Wifi in HOA park

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

I saw where another community has WiFi in a community park. Thinking about proposing that to our Board.

Has anyone else here done that?

My big concern is the cost of internet. We wouldn't be using much data, but the big internet providers probably still want $60/month. Wondering if there is anyway to get the price down?

Thanks!

MarkR21 (North Carolina)
Posts: 710

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 06/23/2022 2:55 PM
I saw where another community has WiFi in a community park. Thinking about proposing that to our Board.

Has anyone else here done that?

My big concern is the cost of internet. We wouldn't be using much data, but the big internet providers probably still want $60/month. Wondering if there is anyway to get the price down?

Thanks!

Have a wifi repeater from someone that lives near by. Honestly. Most people have unlimited smart phone plans. Work is no longer that big of a deal

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MarkR21 on 06/23/2022 2:58 PM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 06/23/2022 2:55 PM
I saw where another community has WiFi in a community park. Thinking about proposing that to our Board.

Has anyone else here done that?

My big concern is the cost of internet. We wouldn't be using much data, but the big internet providers probably still want $60/month. Wondering if there is anyway to get the price down?

Thanks!

Have a wifi repeater from someone that lives near by. Honestly. Most people have unlimited smart phone plans. Work is no longer that big of a deal

We have enough budget, it's just a matter of getting the other directors on board. If we had an inexpensive plan that would help.

DaveP8 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 47

Posted:

We had wifi at one time. As a test, we changed the password to see how many people would ask for the new password. Answer: none. So, we discontinued the service and saved about $700 per year. No complaints.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I don't see the need for this. Especially what if someone that doesn't belong taps into it and downloads porn? People have hot spots on their phones. It seems a waste of money... Plus it could be a high security risk for privacy.

Former HOA President

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

We’ve got WiFi at the pool. It comes as part of a phone service package, the specs aren’t impressive but it works fine and it’s like $150/month.

It’s password protected (with the password on a small sign inside of the pool area). It’s about as secure as your average dentist’s office.

A couple (?) of years ago, before I was on the Board, I was asked to help set this stuff up. The only ‘gotcha’ was that the Board insisted that the router support “captive portal” function, ie, essentially, it needed to pop up a splash page with legal language at the beginning of each session. To “protect against liability” - I have no idea if it truly does any such thing. (At the time) this wasn’t available{1} on most home routers, so we had to step up to a somewhat more expensive small business solution - I think it was about $500. It’s mounted about 5 or 6 meters up and gets decent range.

BillD

{1} in truth, most routers run some version of Linux with a custom menu UI on top, and it’s not too hard to figure out how to ‘unlock’ it, pull up a term shell, and install a patch that adds “captive portal” capability. But signing up to support such a thing for free is a complete non-starter.

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Melissa is right about the security risks.

It can take a big chunk of time to keep one step ahead of the bad guys. That includes keeping up with the latest technology, the latest security exploits, the latest laws concerning responsibility if a bad actor uses your wifi for criminal activities and you haven't taken any steps to stop that from happening, doing the actual work of changing things in response to the previous items.... It goes on and on, and for board members who are already too busy, this could send them over the edge.

Don't be tempted to cadge wifi from residents. One, it's becoming increasingly illegal. Two, it's a security risk. Three, there may be liability for the HOA if you're found out.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It should be noted that in one of my security courses the instructor used to break into various routers. He could manipulate various security cameras. He would move them and watch the guards go out to check on them. Also could access his various neighbors computers via their wifi.

Let's just say it is rather easy to hi Jack a community wifi system...

Former HOA President

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

What Mark said. This type of Wifi access isn't always safe to use anyway, with the spamming, malwear and all that stuff. Best to spend association money on more substantial stuff like sidewalks or perhaps putting a walk//run trail in the park, if you have the room.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

> Let's just say it is rather easy to hi Jack a community wifi system...

Let's *not* say that, because it is patently untrue. There are people who 'hack' stuff for fun, as a hobby, and sometimes they luck onto an older router that was set up badly and has been poorly maintained. Some years ago D-Link turned out a lot of shitty hardware, including cameras, that offered questionable security. But if your router is < 10 years old, and the admin password is non-trivial, and if you've set the thing to auto-update, you are unlikely to get 'hi Jack'ed (just where did you get your degree in Computer Science, Melissa?) Frankly, it's unlikely that anyone will even know the thing is there.

