Sonic.net had a program where a customer could share their DSL connection wirelessly with other Sonic.net customers, or with anyone through a day pass program (using a VPN connection) and earn credit towards their bill. The program was basically designed so you could safely share your DSL connection with your next door neighbors. Well, I took it to the next level and installed an outdoor WAP on a 10 foot mast so I could share my DSL with ALL my neighbors! Unfortunately I never really made an effort to promote it myself to the neighbors, but the Sonic.net ssid could be seen for blocks around and was open to connect to. The “splash screen” that displayed when connected explained the details. I had several people use it a few times and had a lot of fun with it myself. Even with just my laptop I could connect from quite a ways up the street. I have no doubt someone with a directional antenna could have hit it from blocks away, or Further!

It’s a Smartbridges AP with a 6db omnidirectional antenna