dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Hey all, I'm new to this WISP stuff. I just recently discovered it. I currently have Wild Blue Sat internet, which in a word, sucks. The latency is horrible for me because i like to game online and that's impossible with sat internet. Plus everytime I download a demo and a few songs i go over my limit, it's ridiculous. plus the weather is a huge factor cuz everytime it snows or rains i lose connection.
Anyway, what is the general overview of wireless broadband. I will most likely be using it exclusively at my home. We already have a linksys router, what else would I need. Im guessing I'll be using one of the USB "recievers". Do I need an antenna? Do i need an amp? And what does all this stuff cost? Thanks in advance. | |
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AMD Phreak
Premium
join:2003-12-14
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. If you sign up with a WISP they will provide the equipment either on their dime, your dime, or a rental charge. They will most likely drop an ethernet connection to you, which may be NAT'ted or might be straight routed.
You won't need USB or amplifiers or any of that stuff. Most all WISP's will allow you to use your own router so you should be good to go there too.
Be sure to check with the wisp about their network latency, if they support VoIP, and in general their reliability. Most anything out there is going to be better than Wild Blue in terms of throughput and latency.
--
"No job is so important, and no service is so urgent that we cannot take the time to perform our work safely."
-- AT&T, Your World, Destroyed.
--Safety One Tower Rescue Certified
--LLigetfa:"Wimax is like teenage sex. Everyone talks about doing it." | |
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me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
 ·VOIPo
1 edit | I'm with AMD Phreak, ask the WISP some questions first. Ask about ping/lag and if it is good for gaming. I asked mine what the ping was when I got it installed, the guy said about 60ms and 90% of the time it is that or less. Do they work with VoIP(mine said frequency mattered but it was a new guy[just back from iraq] so I let is slide, I was told, by the #2 guy, when I called I could use VoIP frequency did not matter). Unless the are horridly oversold it should be better than WB. I had WB so I know where you are coming from.
Over all I would say, at least from my experince, wireless uberly pwns WB to death. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| Well I just went on speed test and the results were ugly. down: About 470, up 74 (ouch!), and my ping was... 925ms! I hate sat internet.
I am looking into Millenicom, their price is $60 a month, what Im paying for WB. They have no download limits (sweet), and no contracts (really sweet). The email they sent me said the following, "Congratulations, you are in an area where the connectivity should be
excellent.
The speeds are burstable to 3.1M/1.8M. Your actual speeds will vary
(consider the service works over cell towers, so as your cell service has
variability so will this service) but should fall in the 500K - 1.5M range
(with upload speeds about half that).
The cost is $59.99/month with a $49.99 one-time fee.
Your connection is unlimited, will not be location specific, can be used
throughout the country, even while you travel and has no contract (you can
cancel at any time).
Once we receive your sign-up request, you should receive your device
within one week (your initial charge will be pro-rated for the month with
re-occurring $59.99 charge automatically on the first of each subsequent
month; accounts signing up in the last 10 days of the month will be
charged the following months fee as well). Please note there is a $15
shipping fee.
No Contract ~ you can close your account at any time. Simply return the
device in proper working order in its original case with all the original
contents of the case. Failure to do so results in a one-time charge of
$200 and then you are no longer responsible for the account."
Can I plug the usb device into my linksys wrt54gs router? I looked at the router and from what I can see there is one ethernet intput and 4 ethernet outputs on the back, but no USB ports. I would really like it if I didn't have to buy a new router. Also, I read a bunch of other threads and it seems like most ppl have antennas of some sort, should i look into them? How much do they run for? Thanks for all the help.
I should be able to play Burnout Paradise online now, yay!!! haha | |
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 | me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. The antennas r only if you get a weak sig and it messes with the internet. Yes you will need to buy a new router. | |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| said by dashock333  :Can I plug the usb device into my linksys wrt54gs router? no. you need an EVDO router.
you are confusing WISP with cellular broadband. they are both wireless, but different. satellite is wireless, too, but it is different. cellular broadband comes from cellular towers, and you'll get a USB device that connects directly to your computer or to an EVDO router. WISP comes from a tower, and the WISP company attaches a dish to your home and runs a wire into the house to connect to a bridge which then connects to one machine (computer or router). WISPs can have excellent latency and jitter. cellular broadband will not have excellent latency and jitter and you might not be happy with gaming experience. WISPs will be better for gaming, but local WISP companies might not want their networks used for that type of traffic -- be sure to ask. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | How much do the wisp routers fun for?