And what's the worst thing that can happen if this device is compromised?

Chances are the most serious abuse you'll encounter is someone using it to download illegal smut. Sure hope they randomized their MAC address!

Someone who really knows what they're doing could possibly turn the router into a 'bot, or possibly set it up to spy on user datastreams. Which would suck, but the people who *might* be able to do pull this off aren't going to waste their time on a low bandwidth, low use router in a suburban park. They're going to target airports and other places with lots of bandwidth and lots of people traffic.

And re cellphone hotspots etc: people who hack into routers will also hack into cellphones. But the truth is it is *not* trivial to break into this stuff - certainly not like it's portrayed on television and in the movies.

It's not too different than home burglary: if you've taken reasonable precautions (cameras, good lighting, etc) a burglar isn't going to risk your house - they'll go down the street instead to that place that's always dark and occupied by two DINK yuppies who are always out of town on business.

Really the only time you've got a *real* problem is if the Black Hats are actively targeting a specific person. This probably happens, but also usually the Black Hats turn out to be working for the government. So yer screwed. Remember stuxnet? An absolutely amazing piece of work, it's object proof of what can be done when a couple of major governments hire really smart people and spend lots of money. Your best bet is to slag every piece of digital hardware you own- I mean, every disk drive or USB key or tape or CD/DVD needs to go melty-melty; think "thermite" - and hire lots of lawyers.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BillD16 on 06/24/2022 11:11 AM
> Let's just say it is rather easy to hi Jack a community wifi system...

Let's *not* say that, because it is patently untrue. There are people who 'hack' stuff for fun, as a hobby, and sometimes they luck onto an older router that was set up badly and has been poorly maintained. Some years ago D-Link turned out a lot of shitty hardware, including cameras, that offered questionable security. But if your router is < 10 years old, and the admin password is non-trivial, and if you've set the thing to auto-update, you are unlikely to get 'hi Jack'ed (just where did you get your degree in Computer Science, Melissa?) Frankly, it's unlikely that anyone will even know the thing is there.

And what's the worst thing that can happen if this device is compromised?

Chances are the most serious abuse you'll encounter is someone using it to download illegal smut. Sure hope they randomized their MAC address!

Someone who really knows what they're doing could possibly turn the router into a 'bot, or possibly set it up to spy on user datastreams. Which would suck, but the people who *might* be able to do pull this off aren't going to waste their time on a low bandwidth, low use router in a suburban park. They're going to target airports and other places with lots of bandwidth and lots of people traffic.

And re cellphone hotspots etc: people who hack into routers will also hack into cellphones. But the truth is it is *not* trivial to break into this stuff - certainly not like it's portrayed on television and in the movies.

It's not too different than home burglary: if you've taken reasonable precautions (cameras, good lighting, etc) a burglar isn't going to risk your house - they'll go down the street instead to that place that's always dark and occupied by two DINK yuppies who are always out of town on business.

Really the only time you've got a *real* problem is if the Black Hats are actively targeting a specific person. This probably happens, but also usually the Black Hats turn out to be working for the government. So yer screwed. Remember stuxnet? An absolutely amazing piece of work, it's object proof of what can be done when a couple of major governments hire really smart people and spend lots of money. Your best bet is to slag every piece of digital hardware you own- I mean, every disk drive or USB key or tape or CD/DVD needs to go melty-melty; think "thermite" - and hire lots of lawyers.

BillD

You are absolutely right. If by chance someone does have the skills to infiltrate the router why in the hell are they going to waste their time breaking into an HOA network?

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnT38 on 06/24/2022 12:54 PM

Posted By BillD16 on 06/24/2022 11:11 AM
> Let's just say it is rather easy to hi Jack a community wifi system...

