Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General questions about the Little Tokyo Unplugged
- What is the Little Tokyo Unplugged wireless network?
- How will Little Tokyo Unplugged benefit the community?
- Where is the wireless network available?
- Does it cost me anything?
- I live in Little Tokyo but there is no wireless coverage in my area. Do you have any plan to extend the coverage?
Setting up your computer or other wireless device
- What do I need to use the wireless network?
- How do I get connected to the wireless network?
- Can I use a PDA with the wireless network?
- Does it matter if I use a PC or a Macintosh?
- How do I know if I am connected?
Trouble shooting and technical questions
- I have followed the instructions on the set-up page, but cannot connect to the wireless network. What am I doing wrong?
- What if I see a strong connection signal on my computer, but I am still not able to connect?
- How fast is the connection?
- Who should I contact if I am having trouble connecting?
Security and health concerns
- Are there any health risks associated with the use of the Little Tokyo Unplugged wireless internet?
- How secure is wireless access to the Little Tokyo Unplugged Network?
General questions about the Little Tokyo Unplugged wireless network
What is the Little Tokyo Unplugged wireless network?
Little Tokyo Unplugged wirelessly connects users to the Internet. This network will let you check your email, “surf” the Internet, and gain access to important information about the Little Tokyo community through our website (littletokyounplugged.org).
How will Little Tokyo Unplugged benefit the community?
Wireless Internet in the community means that people in the area will have access to local news and events as well as community services. Non-profits organizations and other social service programs can let the community know what they can offer. Free wireless connectivity will also help build the Little Tokyo community by bringing more visitors into the neighborhood, and residents will be able to connect to the Internet for free.
Through Little Tokyo Unplugged, people can also have easier access to the culture and heritage of the community, bridging the information and technology gaps in the neighborhood.
Where is the wireless network available?
Little Tokyo Unplugged hotspots are available in most outdoor public areas of the neighborhood such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Japanese American National Museum, the Japanese Village Plaza, and the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center. It will also connect some residents and businesses in Little Tokyo.
Does it cost me anything?
As long as you have a computer with the proper equipment, access to the Little Tokyo Unplugged network is free. The project is a pilot demonstration, and one of the services we are considering is a monthly fee for faster, premium connection speeds.
Setting up your computer or other wireless device
What do I need to use the wireless network?
To connect to the network, you need:
- a laptop/desktop computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as an iPhone, Palm® handheld, or a Treo™
- a wireless antenna (802.11b certified or better). Many laptops and PDAs have a built-in wireless network adapter or come with a card you install yourself. If your computer or laptop does not have a wireless antenna, you can purchase one at a computer or electronics store (see below for a list of electronics stores); and
- client software for configuring and managing the wireless card, which usually comes with your wireless equipment.
How do I get connected to the wireless network?
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Can I use a PDA with the wireless network?
Yes. PDAs equipped with 802.11b compliant radios will operate on the Little Tokyo Unplugged network. Many of these products include built-in wireless equipment.
Does it matter if I use a PC or a Macintosh?
It does not matter which type of computer you use, as long as it is equipped with a wireless antenna.
How do I know if I am connected?
Under construction
Trouble shooting and technical questions
I have followed the instructions on the set-up page, but cannot connect to the wireless network. What am I doing wrong?
Here are some things to check out if you can't establish a connection to the wireless network:
- Are you using an 802.11b/g Wi-Fi® compliant wireless network card?
- Are you in an area with wireless coverage? Have you tried moving to an area with coverage?
- Is your wireless network card powered up and/or enabled?
- Have you configured your network card appropriately?
- Have you upgraded your drivers? Upgrading network card drivers typically solves connectivity issues.
- Intel has released a notice regarding known issues with their drivers. Intel has one of the most widely used wireless chipset and you may be affected by this. Updated drivers available
What if I see a strong connection signal on my computer, but I’m still not able to connect.
There are many possible reasons why you may not able to connect, but one of the most frequent problems is that you may be too far away from one of our wireless access points or your equipment may not be able to penetrate through walls and other obstructions. Our wireless network equipment is powerful, and is able to send out signals to long distances, sometimes up to a quarter-mile away; however, typical antenna devices may not be able to communicate with our network because they are not designed to connect over long distances. One possible solution to this would be to purchase a high-gain antenna.
