Um, well, it doesn't work like that. All that FON does is plug into an existing Internet connection and create two wireless networks, one secure, one unsecured. Basically, it's just a hub with a Internet-in and power port.

It provides free Internet to people that find the signal, but it's still he Internet someone purchases. Also, it's generally against an ISP's TOS to resell (if you do it for money) the connection.

*goes out to tell neigbors to resell to them....

Got mine today, such a small little thing. Thought I'd share the fact that I managed to flash it pretty easily with the latest fonera dd-wrt following these instructions as no one seems to have reported success. The fon firmware it came with was version 7.0.0 r4 which i was quite surprised by as i think this is quite dated (though i never connected it to the interweb so it never got the chance to upgrade itself).

I can see it being a really useful little thing , who said there was no such thing as a free lunch?

I haven't had time to look at mine in a while. This has been hell week for me.

Neither have I. Actually, the only reason why I signed up was to see if they would actually send it out.

wow.

Yeah, I gave up on mine. Been too busy with college crap to care much about anything, esp. Fon....

I thought this, from FON's Help pages, was a bit interesting. It sounds a bit shady to me...



I'd chuck that thing right in the garbage.

what they going to do send the Fon heavies around to break your legs if you don't have it active?

I'd sure love to know! Makes me wonder what kind of information they gather from this thing, if any. They must just be "trusting" people that they will follow the Terms of Service... Riiiiiiiight.

I doubt they will do squat. If they contact me, I'll say I gave it to my friend and don't blame me if he hasn't activated it.

I plan to set up a nice WDS system in my house and use them to expand the range of my network.

Sorry, I didn't read all 5 pages of posts so forgive me if I'm repeating any info here. First of all, I am probably the number 1 skeptic of FON.....why? Because after 20+ years of being alive you get to realize that nothing in this world is free, apart from what nature/God, so to say (if you believe in that), gives us....(air, water, etc.). So I did heavy research into FON and really there's no underlying catch nor conspiracy here, as far as 'being watched' or 'big brother' goes. It seems to be a global movement to simply spread access and wifi. The company itself is for profit (I'll provide the wiki link in case noone has checked there) so providing personal users access to this thing may simply be a way to get the attention of businesses and such. I think it's a very cool idea and for the tech savvy user it shouldn't be too hard to set up (and not get in trouble with). Also, and I know in my case that Comcast is one of the companies that doesn't 'allow' wifi open access....what this means is simply that what goes on in your router 'belongs' to you. You will be held accountable for any data passing through your router, therefore if the pervert in the car outside on your FON decides to go fishing for kiddies - you're in deep doo doo. Comcast doesn't even allow FON, I'd love one but I'm not about to go slapping my Cable provider/ISP in the face. I urge those who are considering one to do a little reasearch, make that call if you have to and find out if your ISP allows it. Also find out if you're held solely accountable for what's going on through your connection (pretty sure you'll be in all cases except if you register as a reseller). Heres a wiki article on FON: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FON
Furthermore for those thinking of selling/reselling wifi, it's illegal 100% of the time on any U.S ISP without an explicit agreement.

Thanks for all the info. I didn't think Comcast would allow it. I guess I'll just have to break down and by a wireless router.

as a wireless router, this fon (even hacked with something like dd-wrt) isn't going to impress that much so you're probably better off getting a 'proper' router anyway. As a wds (like paleck said) i think it's a really useful little thing to get

You guys put some very good points across, i think I may flash it so it doesn't share wifi

Yeah, the idea of FON is good, I just dont see it working. However I love free hardware. Im working on a "FON farm" of FONs that friends gave me. So far I have just 2 though. One will run as a WDS to provide more coverage and the other will run in client mode and give my old Ubuntu box wireless.

I am having difficulties flashing mine... anyone flashed it successfully? I need to flash it as my old dlink router has now died so I am being forced to us this and dont want to share my wifi due to obvious security risks

I been following http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/La_Fonera_Flashing

when I try and do the steps mentioned http://blog.blase16.de/index.php?url=2006/.../Hacking-Fonera I get errors

My fon has firrmware Version: 0.7.1 r2

If you FON came with 0.7.1 r1 you have to reset it so you can use the web update exploit. http://blog.blase16.de/2006/11/28/Hacking-Fonera#c47

However, It was probably shipped with 0.7.1r2 in which case you have one option and that is to get serial port access to it.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/LaFon...rial-Cable-Port

sounds like its going to be too much hassle with opening the router and soldering, Guess I will just have to purchase a new router

@dn2004: Its really not as hard as it sounds. Its just 4 pins to solder. Solder them to a cheap Max232 chip and then you your DB9 connector. I would have mine done but I dont have any Max232 chips laying around, there in the mail now though.

How much are these components?

Find the screws here to open the case.
Click to view attachment


...and witch pins to solder now?
Click to view attachment

Apart from looking through the dd-wrt wiki (serial port mod is here btw), you can look here for some stuff on getting a serial console and more:

http://www.easy2design.de/bla/?page_id=98

"Alternative serial port cable mod using cell-phone serial-to-USB cables. Requires no soldering, just the cable and two wires.":

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=63256#63256

And also, if you look at those board pictures, you can see you can solder on another aerial if you feel the need.

DB9 connectors are cheap at RadioShack. Max232 are expensive, i dont know a price though.

For what pins to solder read here.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/LaFon...rial-Cable-Port

Anyone had any luck with the "Invite your friend to FON and they will recieve a free router" which can be found on their front page?

I sent an invite to my uncle, he never received the original email.. so I sent the invitation again and he still hasnt received it. I am 101% sure I included the correct email address. I emailed support regarding this However as there is a 4,000 ticket backlog I am not expecting a reply anytime soon

Yes. I email my second account and received a FON.

I have 3 now

hmm, i tried emailing another account of mine and all i got was something saying a friend would like you to join FON, register now...
nowhere can i find a link for the free fon, just the standard price.

EDIT: Maybe it's because i'm still an alien?

I have now tried to resend invite and it seems to have gone through weird can you invite a friend and that friend invite a friend and so on?

not sure, it's all a bit vague

Update: Reading the fon boards, it looks like they've been having a lot of bugs with the fon for fon thing

Another way to get a free fon. FonBucks

You get a free fon router for sharing wifi and get paid for it if you live near a starbucks, but apparently your address is not checked by fon and so you can do this anywhere as mentioned here.

This only works in the US however so I can't take advantage of it , anyone with any free invites left ?

Thats how I got 2 of my 3. Ill see if I can get the free fon invites working.

Who wants to send an invite to me? Thank you!
SKIZZOT [AT] TISCALI [DOT] IT

Go with FonBucks, they dont care.
http://www.fon.com/en/promos/fonbucks