Let's *not* say that, because it is patently untrue. There are people who 'hack' stuff for fun, as a hobby, and sometimes they luck onto an older router that was set up badly and has been poorly maintained. Some years ago D-Link turned out a lot of shitty hardware, including cameras, that offered questionable security. But if your router is < 10 years old, and the admin password is non-trivial, and if you've set the thing to auto-update, you are unlikely to get 'hi Jack'ed (just where did you get your degree in Computer Science, Melissa?) Frankly, it's unlikely that anyone will even know the thing is there.

And what's the worst thing that can happen if this device is compromised?

Chances are the most serious abuse you'll encounter is someone using it to download illegal smut. Sure hope they randomized their MAC address!

Someone who really knows what they're doing could possibly turn the router into a 'bot, or possibly set it up to spy on user datastreams. Which would suck, but the people who *might* be able to do pull this off aren't going to waste their time on a low bandwidth, low use router in a suburban park. They're going to target airports and other places with lots of bandwidth and lots of people traffic.

And re cellphone hotspots etc: people who hack into routers will also hack into cellphones. But the truth is it is *not* trivial to break into this stuff - certainly not like it's portrayed on television and in the movies.

It's not too different than home burglary: if you've taken reasonable precautions (cameras, good lighting, etc) a burglar isn't going to risk your house - they'll go down the street instead to that place that's always dark and occupied by two DINK yuppies who are always out of town on business.

Really the only time you've got a *real* problem is if the Black Hats are actively targeting a specific person. This probably happens, but also usually the Black Hats turn out to be working for the government. So yer screwed. Remember stuxnet? An absolutely amazing piece of work, it's object proof of what can be done when a couple of major governments hire really smart people and spend lots of money. Your best bet is to slag every piece of digital hardware you own- I mean, every disk drive or USB key or tape or CD/DVD needs to go melty-melty; think "thermite" - and hire lots of lawyers.

BillD

You are absolutely right. If by chance someone does have the skills to infiltrate the router why in the hell are they going to waste their time breaking into an HOA network?

I agree. Also the WiFi provider is not responsible for how people use it be it for smut or viewing church services or for that matter, both.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

with you, JohnT.

I don't know, tho', how much use this park at MichaelT's HOA gets.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnT38 on 06/24/2022 12:54 PM
... snip...

You are absolutely right. If by chance someone does have the skills to infiltrate the router why in the hell are they going to waste their time breaking into an HOA network?

Because it's probably easy pickings?

If I were an enterprising crook, I would wonder how robust an HOA's security is, given that there are so many amateur volunteers in charge. If the HOA is a large one, I'd be wondering if there were an easy path to get into the HOA's files where I could find homeowners' personal info, account information, and the like. It would be worth my time to find out.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 06/24/2022 1:46 PM

Posted By JohnT38 on 06/24/2022 12:54 PM
... snip...

You are absolutely right. If by chance someone does have the skills to infiltrate the router why in the hell are they going to waste their time breaking into an HOA network?

Because it's probably easy pickings?

If I were an enterprising crook, I would wonder how robust an HOA's security is, given that there are so many amateur volunteers in charge. If the HOA is a large one, I'd be wondering if there were an easy path to get into the HOA's files where I could find homeowners' personal info, account information, and the like. It would be worth my time to find out.

A router setup for a clubhouse or pool or common area is not part of any homeowner's router and it certainly is not part of the Management companies network. Yes, I can think of some VERY RARE exceptions but for the most part you are over thinking this. I base my opinion on 30+ years in the technology, 10 years of which was spent supporting routers, switches, network security, etc.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 06/24/2022 1:46 or I PM

Posted By JohnT38 on 06/24/2022 12:54 PM
... snip...

You are t.absolutely right. If by chance someone does have the skills to infiltrate the router why in the hell are they going to waste their time breaking into an HOA network?

Because it's probably easy pickings?

If I were an enterprising crook, I would wonder how robust an HOA's security is, given that there are so many amateur volunteers in charge. If the HOA is a large one, I'd be wondering if there were an easy path to get into the HOA's files where I could find homeowners' personal info, account information, and the like. It would be worth my time to find out.

But remember: we’re discussing setting up an access point at a park (or maybe a pool). All it does is allow people to access the internet from their iPhone to upload a cute picture of their dog to FB while they’re out walking. Or something like that. The only ‘direct’ connection the router has to the HOA is that the HOA is paying for it.