Also, if I get the usb reciever and use that in my laptop, can I just run an ethernet cable to my ps3 to use the ps3 online? | |
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AMD Phreak
Premium
join:2003-12-14 | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. WISP equipment runs from around $100 to $600
It all depends. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | The one from millenicom is $130. As for the ethernet to ps3 from ur laptop IDK. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| Well, I read somewhere else here on the forum, I forget where... sorry, that a guy had just connected a cat 5 ethernet cable from his computer to his PS3, plugged the USB reciever into his computer, and then shared his network somehow with his PS3. I can't really give many technicle details because Im not a techie, I just want faster internet. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Did he have fixed or mobile wireless? I think they may make something like what you want, but it would be easier to get a router. Also you may want to see if there is a local fixed WISP near you, if there us you most likely will not have to buy a new router I did not when I switched from WB to my WISP they even support VoIP. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | Oh, ok. I thought that WISP towers were the cell towers.
Well I checked the verizon broadband coverage map and my house is included in that area of blue. I'm gonn atry contacting Millenicom to see what they say. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. If you do have a local WISP ask about gaming. On my WISPs home page it says great for gaming, and when the owner came out to move my receiver he said it was great for gaming. other WISPs may not like gaming, or VoIP. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | Why would a WISP care about gaming?
Also, does anyone ever notice lag while gaming with their WISP? | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Sometimes I do(I brawl is pretty good, not much lag there, PBR OTOH....) Some wireless ISPs are not as "solid" as others. If your pings are for the most part around 100ms you should be ok. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | What kind of ping is pushing it for too high for shooters, such as the Call Of Duty games. I have a PS3 and I would love to play shooters online. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Here are two of my pings.
Pinging www.l.google.com [209.85.225.104] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 209.85.225.104: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=242
Reply from 209.85.225.104: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=242
Reply from 209.85.225.104: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=242
Reply from 209.85.225.104: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=242
Pinging www.dslreports.com [209.123.109.175] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=46ms TTL=52
Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=85ms TTL=52
Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=52
Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=52
I would say no more than 120-ishms(even that may be pushing it) 100ms and less and should be good enough for shooters.
Hoe many neighbors do you have? how much would you all be willing to pay for internet? what speed? | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
1 edit | Well, me1212, I have one closish neigbor (about 3-400 yards), and another about twice as far away. I live about a quarter to half a mile away from a road that is serviced by comcast and has at least a dozen or so homes on it. Why do u ask? Maybe if I knew then I can aswer more specifically.
U also mentioned, "Also you may want to see if there is a local fixed WISP near you, if there us you most likely will not have to buy a new router I did not when I switched from WB to my WISP they even support VoIP." How do I go about finding out if there is a local fixed WISP? | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo
1 edit | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. »www.onelasvegas.com/wireless/
»www.onelasvegas.com/wireless/
»/gmaps/localis···s&place=
put ur area code after the = on the last 1
There r the links to help find a local FWISP
The neighbors thing was for a t1, and with them that far away it look likes a no go, unless you want to spend hundreds a month for a t1(it 1.5m/1.5m).
EDIT: If you cannot get a fixed WISP can you get an ISDN line? from what I understand it is like uber dial-up. you need a more expencive ISDN phone line(I hear the audio on the ISDN phone line is better than a normal phone line) if they will bond it it will be 128/128(other wise its 64/64) from what I hear it will work with a wired router and the ping are more like 100m-150ms, but if you can get those pings with any kinds of WISP(there r fixed wisps and mobile(cellular) wisps) WISP>ISDN. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| Well hundreds a month is out of the question. We just want it for our home, not for a business or anything.
How much is ISDN a month?
We pay $60 a month right now for sat internet, and that's about the max.
I'll try to find out if there are fixed WISP's in the area.
What's the difference between a fixed WISP and a cellular WISP?
According to the google maps the closest tower is prolly over 20 miles away and through some mountains.