Obstructions can include walls and floors, depending a building’s materials (wood, concrete, etc.). Try moving your laptop or antenna equipment to a different location. If you are indoors, also try moving the antenna to your window. Other barriers include trees and fences. In addition, wireless signals from other devices/appliances such as cordless telephones and microwave ovens could disrupt your connection.
How fast is the connection?
Connection speeds vary depending on where you’re located, but can go up to 1Mbps.
Who should I contact if I am having trouble connecting?
For additional help, you can contact the DISKovery Center (www.diskovery.org) at 353 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Telephone: (213)-621-4158. The staff at the DISKovery Center will do what we can to help you, but cannot guarantee a reliable wireless connection. If you have another means of accessing the Internet, you can also send an email to info[at]littletokyounplugged.org.
Security and health concerns
Are there any health risks associated with the use of Wi-Fi®?
There is no evidence to show that Wi-Fi® poses a health risk. Wi-Fi® works at much lower power levels and over shorter ranges than mobile cell phone networks.
How secure is wireless access to the Little Tokyo Unplugged Network?
Due to the nature of wireless local area network (WLAN) and High Speed Internet Access networks, control of physical access to the network cannot be ensured. In the case of wireless networks, unlike a wired network where a physical connection is required, anyone within range of a wireless access point can conceivably send and receive frames as well as listen for other frames being sent, making eavesdropping and remote sniffing of WLAN frames very easy. In addition, under certain circumstances, third parties could access your computer without your permission while it is connected to the network.
By using our Internet services, you hereby expressly acknowledge and agree that there are significant security, privacy and confidentiality risks inherent in accessing or transmitting information through the Internet, whether the connection is facilitated through wired or wireless technology. Security issues include, without limitation, interception of transmissions, loss of data, and the introduction of viruses or other programs that can corrupt or damage your computer.
Little Tokyo Unplugged Project Supporters
Little Tokyo Unplugged is a project of the Little Tokyo Service Center, a Community Development Corporation (www.ltsc.org). Support and funding for Little Tokyo Unplugged has been made possible by the generous contributions of the California Technology Foundation (www.zerodivide.org), the California Consumer Protection Foundation (www.consumerfdn.org), the AT&T Excelerator Foundation, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (www.ladwp.com), the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (www.crala.org), Pro911 Systems (www.pro911systems.com) Tropos Networks (www.tropos.com), and Trango Broadband (www.trangobroadband.com).
Glossary
802.11aWireless Network standard using unlicensed 5 GHz frequency spectrum with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. This type of wireless connection is not very common.
802.11b Wireless Network standard using unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum. This wireless frequency is currently the standard and most widely-used for connecting to the Internet
802.11g Wireless Network standard using unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps; computers equipped with 802.11g are also compatible with 802.11b devices, and are growing with popularity.
access point (AP) a hardware device or a computer's software that acts as a wireless communication center for users of a wireless device to connect to a wired network.
authentication The verification of the identity of a person or process. This process gives a user permission to use the wireless network services.
BlueTooth® a wireless technology using the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum designed to replace cables in a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). This is usually used to connect devices with a very short range, and is commonly used with cell phones.
community wireless network offer free or low-cost Internet access, managed and operated by a community-based organization. The wireless services are usually provided on a larger scale than a personal home network.
hot spot a public (not necessarily free) access point where users with a wireless computer can access the Internet.
laptop a portable computer. Many laptops today have wireless capabilities, and have special cards installed to connect to wireless networks.
mesh network a way to wirelessly send and receive data (information), voice and instructions between “nodes”. It allows for continuous connections by "hopping" from node to node until a connection can be established.
PDA Personal Digital Assistant. These are small, handheld electronic computer devices that can store calendars, and sometimes take pictures, wirelessly connect to the Internet, and be used as a phone. Popular PDA manufacturers include Dell and PalmOne.
SSID Service Set Identifier. This is the name that is given to a wireless network when a mobile device or a wireless computer tries to connect to an access point.
wardriving the act of searching for open access points while mobile.
WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy, a security protocol (computer language) for WLANs defined in the 802.11b standard.
Wi-Fi® meaning "Wireless Fidelity" is used to refer to wireless devices and services. Any products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ™" by the Wi-Fi Alliance are certified as interoperable with each other, even if they are from different manufacturers.
WLAN Wireless Local Area Network.
Reference
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