Free Wi-Fi access to the internet is now almost everywhere. I took my notebook to three different coffee shops, four restaurants, libraries, supermarkets and several open areas. I got logged on each time with no problems. How long before Japan can say the same I wonder.
Steve Surfing the Web with Free Wi-Fi @ 6:00 am Santa Monica Beach
Along those lines...Here's an excerpt from Byte magazine detailing how to open your own Internet cafe...
Start Your Own Internet Cafe
If you have high-speed Internet connection such as cable modem, you can set up an Internet cafewithout much trouble, and it won't cost you a lot either.
What you'll need is a computer—almost anything will do—to control things, a good access point (we use and recommend the D-Link DWL-2100AP Airplus Extreme G Wireless Access Point) and the D-Link DSA-3100 Public/Private Hotspot Gateway.
Setting up the system is extremely simple. Connect up the DSA-3100 to whatever computer you will use to control it with, and configure it by running the D-Link wizard program. Then plug your high-speed connection into the DSA-3100, connect it to your private network (or the controlling computer if that's the only private machine you'll be using here), and plug in the access point.
That's pretty well it. The DSA-3100 will create and keep track of up to 250 user accounts, managing Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (D-Link calls this AAA). It handles the Net Address Translation firewall, and has some built-in tricks to help with Denial of Service attacks. You may want to add the D-Link ANT24-0401 Indoor 4 dBi Omni-Directional Ceiling Antenna to extend the size of the user area. (continued...)