There is a tower on the mountain right behind my house, how do I find out what that is for? Could it be a WISP? | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Fixed is well fixed to one spot, generally lower ping less packet loss(some can use VoIP). cellular(aka mobile)WISP is mobile, but can have higher ping more PL and mostly no VoIP(other than skype to skype). ISDN can vary from place to place. How much do you par for phone now? ISND from telcos can be $150+(for the line and internet) ISDN from my WISP(they sell ISDN too, but not the line the telcos sell the line) is $20. You would have to contact ur telco for info on the ISDN line. as for finding a FWISP, use the last link I posted and put ur area code after the =. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| I went onto antennasearch.com and here the results that I got,
Alert! 15 Towers (6 Registered,9 Not Registered) found within 4.00 miles of Chestnut Ln, Pine Grove, PA 17963.
Info! The NEAREST Tower is .58 miles away and is owned by Spectra Site Communications.
Ok! No Applications for Future Towers detected as of 03/26/09.
Tower Type ID Num Site Owner Height Dist
Registered (1) New Cingular Wireless Pcs, Llc 309 feet 2.24 miles
(2) New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc. 221 feet 2.46 miles
(3) Cellco Partnership 210 feet 2.71 miles
(4) Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania State Police 300 feet 3.52 miles
(5) Cellco Partnership 270 feet 3.53 miles
(6) Cincap Vi, Llc 181 feet 3.79 miles
Not Registered (1) Spectra Site Communications 155 feet .58 miles
(2) Blank 75 feet 1.29 miles
(3) Schuylkill, County Of 320 feet 2.26 miles
(4) Us Cellular Corp 199 feet 2.75 miles
(5) Us Cellular Corp 199 feet 3.52 miles
(6) Us Cellular Corp 199 feet 3.69 miles
(7) United States Cellular Operating Co 190 feet 3.74 miles
(8) Blank 320 feet 3.81 miles
(9) Schuylkill County Municipal 104 feet 3.89 miles
Future (No Towers Detected) | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| I found this on antennasearch.com also. This tower is only about a mile or two at the most away from my house. The description says the telco provider to the tower is verizon and that it is a wireless tower. Could this a WISP? If it is, I should get a good signal because it is in direct view from my house. here's the info from the brochure on antennasearch.com
Site Name: Panther Head
Site Number: 308429
Address: Woods at Chapel Hill
City: Pine Grove
State: Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 17963
Latitude: 40 - 34 - 10.9 N 40.56972
Longitude: 76 - 26 - 3.12 W -76.4342
Map to Google
Map to MapQuest
Tower Data
Tower Number: 308429
Structure Height (AGL): 130 ft.
Structure Height (AMSL): 1360 ft.
Clearance: 13 ft.
Total Height (AMSL): 1373 ft.
Type: Self Support
FAA #: 00-AEA-3188-OE
FCC #:
Site Specs
MTA: Philadelphia
BTA: Pottsville, PA
MSA/RSA: Pennsylvania 8 - Union
Ground Elevation AMSL: 1230 ft.
Datum: NAD83
County: SCHUYLKILL
Region USA
Comments:
Driving Instructions: 81 north from Harrisburg to Exit 100 Rte 443. Go east on 443 and make left onto 2 1/2 mile Road. Then take it to Out Wood Dr. and go left. Then make a right onto Chapel Road and proceed for about two miles to Summit Road on the left. Take Summit road up the mountain to a dead end and you will see a gate with a stone road going up into the mountain even more. Take it up all the way to the tower on the right.
Utility Information
Telco Provider: Verizon
Power Provider: PPL
Backup Generator: No
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. The verizon tower could be ether one(cell or internet). As for the Spectra Site Communications, you would have to go to their web site to find out. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
1 edit | Well the spectra site tower says this, "Telco Provider: Verizon". Does that tell you anything? This is the same tower as the verizon one that I mentioned. i went on the spectra site and types in my address and that tower was on the map. It's only a little over a half a mile away i think. I emailed the company to try and find out if it is a fixed WISP or mobile so I have to wait for an answer.
How do i find out if the verizon is cell or internet? | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | Well I am definateley in the blue area, but I don't see any dots other than the thumbtack thing. My address is 56 Chestnut Lane, Pine Grove PA if u would like to check. Do dots represent towers? | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Yeah, u r in the blue, and if it is a internet tower by u it should help with the ping, but a fixed may still have better ping, can u get one? If not try millenicom/acun(same MWISP diff url). dots r not towers, I meant the thing under the map. | |
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| | dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Well according to the google map and the onelasvegas sites, there aren't any local fixed WISP's that I can tell. The closest are about 20-25 miles away and on the other side of some mountains.
