[plug] Wireless Internet access in Perth CBD?

[intra at slowest.net]

I usually donate spare machines that our company labels as not viable
to the business, i have a few pentium 100 - 133's that you can have if it
helps. (some have missing parts but i will do my best to find the missing
bits from my spare parts room, yes it is almost a day job finding parts 
in the room)

As for internet access, would it not be easier to just share a 56k modem
between the pool for now or until funds become available?

If i can be of help just yell..

Pete.



On Wed, Sep 03, 2003 at 08:26:19PM +0800, Ari Finander  wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Weirdo <linuxalien at optusnet.com.au>
> Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 21:48:34 +0800
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> Subject: Re: [plug] Wireless Internet access in Perth CBD?
> 
> > Couldn't this be done with a wired network? 
> 
> The issue is that the computers will need to be highly mobile to be brought in and out of patient isolation rooms quickly and easilly.  Also, no modifications can take place to the rooms.  That would kill the plan instantly as these rooms are in high use, especially during this time of year.  The extra wires would also require a lot of people trapsing through the unit and that's not going to happen.  Wireless seems like the best option, and the staff concur.
> 
> 
> >The only cost problem then is 
> > the cost of net access. But if you can't get the net access happening 
> > wireless or not it may still be an idea to get some old computers in that 
> > can play games of some sort. Card games?
> 
> A little is better than nothing.  I could afford to rent a laptop (Delta computers have been very good to me for laptop rentals over the last few years) but many people in there cannot.  I think shooting for Internet access would be a better goal, though, in order to help cut down on the isolation the patients in the BMTU experience.
> 
> > Tim
> > At 01:49 AM 8/20/2003 +0800, you wrote:
> > >Hi all,
> > >
> > >I seem to remember hearing something about free-to-access wireless 
> > >Internet access in the Perth CBD.  Am I recalling correctly that this even 
> > >exists?  If so, can anyone point me in the direction of more information?
> > >
> > >I'll be spending another holiday in the RPH bone marrow transplant unit 
> > >and it occurs to me that it might not be too difficult to get Internet 
> > >access for those of us sealed in the isolation rooms on that ward for 
> > >weeks or months at a time if this free wireless access is really there.
> > >
> > >A few donated pentiums with a GUI and mozilla would be a great morale 
> > >booster for patients who need all the help they can get on that particular 
> > >ward.  A $15 surchage (which could be offset by donations) for a new 
> > >cheapo keyboard and mouse for each new patient would take out the 
> > >possibility of hygeine issues arising from reusing those items from 
> > >patient to patient (people on this ward usually have had their immune 
> > >systems completely wiped out, so this is a significant concern).  The only 
> > >expensive items would be the wireless NICs/router used to access the 
> > >wireless network if it exists.
> > >
> > >Getting the hospital to provide this is not a possibility.  They simply 
> > >could not afford it.  It would have to be donated and then maintained by a 
> > >group...a group such as PLUG or KLUG.  There're a lot of donated items in 
> > >those isolation rooms such as desks and VCRs and radios.  Even just a few 
> > >rooms with these computers would be a good start.
> > >
> > >I wouldn't mind getting the ball rolling and setting things up if there's 
> > >even a chance of this getting off the ground.  However, in all honesty, I 
> > >doubt I'll be around to maintain anything after this year/early next year 
> > >(I'm heading into this unit for the second time later this morning, and if 
> > >I'm very lucky a third time later this year).
> > >
> > >TIA,
> > >
> > >Ari
> > >
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> > Riverton, Perth, WA
> > 
> 
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