
> reality. We are on our way to being able to pick up internet
> stations on radios at home, Sony came out with a
> phone/walkman capable of picking up internet radio, soon
> (2008) it will be in cars! We're almost there - no
> transmitters - FCC - no freekin consultants chopping radio
> playlists to bits and convincing management that they know
> what they're doing - (a JOKE, a REAL JOKE ) and hopefully no
> corporations to deal with.
>
> jim
>


I am one of the many believers in Internet streaming and radio and believe it will be satellites main threat in the future.
But how do you get 130,000 listeners a month? By looking at your page , you've been streaming for almost 5 years now. And you must have at least over 40,000 hours of listened time.

I myself have a station streaming on Live 365 and it's been on roughly since last August. It's a R&B classic oldies based station that has potential results. I went archive to live streaming on it since last December and found it has been running up the statistics chart (of roughly 10000 stations) from 3800's or below , up to the lower 1500's. I'm top 20 in classic R&B , and top 10 in Soul and Disco as far as my other chosen genres. Based on hours listened.

The statistics that you or other top stations produced, acquired them because your good?...or because you been around a long time?
I feel after leap frogging for the last 2 months, I have had now narrow jumps in the statistics of all formatted stations. Especially approaching the top 14-1500 stations.

I'm approaching and passing the stations that have had 100 or 200 hours in front of me at one time, but now I won't be long facing the stations that are 1000 plus hours ahead in each of my genres. It sounds almost impossible to approach. If I can close in, does it mean I get more promotion or your casual or avid listener locates my station better?

I'm not doing bad, but I feel I'm not doing great eithier, especially when my daily hours of listening seemed to stagnate or flattened (even though Still climbing).......it questions me wondering getting up that far, How many listeners does LIVE 365 really have? It doesn't seem that great when you compare to a world wide audience. I seen the statistics on shoutcast where stations have 2000-3000 listeners at a cume 24/7.

I have monitored your station and many in front of me in my chosen genres. Many I find very boring or not well programmed. But there up there and continue. It seems like my estimation that only 15-20% of stations if that much gets serious listening time like the shoutcast stations. Out of 10000, that's not much. I haven't broken my capacity of 10, only very seldom, (only for a brief periods, I managed to hit 11 twice.) And I produce 35-60 hours a day. Weekends and evenings are a joke. it seems like after work, it's not worth keeping the station on live. Even though I target a main adult audience.

So my question to you is how long did it take till you finally got up in the real standings of the top 500 or 200. When did you have to expand bandwidths. And do your listeners make donations and sponsor support? It's interesting to me if I'm ranked almost 1500.....I wonder how much better listenership and hours the stations that's ranked 1000 or 500 have as far as listening hours a day or month.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by apco25 on 02/12/06 03:42 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[rickity]

>
> Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio, except
> when I'm fixing their transmitters.

No, no, Ironbear - that can't be true, what you are saying.

Rickity

 

[murphmac]

