Mike Rogoway of the Oregonian reports MetroFi’s Wi-Fi antennas are sprouting like mushrooms on lamposts all over downtown Portland. Yesterday I noticed them for the first time and must have spotted a dozen. I bicyled all over downtown trying to find some installers for an interview. No luck.
They’re the vanguard of Portland’s $20 million city-wide WiFi cloud being built by MetroFi.
 |
 |
The cylindrical SkyPilot antennas feature a 400 mW WiFi hotspot with a switchable 5.8 GHz backhaul. They can’t be accessed by the public yet. It doesn’t even look like they’re plugged in. According to Rogoway, MetroFi will install antennas on the eastside, just across the Willamette River, within in the next couple weeks. MetroFi is still testing the system, but it expects free Web access in parts of the city by the holidays.
Even the Multnomah County Library will get unlimited free internet access. No doubt it irritates the Library Board. They limit all internet access to 60 minutes. Then you’re kicked off. No WiFi.
Today I went to the library and found myself literally screaming at several librarians. It was cathartic. I thought about making a (very loud) public announcement for all the patrons. But I chickened out, afraid I’d be kicked out.
I’ll wait until MetroFi turns it on.