On the other hand, yeah: an HOA or PMC would probably make a fine target for small-scale identity theft and / or a ransomware attack.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Exactly what information would management company possess that would be worth stealing?

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 06/24/2022 1:46 PM
with you, JohnT.

I don't know, tho', how much use this park at MichaelT's HOA gets.

Also: how big is this park? And how flat is it? And: setting up an access point is definitely doable, but what’s the benefit that is being derived from it?

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MaxB4 on 06/24/2022 2:19 PM
Exactly what information would management company possess that would be worth stealing?

Identity theft. Plus there are likely to be any number of juicy bank accounts sitting around waiting to be plundered.

But if I were seriously considering some kind of attack against a PMC, I’d go for ransomware.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Yes BillD Ransome ware is a real possibility. I also don't think people realize it's NOT hacking a HOA or Management company. It is hacking your OWN personal devices. If I can hack into the community router, it is probably because your using your own PERSONAL device. Guess what? I bet I can access your recent tax returns? Will know what purchases you make. I can find your websites you visit... Oh and my favorite? I might be able to visit a few porn sites and download them to your computer. Those "black hats" will be finding my private collection not on my computer...

No one has to have a reason to want or to break into the network. Most of the time it's a bored teenager sitting at the pool having nothing better to do. Heck you can even hack in to take over someone's camera on their computer. Why? Because it's funny? Let's not over think it.

It always surprises me on how little people understand or get cyber security. My friends constantly post "25 things you don't know about me" or posts about when they had a kid/married/life event. Oh and they must share and tag someone etc... Guess what? These are used by hackers to create an account under your name and you won't even know about it. They have access to your name, friends, and relatives. Oh and what most likely their security answers would be... Who doesn't use an anniversary or kid's birthday as some kind of password?

I never use my real name on social media or even my own email addresses. It's amazing how I can google my own "fake name" to see how much pops up under it. Just think if that was really me?

So no I would not install anything with public access. If you look right now at your own computer, you click on network connection see how many of your neighbors names pop up. Yes, those would also be "seen" by this public network access... Mmm... just maybe that would be the central point anyone could access your personal device and be a block away...

Former HOA President

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/24/2022 3:52 PM
Yes BillD Ransome ware is a real possibility. I also don't think people realize it's NOT hacking a HOA or Management company. It is hacking your OWN personal devices. If I can hack into the community router, it is probably because your using your own PERSONAL device. Guess what? I bet I can access your recent tax returns? Will know what purchases you make. I can find your websites you visit... Oh and my favorite? I might be able to visit a few porn sites and download them to your computer. Those "black hats" will be finding my private collection not on my computer...

No one has to have a reason to want or to break into the network. Most of the time it's a bored teenager sitting at the pool having nothing better to do. Heck you can even hack in to take over someone's camera on their computer. Why? Because it's funny? Let's not over think it.

It always surprises me on how little people understand or get cyber security. My friends constantly post "25 things you don't know about me" or posts about when they had a kid/married/life event. Oh and they must share and tag someone etc... Guess what? These are used by hackers to create an account under your name and you won't even know about it. They have access to your name, friends, and relatives. Oh and what most likely their security answers would be... Who doesn't use an anniversary or kid's birthday as some kind of password?

I never use my real name on social media or even my own email addresses. It's amazing how I can google my own "fake name" to see how much pops up under it. Just think if that was really me?

So no I would not install anything with public access. If you look right now at your own computer, you click on network connection see how many of your neighbors names pop up. Yes, those would also be "seen" by this public network access... Mmm... just maybe that would be the central point anyone could access your personal device and be a block away...

Melissa, it's bad enough that you pretend to have a solid grasp on how HOA's operate but you simply out did yourself trying to play the role of a cyber security expert. Much of what you said is complete bull sheet. And before you ask, no I will not get into why you are wrong because when it comes to networks you wouldn't understand a word I said. Even if you did you are 100% incapable of admitting when you're wrong so what's the point?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Funny... Ethical hacking has nothing on you boo!

Former HOA President

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

> It always surprises me on how little people understand or get cyber security.