I have looked into Millenicom, their prices seem reasonable for not having contracts or a cap, which is good. What do u mean by "same MWISP diff url"? That they provide the same service but there's two different names? Both URL's take me to the same page as far as I can tell.
If the tower is internet, what kind of pings can I expect? Millenicom has still not gotten back to me. Would they be able to tell me if that tower is part of their network and what kind of pings I could expect from it? | |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. you won't know until you get it. just order it already! understand the return policies and procedures just in case. | |
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| | | me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | by same MWISP(mobile wireless internet service provider) diff url, I mean, same MWISP one url is just shorter than the other. And I do not know about the pings, you just have to try if it doesn't work see if u can get ISDN. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| I appreciate ur bluntness RockyBB, but I like to know what's in soemthing before I jump in. I will most likely give Millenicom a try since it really can't be any slower than Wild Blue.
And me1212, I want to thank you for all of your help.
If I here anything from Millenicom or Spectra Sites I'll post it here. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. You could try to ask about the avg ping on the verizon wireless chat. | |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| said by dashock333 :I appreciate ur bluntness RockyBB, but I like to know what's in soemthing before I jump in. Realize that cellular broadband networks were designed to push stuff to cell phones: downloads and email. What is the absolute last thing that anyone worries about with downloads and email? Latency. What is the absolute first thing a gamer worries about? Latency.
That said, with cellular broadband, you CAN'T know the answers to your questions without trying it. your performance will depend on the distance to your nearest tower, your orientation to it, the stuff in between your adapter and the tower, and the characteristics of the signal at that tower. knowing averages is worthless, because you just want to know how it will work for you ... you have an almost 100% certainty that your performance will deviate from the average, either better or worse. but there's no way to predict until you try it. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| I got a response from Millenicom, here's what they said,
"We work over cell towers (EvDO) and aren't wifi at all. Although we don't have specific numbers on latency you'll find that it is very tolerable. You are in an excellent area for our service."
And for the question about gaming,
"Our service probably won't work well for online gaming. Although we do not cap our service we really aren't for high usage clients."
I think they said this just because they don't want people gaming on their network all day. They said that the latency is very tolerable, so it should be gameable since I am in "an excellent area for their service." | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. I think you should try it, if worse comes to worse you can try for ISDN, but I hope millenicom works 4 u. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
2 edits | I got a response from Millenicom, "We work over cell towers (EvDO) and aren't wifi at all. Although we don't have specific numbers on latency you'll find that it is very tolerable. You are in an excellent area for our service."
Also, on the Millenicom website it says this on the "devices" page, "Millenicom clients using the Pantech UM175 are able to subscribe to a static IP for an additional $10/month."
Would this be considered a fixed WISP?
Would an antenna help? Do you have an antenna? Would you recemmend getting one? Does placing the USB modem somewhere else in the house and running a USB extension cord work too?
Got another answer to my question about whether Millenicom supports VOIP, and the answer was yes, and that many people use Vonage and Skype. So that's pretty cool. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo
| Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Static Ip does not = FWISP, IDK if an antenna would help or not.
"Does placing the USB modem somewhere else in the house and running a USB extension cord work too?" I don't get what ur saying. Does the ur game system have a usb port that can work as a highspeed port? If so plugging the USB modem into ur, a PS3 was it, may work. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA
| About the USB thing, I was just wondering if, say I get a better signal upstairs, but I want my router downstairs... can I place the modem upstairs and use a USB extension cable to connect the modem to my router which would be downstairs. Sorry for the confusion. | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. Not that i know of. Is it a wireless router u r talking about? If so you can just put it upstairs(right over the ps3) if u want for best signal both ways. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | Ok, thanx for the help. | |
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dashock333
join:2007-11-18
Pine Grove, PA | Millenicom seems to use the Pantech UM-175 and the Franklin CDU-680. Is one better than the other? What's the difference? | |
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| me1212
join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO | Re: Newbie to WISP's needs some info. I do not know, E-mail millenicom they should know. But from what I can gather from their site the CDU-680 is "better", but I may not understand what they r saying correctly. | |
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