| reply to battleop
Re: The pipe Really? Because I do not know a single person that choose an ISP because of their HomePage Portal. Nor does a single person come to mind that actually uses one of these portals and I do an a lot of computer support for a lot of people. |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | I know of very few who even have a choice. I haven't had a choice for over 10 years. When DSL came on the scene in 1998, I've been on the waiting list. Just a few thousand feet out of range. No movement from SBC(AT&T) in all of that time. The local cable company finally offered service in 2000 and I've been with them ever since. I would love to have a choice but AT&T simply cannot provide it.
Last summer they announced U-Verse in my community. Can I get it? No. Too far from the CO. Of course that would be the CO to which I am connected. Two other COs are under a mile but I guess that's not the way the wires were originally buried!
I have choices if I'm willing to go wireless. So far everything wireless I've seen is unimpressive. High latency, packet loss and slow speeds. Does WiMax fix these problems? I don't have any experience with 3G cell networks so I might be judging them unfairly -- however most have limited speeds, monthly caps, contractual ties to voice service and high prices. Cricket now offers a $40/month no-contract plan but I've read mixed reviews. It depends on the market and folks say that it has started out good and gets worse. (Assuming here that as more customers join, speeds and service levels drop...) |
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| reply to Skippy25
Someone must be using them. If they were getting zero hits a day they wouldn't run them. |
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| reply to rradina
Wireless and cell network internet are different. Have you ever looked into a WISP? who is an actual Wireless Internet provider? |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | We use a "wireless" provider in our lab at work. It's really bad. 4 - 7% packet loss. Fine for surfing but makes anything else maddening. They've replaced the radio transmitter on our building's roof several times. They've replaced their end but it still has packet loss. My parents out in the country have point-to-point wireless and it too has packet loss. They are about 3 miles from the "water tower" where the ISP's receiver is. Again, fine for surfing but not much else.
Are these examples of WISPs?
Note: Both of these solutions do not use traditional 802 "WiFi" technology. They are wireless but I don't know if they qualify as a WISP. |
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| They are a WISP but i wouldn't consider them like any like Tim or anyone else that posts here in the WISP Forum from all over. There are a couple WISPs here from MO you should talk to them. |
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