*ROFLMAO*

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Bill, Melissa also keeps telling us she's taken a criminal justice course or two. You're under arrest!

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

All,

I get that maybe this isn't a purposeful use of HOA money.

But let's not start talking about information security. I am talking about installing a single modem with a single wifi router in a park. No access to the property manager network. No access to homeowner internet. Just a single modem and single wifi hotspot.

The most someone might be able to do is try to access another park user's data through the wireless connection. I am doubtful that can happen, and even if it could happen, we are all neighbors and not random strangers in a coffee shop.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

So, again, Michael: how much use does this park get? We have wi-fi in our gym, pool area, Conference Room and two "party rooms."

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 06/24/2022 6:21 PM
All,

I get that maybe this isn't a purposeful use of HOA money.

But let's not start talking about information security. I am talking about installing a single modem with a single wifi router in a park. No access to the property manager network. No access to homeowner internet. Just a single modem and single wifi hotspot.

The most someone might be able to do is try to access another park user's data through the wireless connection. I am doubtful that can happen, and even if it could happen, we are all neighbors and not random strangers in a coffee shop.

I believe I wrote something above about my experience installing such a setup at our pool? (“Captive portal” and etc). What else are you looking for?

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Wi-Fi Hotspots and Liability Concerns

TL;DR: There is trouble lurking everywhere.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 06/25/2022 4:26 AM
Wi-Fi Hotspots and Liability Concerns

TL;DR: There is trouble lurking everywhere.

This is a 15 year old article. Technology has changed including security. In addition, I found it interesting that everything they wrote was speculation with zero examples of real life situations that actually happened.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

In real life... A 15 year old on a bicycle in my neighborhood was riding around. The kid stopped by my house and we had a short chat. He stated that he was going around to find Wifi Signals from houses so he could hack into them to use. He also liked to open people's garage doors as it's another wifi device one can use to open your garage doors...He was just bored. No other reason.

Again my instructor for a cyber course as demo purposes would mess with various camera security systems. There is also a "hack" that some hackers will take over your own camera to watch what your doing. Have seen baby monitoring systems be taken over as well. This was on video on some cases that were reviewed. So have seen it on "tape".

A town near me offers a "hacker/Cyber" competition. It's on the up an up. The goal is they have a "think tank" of various skilled "hackers" to come do their best. They range in different ages and open to the public. It's pretty cool as they take on various cyber security challenges. It's also kind of scary as you don't know if they may be using you as an example...

Let's just say that in my younger days had an ex that used to hack into the display computers at stores... Change the password so that the sales people could not get into them.

Oh and my friends that answered those 25 questions ALWAYS within 2 days reported they had been "hacked". I'd also see some cloned profiles show up and mysterious "friends" requests know was not them. (One of them had died years ago). Even seen my own fake account cloned but not very good...

So don't be fooled your information is safe when it hits the wifi. Unless you have VPN, your not as safe as you believe...

Former HOA President

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/25/2022 7:04 AM
In real life... A 15 year old on a bicycle in my neighborhood was riding around. The kid stopped by my house and we had a short chat. He stated that he was going around to find Wifi Signals from houses so he could hack into them to use. He also liked to open people's garage doors as it's another wifi device one can use to open your garage doors...He was just bored. No other reason.

Again my instructor for a cyber course as demo purposes would mess with various camera security systems. There is also a "hack" that some hackers will take over your own camera to watch what your doing. Have seen baby monitoring systems be taken over as well. This was on video on some cases that were reviewed. So have seen it on "tape".

A town near me offers a "hacker/Cyber" competition. It's on the up an up. The goal is they have a "think tank" of various skilled "hackers" to come do their best. They range in different ages and open to the public. It's pretty cool as they take on various cyber security challenges. It's also kind of scary as you don't know if they may be using you as an example...

Let's just say that in my younger days had an ex that used to hack into the display computers at stores... Change the password so that the sales people could not get into them.

Oh and my friends that answered those 25 questions ALWAYS within 2 days reported they had been "hacked". I'd also see some cloned profiles show up and mysterious "friends" requests know was not them. (One of them had died years ago). Even seen my own fake account cloned but not very good...

