Setting up Lan with shared cable in Apt building?

[bluegreenturtle]

Yesterday my landlord asked me about the possibility of having everybody in the building share an internet connection (ATTbi cable) so as to share the costs and have broadband on the cheap for all.

There are about 15 apartments in the building, and it is pretty compact, an old turn of the century, with two wings. My suggestion if he wanted to do this was to get one cable connection and a wireless router/access point (running cat5 would be a pain in the ass in this building, though doable, but we don't care about internal speed - it's just to share internet access) and see how that works. If there wasn't wireless strength to reach both wings, then get 2 cable connections, 2 routers, one per wing.

Several questions:

1) Indoors, wireless should be able to do at least 30 feet, (it's all drywall, plaster) right?
2) I'm worried about getting not much bandwidth if you split a 1.5mbit cable 15 ways. Should I be? Also if you get one person on some P2P all the time that would lag stuff up. Maybe the 2 cables would ease this?
3) I would imagine the cable company would get cranky about this. Rightfully so? I know that this is taking 15 potential customers and turning it into 1 or 2, but really, we share a building...I think you're in your rights to network the hell out of your house on one connection, so why not your building? Worst case: we buy additional static ip's from them legitimately. I think it's like 5 bucks for a couple per month.
4) I've never set up a mixed network - it would probably have significant Mac presence...but those wireless access points work just fine with a mix, right?

Comments on this idea, answers to the questions?

thnx!!!

 

[scorpioLP]

1.) Not sure, but I wouldn't count on the cheapy wireless gear going very far at all.

2.) Yes. All it takes is a couple people on kazaa and you will hit major slowdown. 2 cables wouldn't ease it too much. Besides what if you have 2 major P2P users that live next to each other ?? They would use up all the bandwith in a second.

3.) Static IPs won't solve bandwith issues or make cable people happy. The only way that will happen is with separate accounts. Static IPs will make it easier, liability-wise, on the landlord. Imagine that they trace a software pirate to your building. The landlord is entirely responsible if there is just one account to the building. Static IPs makes it easier to trace who's the pirate, but the landlord would be ultimately responsible.

4.) have no idea.


This is not a good idea. The wireless equipment location would be probably in a public space, so you're talking security issues there. Then you will probably need several APs. And ultimately, the landlord would be responsible for everything that happens on this single cable account. I think it's great that he wants to do this, but ultimately it will be just another headache on top of the million other headaches you get when you run a building. Just have everyone setup their own account.

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

Would this be legal?

 

[ktwebb]

It's do-able but you'll likely need multiple AP's and some good aftermarket antennas. For situations like this I would normally put in squint omni's. Work great if you have dropped ceiling tiles. There will still be cabling involved but to the AP's. You'll need to do a decent survey to see how many it will take. Big generalization but you can figure on 3 at least I would say, even if you get enterprise level AP's. Two's a possibility. Variables will determine the actual cell coverage. Walls being drywall or sheetrock helps but you won't know for sure until you test. As for bandwidth, I know I wouldn't be happy sharing one broadband connection with 14 other families or people, but the people in your building may be fine with it. I'd have a renters meeting or something to find out how much interest there would be before you even get started with actual production or pricing.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: FoolishMcNasty
Would this be legal?

Sure, but its probably against the cable companys terms of service so I'd check with them first or you'll get shutdown and have angry tenants and a load of expensive gear.

You'd wanta pretty high bandwidth package for both downstream and upstream. I expect the cost v. interest would be prohibitive. You might also consider setting up some organization to have the name placed under otherwise when joe 3 units down hacks the fbi and puts kiddie porn on their website whoever has their name on the account will have some explaining to do. Don't forget pirates...hate to take the fall for them too...