Just out of curiosity, has anyone heard anything from Colt45? He writes some dynamite stories, some of which are primed for some really good sequels, but I haven't been able to contact him. I surely hope he's still in the land of the living.
Thanks.
FelixRex
His last blog entry is almost 5 years old. He had some health issues then that did not sound really bad, but having a bout with cancer can change your outlook dramatically. While chances are he's not going to write and post here again after all this time, I sincerely hope he's still with us and enjoying his life. Perhaps his editor and fellow writer Morgan knows more?
If he ended up in home, especially one with medical facilities, not all offer internet access. Even if they did, it's WAY down on their list of priorities, so he may not be able to communicate with the outside, online world.
... not all offer internet access.
And some even block the use of wi-fi (other than their own secure network) and cellular devices inside the facility.
And some even block the use of wi-fi (other than their own secure network) and cellular devices inside the facility
How? I can think of only one method: to shield roof and outside walls including doors and windows. That's really expensive and I doubt you'll find many facilities with this feature.
HM.
And some even block the use of wi-fi (other than their own secure network) and cellular devices inside the facility
How?
Simple, they require passwords and encryption for their own wi-fi systems and then don't allow anyone else to set up any wi-fi within their grounds. This is the common method in most medical facilities.
There are also some cheap units now available to broadcast low power, short range, garbage to disrupt wi-fi signals near them. Some security systems use them along the boundaries of establishments they're protecting. They stop wi-fi from interacting between units inside and outside the facility. A few of these around the grounds but outside the range of your internal wi-fi units and the internal units hooked to cable, and bingo - no outsider wi-fi capability.
don't allow anyone else to set up any wi-fi within their grounds
This is obvious, but doesn't actually block (as Capt. Zapp wrote) a wi-fi system brought clandestinely on their grounds.
[...]some cheap units now available to broadcast low power, short range, garbage to disrupt wi-fi signals near them
I thought about creating 'white noise' but dismissed it at too expensive and too problematic if it affects the neighbor's wi-fi. He will sue them if his wi-fi security cameras are disrupted by the white noise coming from the neighboring facility.
Still unclear how this all would affect cellular devices (cell phones aka mobile phones), they work with other frequencies and higher power.
HM.
Still unclear how this all would affect cellular devices (cell phones aka mobile phones), they work with other frequencies and higher power.
Another way is to set up a cell proxy that goes nowhere.
In essence, a small cell broadcaster that will intercept all cell phone traffic. This is often done in "man in the middle" attacks, to capture cell phone data. But it can also be used to intercept all attempts to make or get calls and route them to a closed system with no outside contact.
This is because of how cell phones work. They will always try to grab the closest and clearest signal available to them.
These are actually not very expensive, only a few hundred dollars. And are sometimes used in corporate and government facilities for security. As it is much cheaper than trying to convert a facility into a Faraday Cage.
Still unclear how this all would affect cellular devices (cell phones aka mobile phones), they work with other frequencies and higher power.
It is possible to buy a unit that jambs mobile phones completely within a certain radius.
Such devices have and are used for a number of purposes, from blocking remote triggering of IED's by mobile phones to preventing cheating during exams by students googling answers.
I find myself reading through some of his stories from time to time and hoping for new ones. Hope he is doing well.
Today is a sad day. I just noticed that colt45's oeuvre has been moved to premier only. Hard to believe he's been gone that long. :(
I just happened to have just finished reading his "Sea King" and the sequel "Shasta's Tale." Both worth reading.
Not sure how they do it, but I have several locations in my area, mostly hospital/medical buildings. Right outside the door my cell phone has a full strength signal. Inside the building? No signal.
When I broke both my legs and was laid up in the hospital the hospital internet and wifi was only able to be accessed by the computers and tablets that the hospital provided (well for a fee they provided) and the connection was so slow and there was so many sites that where unauthorized ( SOL, Fine, and SciFi all blocked ) and if you wished to use your own laptop or tablet you had to let the hospital IT load in their child safety program and let you logon to the internet (or what ever it was they call that block everything when online)
But I figured out that if I was in the one observation sitting room (a.k.a just a little lobby where you could look out a window to see outside and the hospital staff can still watch you) I was able to logon to the McDonalds wifi that was across the street from the hospital. My wifi connection was week but once you get past logging on to SOL you don't need a strong signal for SOL thanks Laz. (was stuck for 10 days in the hospital I'm sure there are a few of you here on SOL who know how fun that is.)