So don't be fooled your information is safe when it hits the wifi. Unless you have VPN, your not as safe as you believe...

Steve, if you happen to be following this thread you should consider having Melissa write a cyber security article for you to post on your website. She had a class on this stuff and has stayed at a Holiday Inn so she is more than qualified.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

No. This should be the common sense of anyone who uses Wifi on the planet earth. It's like giving your credit card to the waitress to pay your dinner bill... How many people find out later that waiter/waitress quit their job that day and took customer's credit card information with them?

You are extremely naive and most likely prone to having been hacked at least once. Sad part is you probably don't even realize you have been till it's too late. I would suggest googling yourself and see what comes up.. If someone else did it, that would be what they would see about you. Tell me how much of that could/would get a fake account made. Your name... Check... Birthdate? Check. Anniversary or child's birthday. Check. Email address. Check. Your IP address when you connect to a wifi. Check.

Just a not a smart idea to install a wifi in the public/common area of your HOA... I am just not going to do it.

Former HOA President

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/25/2022 8:52 AM
Just a not a smart idea to install a wifi in the public/common area of your HOA... I am just not going to do it.

I agree. I would not let Melissa install ‘a wifi’ anywhere.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Thank you. I just left a Ham Radio Fest today. They had a good chuckle when I mentioned someone wanting to install a basically a public wifi system in their HOA. The bad ideas of that kept rolling...

Former HOA President

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/25/2022 2:55 PM
Thank you. I just left a Ham Radio Fest today. They had a good chuckle when I mentioned someone wanting to install a basically a public wifi system in their HOA. The bad ideas of that kept rolling...

Ham radio operator, eh? I am one too. Licensed since 1992.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/25/2022 2:55 PM
Thank you. I just left a Ham Radio Fest today. They had a good chuckle when I mentioned someone wanting to install a basically a public wifi system in their HOA. The bad ideas of that kept rolling...

It’s nothing personal, Melissa. But people come to this forum looking for advice. And someone today or tomorrow or even years from now might read something you wrote and cause themselves trouble because they don’t realize that you do not know what you are talking about.

Arguably, your lack of authority and credibility is obvious and thus very few people will be misled by your words. But I still feel a duty to warn, just like I would flag down a driver headed towards a washed-out bridge.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I stand by my words. Stupid is as stupid does to put up a wifi in their hood ...

Former HOA President

DavidG45 (Delaware)
Posts: 994

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 06/24/2022 6:21 PM
All,

I get that maybe this isn't a purposeful use of HOA money.

But let's not start talking about information security. I am talking about installing a single modem with a single wifi router in a park. No access to the property manager network. No access to homeowner internet. Just a single modem and single wifi hotspot.

The most someone might be able to do is try to access another park user's data through the wireless connection. I am doubtful that can happen, and even if it could happen, we are all neighbors and not random strangers in a coffee shop.

I agree with those who point out there is no real risk with this. I also agree with those who say there is no real purpose for it. Everybody has unlimited data plans these days, with data speeds that are often faster than any public Wifi they might encounter. Whatever little time, effort, and money it might involve, it still wouldn't be worth it.

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

We do have wifi in our clubhouses and it extends to the pools. I believe we get it for free as part of our community Comcast contract so it is no cost to the community. People do use it in the fitness centers for music and podcasts as they are working out. I believe some people use it by the pool, but I don't believe it's a lot. However, our smaller clubhouse is open during the day and during the pandemic we had a couple of college and high school students who used the big room to study and attend classes. I still see them in there once in a while.

Our community contract with Comcast includes internet - so in effect we are offering free internet to the entire community.

We talk about liability issues on this board all the time and it's real for some things that happen in an HOA. But the chances of the HOA being liable because they provided free internet to someone who uploads or downloads porn, or hacks somebody, or does anything else illegal is negligable. It's no different than the free internet at Starbucks or McDonalds or in a hotel lobby.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Just as update, I checked with the cable internet provider in our area. They would charge $100 per month to add 50 mbps service in our park, or $1200/year.

That price is absurd and unfortunate. Regardless of whether this is a good idea or not, we can't pay $1200 a year for free wifi. $200 a year, maybe. Not $1200/year.