wireless lan in the absence of a good isp

[nickdank]

This is the kind of feel-good story that makes us geeks swell up in tears of joy. LoL

I'm the victim of apathy on the part of Southwestern Bell. They won't install a remote terminal for my neighborhood, which is kinda on the back side of town. People that live a half mile closer to the highway CAN get sbc yahoo DSL, but not us. I'm stuck with a no-name, crappy ILEC that used to have exclusive rights over the community two company names ago.
My idea is this: Get satellite internet and pray for no rain. I could get a pre-N router and sign my neighbors up with me as their isp. I'm not trying to make a profit, but simply get quality affordable internet service while making SBC sorry for not acting sooner.
My question(s) you ask? What unforeseen problems will I run into? Will I be able to secure the network so people can't hack in for free? Can more people get pre-N routers so we can daisy-chain them? I guess that would become a WAN. Is there some kind of affordable roof antenna to boost my range?

[nickdank]

Maybe I asked too many noob questions at once. How about this instead...Why don't MORE people try to do this? I don't think its illegal...maybe in NY or LA but not here.

[diplomat]

I have been on a system very much like that for about a year. It works very well for both internet use & for VPN access throughout the community.
Our wireless network is secured by MAC filtering; whilst this is not the most secure, it is the easiest method to stop other people using it.
As far as antennas go you don't need particularly expensive ones, but they do have to be direct line of sight, so need to be roof mounted: you'll need a very high roof for the main access point (ours is on the local church).

Best of luck
Ian.

[nickdank]

Sounds like a neat place, Ian. The goal and the appeal in this for me is achieving self-sufficiency. Kinda like...having a garden, chickens, a cow or two...but in the 21st century. Maybe Zorba The Greek has twisted me.