Comments on: The Problem with Free WiFi http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/ Magazines. T-Shirts. Design & Creative Books. Stationery. Building a Consumer Brand. The Entrepreneurial Ride of a Lifetime. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:26:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-373 David Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:03:05 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-373 You should ask one of your techie staff or resident IT consultant about restricting the actual bandwidth doled out per connection - so that instead of getting the full 2MBps, for example, every user gets only 256KBps. That's enough for casual surfing and emailing but it's too slow for most 'downloading'. That plus a 'welcome page' with a notice not to suck bandwidth, as suggested above, could be good strategies. You should ask one of your techie staff or resident IT consultant about restricting the actual bandwidth doled out per connection – so that instead of getting the full 2MBps, for example, every user gets only 256KBps. That’s enough for casual surfing and emailing but it’s too slow for most ‘downloading’. That plus a ‘welcome page’ with a notice not to suck bandwidth, as suggested above, could be good strategies.

]]> By: Kelly http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Kelly Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:51:32 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-189 What a huge sigh of relief I just let out. I thought the slow wi fi was just my jurassic macbook giving up on me. For every joe that complains think of all the jennys (and the GRATEFUL joes) that sing hallelujah for Magnation and your free wi fi. Aside from being my idea of heaven on earth, Magnation is also the answer to an out-of-towner's prayers! Whenever I come to Melbourne, I generally stay in the city, which means that I'm generally asked by Telstra to fork over my credit card details for a measly 30 mins of browsing time. The fact that I can wander down to MN and check my mail at my leisure is not only convenient, but so very generous and lovely of you. To be honest i'd even take DIAL-UP in severe times of desperation! And not that I EVER need an excuse to blow $50 on Magazines...but the free internet sessions also mean that I never leave without some form of glossy under my arm, so well done! :) What a huge sigh of relief I just let out.
I thought the slow wi fi was just my jurassic macbook giving up on me.

For every joe that complains think of all the jennys (and the GRATEFUL joes) that sing hallelujah for Magnation and your free wi fi.
Aside from being my idea of heaven on earth, Magnation is also the answer to an out-of-towner’s prayers! Whenever I come to Melbourne, I generally stay in the city, which means that I’m generally asked by Telstra to fork over my credit card details for a measly 30 mins of browsing time.
The fact that I can wander down to MN and check my mail at my leisure is
not only convenient, but so very generous and lovely of you. To be honest i’d even take DIAL-UP in severe times of desperation!
And not that I EVER need an excuse to blow $50 on Magazines…but the free internet sessions also mean that I never leave without some form of glossy under my arm, so well done! :)

]]> By: newsstandpromos http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-180 newsstandpromos Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:25:35 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-180 There is a cafe stateside called Pannera that offers free wi-fi and has a lot of people running their businesses out of it - a similar situation to yours. But when signing into their wi-fi service, you first encounter a Panerra home page that asks you to acknowledge that you won't hog a table or their bandwidth. Maybe that could be a way to at least encourage some people to behave. There is a cafe stateside called Pannera that offers free wi-fi and has a lot of people running their businesses out of it – a similar situation to yours. But when signing into their wi-fi service, you first encounter a Panerra home page that asks you to acknowledge that you won’t hog a table or their bandwidth. Maybe that could be a way to at least encourage some people to behave.

]]> By: Nicole http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Nicole Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:15:08 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-147 As much as we all hate Telstra, they do have a $300pcm unlimited business plan that my employer recently implemented as we offer free WiFi to our customers as well. We had exactly the same issues with a free offering that was CONSTANTLY whinged about — unfortunately we just had to upgrade to avoid the ridicule. As much as we all hate Telstra, they do have a $300pcm unlimited business plan that my employer recently implemented as we offer free WiFi to our customers as well. We had exactly the same issues with a free offering that was CONSTANTLY whinged about — unfortunately we just had to upgrade to avoid the ridicule.

]]> By: James http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-144 James Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:50:34 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-144 Regarding what 'nik riviera' said above, it would definitely be worth getting someone to check out the capabilities of your router, because there are usually some handy features which allow blocking particular ports and so on. When I visit the local library with my laptop and use their wireless, I can only use it for regular web browsing, any other non-browser related applications which require the Internet but which do not use the standard web port simply can't function. Bandwidth heavy applications such as some media sharing ones might have a hard time working. It's not unreasonable to restrict users to *just* surfing the web when you are not charging. Also, thinking about it, the library system requires an access code to be entered every 2 hours along with my library card number -- they change the code daily. This sort of system might be something to consider in the future for MagNation. I'm thinking you could have a MagNation club or something similar, which customers can join for free and that gives them a unique membership number. You get a hold of their details for marketing purposes and perhaps keeping a track of them in case they get up to dodgy stuff on-line, and in return they can request the renewed-daily Internet access code when they need it. Regarding what ‘nik riviera’ said above, it would definitely be worth getting someone to check out the capabilities of your router, because there are usually some handy features which allow blocking particular ports and so on. When I visit the local library with my laptop and use their wireless, I can only use it for regular web browsing, any other non-browser related applications which require the Internet but which do not use the standard web port simply can’t function. Bandwidth heavy applications such as some media sharing ones might have a hard time working. It’s not unreasonable to restrict users to *just* surfing the web when you are not charging.