> > > > All these webcasts people think are going to kill
> > > > terrestrial radio... please. If the web-based talents
> > were
> > >
> > > > so great, they'd have vast audiences and PDs from
> > > corporate
> > > > stations around the country would be calling them.
> Fact
> > > is,
> > > > you've got a few random geeks listening to web radio.
> > > > Perhaps the Clear Channels and other operators will
> > expand
> > >
> > > > their distribution platform to wifi, but once they do,
>
> > > > they'll dominate it.
> > >
> > > Famous. Last. Words.
> > >
> > > Turns out, there's amazing content exclusively on the
> > > internet. Ask Bill Goldsmith, a great programmer (KPIG)
>
> > who
> > > also operates Radio Paradise if people are listening
> (and
> > if
> > > it's a successful business model).
> > >
> > > Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio,
> > except
> > > when I'm fixing their transmitters. I do listen to a
> > couple
> > > narrowcast type streams on Sirius, and for music it's
> > mostly
> > > Shoutcast and Live365 stations. I'm hardly the only one
>
> > > who's noticed the garden of delights that exists outside
>
> > > Clear Channel.
> > >
> > > WiFi is relatively easy to do, and cheap. Welcome to
> the
> > > future.
> > >
> >
> >
> > Check out my oldies station on Live 365 - EDGEWATER RADIO.
>
> > It
> > s been #1 in oldies for over two years and gets about
> > 130,000 listeners a month.A significant number for a radio
>
> > "geek" wouldn't you say. That guy is either a radio
> > consultant (WHO HAVE REALLY DISTROYED RADIO!) or is a
> > corporate exec who is totally out of touch with radio or
> > reality. We are on our way to being able to pick up
> internet
> > stations on radios at home, Sony came out with a
> > phone/walkman capable of picking up internet radio, soon
> > (2008) it will be in cars! We're almost there - no
> > transmitters - FCC - no freekin consultants chopping radio
>
> > playlists to bits and convincing management that they know
>
> > what they're doing - (a JOKE, a REAL JOKE ) and hopefully
> no
> > corporations to deal with.
> >
> > jim
> >
>
>
> I am one of the many believers in Internet streaming and
> radio and believe it will be satellites main threat in the
> future.
> But how do you get 130,000 listeners a month? By looking at
> your page , you've been streaming for almost 5 years now.
> And you must have at least over 40,000 hours of listened
> time.
>
> I myself have a station streaming on Live 365 and it's been
> on roughly since last August. It's a R&B classic oldies
> based station that has potential results. I went archive to
> live streaming on it since last December and found it has
> been running up the statistics chart (of roughly 10000
> stations) from 3800's or below , up to the lower 1500's. I'm
> top 20 in classic R&B , and top 10 in Soul and Disco as far
> as my other chosen genres. Based on hours listened.
>
> The statistics that you or other top stations produced,
> acquired them because your good?...or because you been
> around a long time?
> I feel after leap frogging for the last 2 months, I have had
> now narrow jumps in the statistics of all formatted
> stations. Especially approaching the top 14-1500 stations.
>
> I'm approaching and passing the stations that have had 100
> or 200 hours in front of me at one time, but now I won't be
> long facing the stations that are 1000 plus hours ahead in
> each of my genres. It sounds almost impossible to approach.
> If I can close in, does it mean I get more promotion or
> your casual or avid listener locates my station better?
>
> I'm not doing bad, but I feel I'm not doing great eithier,
> especially when my daily hours of listening seemed to
> stagnate or flattened (even though Still climbing).......it
> questions me wondering getting up that far, How many
> listeners does LIVE 365 really have? It doesn't seem that
> great when you compare to a world wide audience. I seen the
> statistics on shoutcast where stations have 2000-3000
> listeners at a cume 24/7.
>
> I have monitored your station and many in front of me in my
> chosen genres. Many I find very boring or not well
> programmed. But there up there and continue. It seems like
> my estimation that only 15-20% of stations if that much gets
> serious listening time like the shoutcast stations. Out of
> 10000, that's not much. I haven't broken my capacity of 10,
> only very seldom, (only for a brief periods, I managed to
> hit 11 twice.) And I produce 35-60 hours a day. Weekends and
> evenings are a joke. it seems like after work, it's not
> worth keeping the station on live. Even though I target a
> main adult audience.
>
> So my question to you is how long did it take till you
> finally got up in the real standings of the top 500 or 200.
> When did you have to expand bandwidths. And do your
> listeners make donations and sponsor support? It's
> interesting to me if I'm ranked almost 1500.....I wonder how
> much better listenership and hours the stations that's
> ranked 1000 or 500 have as far as listening hours a day or
> month.

I started Edgewater Radio about 4 1/2 years ago. At the time - my music library consisted of about 1,000 songs. I steadily added bandwidth and music to the library. I also did website advertising and advertising on live365. In about the third year, my stats began to really jump - I continued to add to the library - research oldies that weren,t play much on terrestrial radio. I added these songs and offered a greater variety of oldies. I play all of the familiar stuff but also alot of do-op 50's and even pop singers who made the top 40 charts back then. I cover the 50's - 80's although I'm much lighter with the 80's songs. I play them but they do not dominate my playlists. I did a survey on my website of the kind of oldies that people want ot hear. 50's and 60's clearly was the big winner. I program heavy sixties, lots of 50's and also all of the 70's stuff. I spent lots in advertising, increasing disc space and bandwidth. It's real expensive to run but I do alot out of it. Lots more than when I worked for terrestrial radio. I just need to find out a way to make money. As you know Live 365 is very restrictive as far as their rules. If I step up my package with then one more noch, I will be able to air commercials but I would be responsible for all of the Royalty Payments. About $10,000 a year. I just can't afford that. So I'm stuck between a rock and hard place.

In July, I also started a country station on Live 365 - Constant Country KRS.

I have a very small audience on this station which I feel is very good. Better quality MP3PRO and I play all the current country hits along with hits from the 80's and 70's. I don't have to funds to advertise this but I find a way to get the listeners up.

To answer your question, lots of advertising, money, headaches and persistance.

Thanks for inquiring

Jim
Edgewater Radio
www.edgewaterradio.freeservers.com>

 

[ironbear]

> >
> > Frankly, I listen to exactly _no_ terrestrial radio,
> except
> > when I'm fixing their transmitters.
>
> No, no, Ironbear - that can't be true, what you are saying.
>
> Rickity

It's true, Rickity!

You know, about the last terrestrial radio I actually listened to was some guy's Rangemaster, on loan and strapped to my roof. Even that was fed with that "music for people who are funny that way" that, along with an Optimod, seemed to make it go extra, extra far.

I admittedly got the radio bug all over again, and like others in this thread, started a Live365 stream just for my weirder friends to hang out on. That's QMO, folks, currently ranked #3232. Caution: adult themes, oh yea.

