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Downtown WIFI Getting a Big Boost

By Eric Richardson
Published: Friday, May 09, 2008, at 05:03PM
Changing Out the Radio Eric Richardson []

An existing WIFI radio at Pershing Square gets taken down, to be replaced with a newer model.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — New radios went up this week for a big expansion of the Downtown WIFI network. Formerly just at Pershing Square, the new push brings the network out to sixteen blocks, mostly in the Historic Core.

Those looking up while wandering around the neighborhood will notice the new three-antenna radios installed on corner streetlights. As of Friday the signal is up and running, but usability may vary as configurations get tweaked over the next few days.

New radios can be seen on Main, Spring, Broadway and Hill streets, and along 6th street west to Hope. WIFI devices will see the new network under the SSID 'ExperienceLAWIFI'.

The expansion project is sponsored by the Community Redevelopment Agency. Network buildout is being done by .

Pershing Square's WIFI network was launched in April of 2005.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Benjamin Pezzillo on May 09, 2008, at 05:28PM – #1

What is the network name to look for?


Eric Richardson () on May 09, 2008, at 05:53PM – #2

Doh. I'll make that clearer in the piece. It's ExperienceLAWIFI.


Guest 1

Benjamin Pezzillo on May 10, 2008, at 09:10AM – #3

No sign of it here at City Lofts, yet.


Guest 2

Marc Caldwell on May 10, 2008, at 10:45AM – #4

Utilizing it now from 5th and Spring!


Guest 3

celia on May 10, 2008, at 12:21PM – #5

just saw the signal here at 6th & los angeles


Guest 4

Bert Green on May 10, 2008, at 07:24PM – #6

I see the signal at my gallery at 5th & Main, but cannot log on. I don't see the signal in my loft on the top floor across the street.


Guest 5

Scott Mercer on May 10, 2008, at 08:58PM – #7

Not seeing the signal at 6th and Main. Maybe it's not penetrating the building. I took my laptop on to the top of my building. Didn't see it there either.


Guest 6

Rich Alossi on May 11, 2008, at 11:35AM – #8

No signal here at 6th & Los Angeles in the Santa Fe Lofts. Damn.


Guest 1

Benjamin Pezzillo on May 11, 2008, at 12:06PM – #9

It's nice to see CRA money put into public cyberstructure -- even if the signal hasn't reached our loft, yet. Free and reliable WiFi will be a great addition to the Downtown community. Let's hope this continues to expand along with ideas that give the means for people without their own personal computers to access the benefits of Internet.


Eric Richardson () on May 11, 2008, at 07:01PM – #10

There's a radio on the corner of 6th and Main. Think about how thick buildings like the P.E. Lofts or Santa Fe are... The radio's not going to punch through that much at all. This service is geared for people on the street, not to replace your service at home.


Guest 1

Benjamin Pezzillo on May 11, 2008, at 07:40PM – #11

That's too bad. Free WiFi would be cool, even if it meant buying an antenna to boost reception through a window.

I suppose it still has applications for VOIP phones on the street but I don't see too many people cracking open the laptops on the sidewalks except at cafes that already offer WiFi as a no-brainer.

Saturated WiFi would have appeal to the legions of freelancers who can plop down wherever and call it an office.

But instead, this sounds like something that will most likely only benefit entertainment productions parked on the street and in nearby parking lots.

That and eventual integration of the various data reporting systems for municipal services that could use it (parking meters that self-report when they are broke or full, LAFD's proposed field data software for tracking public health and billing, etc.).


Guest 7

Carlo MacDonald on May 14, 2008, at 05:30PM – #12

Hi Eric, glad to see everyone starting to try the system. You are correct, some of these buildings have a lot of concrete making it very difficult to get the signal inside. However, I highly recommend users who are trying to get a better signal purchase high end 200mw cards to boost their signal. You can also purchase antennas to help improve your signal. Let everyone know that the network is still in test stages and a new web portal is being developed that will have a lot of information on how to get a better signal, location of nodes, city information, and of course, information on practicing safe WIFI. Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Carlo MacDonald CEO JoVoGo



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