Also, thinking about it, the library system requires an access code to be entered every 2 hours along with my library card number — they change the code daily. This sort of system might be something to consider in the future for MagNation. I’m thinking you could have a MagNation club or something similar, which customers can join for free and that gives them a unique membership number. You get a hold of their details for marketing purposes and perhaps keeping a track of them in case they get up to dodgy stuff on-line, and in return they can request the renewed-daily Internet access code when they need it.

]]> By: nik riviera http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-142 nik riviera Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:40:53 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-142 Not enough free WiFi in this world (even those in the US and EU seem to be locking down their networks more and more - and theyre without caps), so pat yourself on the back for a job well done. what sort of bandwidth are we talking about? are people torrenting? im sure you can block ports etc if that's the problem (i cant see how general surfing will eat your bandwidth!). anyways, nice job - now you'll just need to install a cafe and WiFi in your ponsonby rd branch and i'll be a happier chap. Not enough free WiFi in this world (even those in the US and EU seem to be locking down their networks more and more – and theyre without caps), so pat yourself on the back for a job well done. what sort of bandwidth are we talking about? are people torrenting? im sure you can block ports etc if that’s the problem (i cant see how general surfing will eat your bandwidth!). anyways, nice job – now you’ll just need to install a cafe and WiFi in your ponsonby rd branch and i’ll be a happier chap.

]]> By: Andrea http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Andrea Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:58:14 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-141 I used Magnation as an office for a week when I first moved to Melbourne about 7 months ago. It was a great place to work and I bought the $6 24 hour pass you used to sell. That worked for me great. I understand now that you don't sell these anymore and it is all free. Stands to reason that some jerks of society would just use and abuse (and probably make a big mess with coffee cups and magazines while they are at it). It's a pity you're getting slack for this as I really appreciated being able to get my work done at Magnation while we were looking for a house. Now I just come in and spend silly amounts of cash on magazines... ahhh I used Magnation as an office for a week when I first moved to Melbourne about 7 months ago. It was a great place to work and I bought the $6 24 hour pass you used to sell. That worked for me great. I understand now that you don’t sell these anymore and it is all free. Stands to reason that some jerks of society would just use and abuse (and probably make a big mess with coffee cups and magazines while they are at it). It’s a pity you’re getting slack for this as I really appreciated being able to get my work done at Magnation while we were looking for a house. Now I just come in and spend silly amounts of cash on magazines… ahhh

]]> By: Lillian http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Lillian Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:55:38 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-140 how about put up sign for some sort of restriction (no large download / p2p etc) or ask for donation towards your wifi cost to get people to think about their usage. I guess just saying "DON'T", it doesn't sound nice, so have positive thing people can do - i.e. donate, or buy a coffee/food etc? Or make people "uncomfortable" by making small talk, going around asking them how they are if they been there for a while so they know they are being "watched" :P how about put up sign for some sort of restriction (no large download / p2p etc) or ask for donation towards your wifi cost to get people to think about their usage.
I guess just saying “DON’T”, it doesn’t sound nice, so have positive thing people can do – i.e. donate, or buy a coffee/food etc?
Or make people “uncomfortable” by making small talk, going around asking them how they are if they been there for a while so they know they are being “watched” :P

]]> By: Paul http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Paul Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:54:51 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-139 Unfortunately, there will always be a__holes in the world and there's nothing you can do about it. My advice is to focus your (positive) energy towards the ones who aren't nasty to you. Don't give these oxygen thieves any more attention than they deserve, not that they deserve any. Unfortunately, there will always be a__holes in the world and there’s nothing you can do about it. My advice is to focus your (positive) energy towards the ones who aren’t nasty to you. Don’t give these oxygen thieves any more attention than they deserve, not that they deserve any.

]]> By: Todd http://blog.magnation.com/2009/07/02/the-problem-with-free-wifi/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Todd Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:10:59 +0000 http://blog.magnation.com/?p=142#comment-137 I'm in the same boat as Claire - I can't sit at a cafe or a shop like MagNation and use something as generous as free internet without buying something for the privilege. I manage to get myself in to a state if I DON'T buy something. I just think it's rude. I don't go to my neighbours' front yard and sunbake just because they have a patch of grass and I don't. I'd chave to at least bake them a cake to earn that privilege. Besides, the coffee at MagN is damned fine! I’m in the same boat as Claire – I can’t sit at a cafe or a shop like MagNation and use something as generous as free internet without buying something for the privilege. I manage to get myself in to a state if I DON’T buy something. I just think it’s rude. I don’t go to my neighbours’ front yard and sunbake just because they have a patch of grass and I don’t. I’d chave to at least bake them a cake to earn that privilege. Besides, the coffee at MagN is damned fine!

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