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About FullertonWireless
FullertonWireless is a free wireless service of the City of Fullerton and its business community that provides
Internet connectivity to visitors in downtown Fullerton. It complements wireless networks that have been installed
in the City library branches and subscription hotspots in a limited number of chain outlets such as FedEx/Kinkos,
Starbucks, McDonalds, and Burger King.
Downtown Fullerton is a redevelopment zone that has many new restaurants and businesses that attract casual visitors
and customers. The intent of the FullertonWireless network is to bring to the area more visitors that are tech savvy
and businesses that wish to provide wireless service to their customers. It is not the intent of FullertonWireless to
provide service to residences in the downtown nor to provide businesses with their primary means of Internet connectivity.
(More information regarding restricted uses is available in the FullertonWireless Acceptable Use Policy). The network will
also provide a platform for city staff to experiment with wireless applications such as those that support public safety and
public works. If successful, the network may be expanded to other selected areas of Fullerton.
The City’s Redevelopment Agency has provided the funding for the network and is underwriting its operating cost for the
first year. As a result the network will be available to the public free of charge for the first 12 months. Because
operation of the network is relatively inexpensive, it is expected that downtown businesses will support it and continue
to make it a free service to the public after the initial trial period.
FullertonWireless is an outdoor mesh network. Its signal is not expected to be uniformly available throughout buildings
in downtown Fullerton. However, businesses in the area covered by the FullertonWireless signal have been given the option
of bringing the signal indoors to their customers by purchasing inexpensive repeaters and wireless routers that cost no
more than $300 per site. Businesses that want to purchase these kits can do so by contacting CDCE Mobile Computing, Inc.,
22755-G Savi Ranch Parkway, Yorba Linda, CA 92887, Tel (800) 373-5353.
For more information on connecting your business please see "Wireless for Businesses".
The mesh network, designed and installed by CDCE Mobile Computing, Inc., consists of nine Tropos 802.11b radios that are
controlled from a Bluesocket wireless gateway at city hall. A wireless bridge is used to link the nine access points to
the Internet connection at city hall. Coverage extends to a 24-block area that is bounded approximately by Chapman Avenue
on the north, Lemon Street on the east, the railroad tracks on the south, and Highland Avenue on the west. Also covered
is an area west of Highland that is bounded by Wilshire on the north, the railroad tracks on the south, and Richman Avenue
on the west. Within these zones most newer laptops and some PDAs should be able to access the network through a captive
portal. For a view of the network map please see "Network Map".
Members of the public who wish to use the network are required to register online and be authenticated each time they access
the network. Within the zone of coverage, users who log onto the network with a user ID and password will do so through a
captive portal that clearly identifies that they are connected to the FullertonWireless network. In addition, the Bluesocket
wireless gateway at city hall will monitor usage and control bandwidth and restrict usage time if necessary. Users are required
to view the FullertonWireless Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and Privacy Statement before being assigned a user ID and password.
Those who abuse the system by continually violating the AUP may be blocked from connecting to the network. The web address of
the network’s captive portal is http://www.fullertonwireless.com/.
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