 

[Levi]

> > > I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the> horizon> > > > > that this was the way radio was going to go. It's a> great> > > > > idea... and one I think you'll see come to fruition> sooner> > > > > than corporate radio would care to even think of > > > > > > > The day wifi radio takes off, is the day you see every> > Infinity and Clear Channel station magically start> > webcasting! I almost bet it will happen! > > > > --Matt> > They already are!> > Post 1040 dedicated to WHO, Des Moines.> What do you need to get on the air with wifi

 

[dbdigital]

> > > > I'd been saying before WiFi was even a blip on the>
> horizon> > > > > that this was the way radio was going to
> go. It's a> great> > > > > idea... and one I think you'll
> see come to fruition> sooner> > > > > than corporate radio
> would care to even think of > > > > > > > The day wifi
> radio takes off, is the day you see every> > Infinity and
> Clear Channel station magically start> > webcasting! I
> almost bet it will happen! > > > > --Matt> > They already
> are!> > Post 1040 dedicated to WHO, Des Moines.> What do you
> need to get on the air with wifi
>

Yes, but with the internet, it becomes a level playing field. Station KRAP (which webcasts its audio) will have to compete with the kid down the block who's playing his fave Jamaican music on Live 365. True, KRAP can boast a terrestrial radio presence that the kid down the block can't.

But with so many portable Wi-FI "convergence" devices looming on the horizon, it won't be long when that boast won't be worth much and neither will KRAP's FCC license.

db

 

[dickfry]

> Yes, but with the internet, it becomes a level playing
> field. Station KRAP (which webcasts its audio) will have to
> compete with the kid down the block who's playing his fave
> Jamaican music on Live 365. True, KRAP can boast a
> terrestrial radio presence that the kid down the block
> can't.
>
> But with so many portable Wi-FI "convergence" devices
> looming on the horizon, it won't be long when that boast
> won't be worth much and neither will KRAP's FCC license.
>

It's always been about programming and promotion. If all you run is music and you call it a format, then you'll be dead meat on the Informaton Freeway of the Future. With just music, you have nothing to set you apart from imitators with access to the same cuts you're running.

The success stories will be guys with the money and skills to promote their program, whatever it is. That program will be something that goes beyond just songs that we can all download.

The wi-fi era isn't here yet, by a long shot. Until you can hit most of the wireless boxes in town from your wireless box, you don't have critical mass. The software to tie all those wi-fi boxes together into "peop;e's network" exists, but is still evolving.

Check out http://SeattleWireless.net for a group that is developing the infrastructure needed before wi-fi stations can become as easy, or easier than Part 15.


- Dick the Programmer

 

[ironbear]

> It's always been about programming and promotion. If all you
> run is music and you call it a format, then you'll be dead
> meat on the Informaton Freeway of the Future. With just
> music, you have nothing to set you apart from imitators with
> access to the same cuts you're running.
>
> The success stories will be guys with the money and skills
> to promote their program, whatever it is. That program will
> be something that goes beyond just songs that we can all
> download.

Music programmers have always had access to essentially the same cuts. But it's research, skill, innovation, heart and soul which will differentiate music driven formats. Who wants to be an imitator, anyway?

 

[jcolletta275]

> Music programmers have always had access to essentially the
> same cuts. But it's research, skill, innovation, heart and
> soul which will differentiate music driven formats. Who
> wants to be an imitator, anyway?

Exactly; which is precisely why the little guy is going to be the hero of WiFi radio. The big companies sure aren't going to try anything new. They see it as a new medium on which they can place their stale, old, rotting product. Those who have the insight to know what people want and have the drive and ability to give it to them are going to succeed. Sure the terrestrial giants will be there too, but they'll lose a lot of listeners in the long run, and local WiFi broadcasters who actually cater to their markets will be the ones reaping the benefits.<P ID="signature">______________
The Radio Blog: regular updates are a good thing.
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>

 

[apco25]

> > Yes, but with the internet, it becomes a level playing
> > field. Station KRAP (which webcasts its audio) will have
> to
> > compete with the kid down the block who's playing his fave
>
> > Jamaican music on Live 365. True, KRAP can boast a
> > terrestrial radio presence that the kid down the block
> > can't.
> >
> > But with so many portable Wi-FI "convergence" devices
> > looming on the horizon, it won't be long when that boast
> > won't be worth much and neither will KRAP's FCC license.
> >
>
> It's always been about programming and promotion. If all you
> run is music and you call it a format, then you'll be dead
> meat on the Informaton Freeway of the Future. With just
> music, you have nothing to set you apart from imitators with
> access to the same cuts you're running.
>
> The success stories will be guys with the money and skills
> to promote their program, whatever it is. That program will
> be something that goes beyond just songs that we can all
> download.
>
> The wi-fi era isn't here yet, by a long shot. Until you can
> hit most of the wireless boxes in town from your wireless
> box, you don't have critical mass. The software to tie all
> those wi-fi boxes together into "peop;e's network" exists,
> but is still evolving.
>
> Check out http://SeattleWireless.net for a group that is
> developing the infrastructure needed before wi-fi stations
> can become as easy, or easier than Part 15.
>
>
> - Dick the Programmer
>


I hate to tell you that the WI-Max is set to come on the air in my town in the fall of 2007. It's a set deal. And the other cities setting up WIFI systems are also working on making it compatible with our WI-Max. It's up to the people if they want to purchase WI-Max compatible.