cpotts
join:2011-08-10
Lometa, TX | reply to papawjim
Re: Any experience with Open Range Communications I'm in a rural area about 80mi. N. of Austin TX, the only wireless carrier that gets ANY service is AT&T and Verizon (and only Edge), I tried Verizon, Sprint and now use AT&T (with Wilson amplifier and YAGI antenna, but still only strong EDGE service even though I can get 3G ~5 mi. away on top of a hill). I currently use Sky Blue and dislike it immensely for its latency. T1 line would be $1K/month...looking for something in-between. I'm sure you guys know about the Light Squared technology, if not, google it, its pretty interesting stuff. I emailed them to ask if they could tell me if any of their technology was available in my area, here's the reply:
"Dear Cory,
Thank you for your interest in LightSquared. LightSquared supports the FCC’s National Broadband Plan to connect America, creating economic opportunities and job growth—especially in rural areas that have traditionally been underserved. In March we signed an agreement with Open Range Communications, a broadband wireless provider of Internet and digital phone service to rural American communities. You can read more about our partnership here. We’ll be collaborating on the design, build-out, and operation of Open Range’s network as well as on product and service evolution.
In April we signed bilateral roaming agreements with SI Wireless, a partnership of rural independent telephone companies; and Cellular South, the nation’s largest privately owned wireless communications provider, to provide a nationwide 4G-LTE footprint as well as satellite coverage.
LightSquared has committed to the FCC to cover at least 260 million Americans by the end of 2015. The specific timing and coverage of our network deployment and that of our partners’ networks are still in development.
In the meanwhile, we invite you to sign up for our Stay Updated email alert which will provide you with information on future LightSquared developments.
Best,
Gemma"
So, it looks like OR should get a serious speed boost soon, so should other providers. I'd appreciate any advice you can give on my situation. |
|
| reply to cpotts
Re: Any experience with Open Range Communications said by cpotts:I'm in a rural area about 80mi. N. of Austin TX, the only wireless carrier that gets ANY service is AT&T and Verizon (and only Edge), I tried Verizon, Sprint and now use AT&T (with Wilson amplifier and YAGI antenna, but still only strong EDGE service even though I can get 3G ~5 mi. away on top of a hill).
Edge is AT&T's 2.5G. It'll be shut down soon. Verizon/Sprint don't have Edge - their 3G is EV-DO Rev A. Sprint has no 4G (excluding the Clearwire mess with WiMax).
Verizon's 700MHz LTE is spreading quickly. For a rural area, that lower frequency propagates well, though it's probably built out so far only on the largest 40 cities. |
|
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI
kudos:2 | said by stevech0:Edge is AT&T's 2.5G. It'll be shut down soon. Can you share a source for that? I believe that claim to be VERY false because EDGE is part of the GSM standard, and GSM is what AT&T/T-Mobile use for their voice service. Edge won't go away until GSM goes away, and GSM can't go away until they have every tower transitioned to LTE and virtually all of their customer's phones are upgraded to support VoLTE, which will be many, many years from now. |
|
|
|
| reply to papawjim
I don't have any experience with Open Range but my cousin had a very terrible one. He had so many issues from the very beginning, from application until installation. He tried it out for a lil over a month and got even more frustrated so he got it cut off. He also mentioned that the customer service people are so incompetent and can't explain things when things go wrong. I was about to try it but he convinced me not to as it had been a nightmare for him. I'm using AT&T and there are also times that the connection is intermittent but I'm not ready to replace it until I really find a reliable and tested one. |
|
| reply to jcremin
said by jcremin:said by stevech0:Edge is AT&T's 2.5G. It'll be shut down soon. Can you share a source for that? I believe that claim to be VERY false because EDGE is part of the GSM standard, and GSM is what AT&T/T-Mobile use for their voice service. Edge won't go away until GSM goes away, and GSM can't go away until they have every tower transitioned to LTE and virtually all of their customer's phones are upgraded to support VoLTE, which will be many, many years from now. With 700MHz LTE eroding their market share, AT&T's misadventures of the last few years: EDGE, HSDPA, now join the LTE frey, indicates that they'll take no new subscribers for EDGE and try to back out of HSDPA. For too long, AT&T Wireless and their predecessor step-fathers have chosen to find out what Verizon plans to do then choose to do the opposite, seemingly just a marketing decision distance themselves. More curious is what Sprint can do thrive. |
|
| reply to papawjim
So in other words, no. As usual more baseless claims. |
|
| nope. Did you ever work in engineering for these companies? |
|
| reply to papawjim
I have had Open Range for quite some time. I spend a lot of time with technical support. I am tired of moving the modem around, getting disconnected while I am in class, and am rather up set at 2:30 am because I cannot reach anyone. I see they have lowered their price now to around 40/mo... I pay 60! You are probably better off with an established local provider if you are looking to save money. I used to have a verizon connection with the UMB, and it became quite expensive, but never had so many problems. |
|
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI
kudos:2 | reply to stevech0
said by stevech0:nope. Did you ever work in engineering for these companies? Still no sources... Until then, it is just speculation on your part. Don't state your guess as to what MIGHT happen as fact. It's misleading and causes people to make poor choices based on potentially bad information. |
|
WHT
join:2010-03-26
kudos:3 | reply to papawjim
said by papawjim:Just read a article where the company Open Range is coming to town and will be providing wireless internet and digital phone service, anyone have any experience with them.
» WiMax ISP Open Range Shuttering Operations
WiMax ISP Open Range Shuttering Operations
CEO Has Left, Staff Being Laid Off |
|
| Openrange is DONE!!! They shut their doors yesterday and canned everyone. |
|
WHT
join:2010-03-26
kudos:3 | Open Range Communications Inc filed for Chapter 11
Reorganization on October 6, 2011. For information about the filing go to:
»www.loganandco.com/ClientSummary···bID=3464
For vendor inquiries call 303-381-7724. |
|
| reply to papawjim
I'm not sure why they would be considered "done"
The purpose of Chapter 11 is to keep a failing business in business. |
|
| reply to papawjim
My experience with Open Range was HORRIBLE. I signed on with them at the end of August when a representative came to my home. I had service for the 1st week and after that, NOTHING for the entire month of September. I had no internet or phone service so if it were not for me having a cell phone, my communications would have been completely down. I was wrapping up my wedding preparations and could not contact the hotels for my out of town family and wedding guests. I had to actually drive around town from hotel to hotel to try to find the best rates because I couldn't check anything online. I called Open Range several times throughout this mess and all they could tell me is that their towers were down and when I asked if they could send out a tech to see if there was something they could do. Their response was, we don't have any techs in your area, which is Lancaster PA, we only have sales reps, WTH!!!! Of course they wouldn't tell me this while trying to convince me to use their piece of garbage product. What really has me upset with this Government funded, one fee for $59.99, no hidden taxes or surcharges bogus crap is that when I decided to cancel because they almost ruined my most important day is that they tried to charge me the full amount for the month of September for a service I NEVER received. Not only that, they're only returning 1/2 of my money to my account until their modem is returned which I now have to pay to return because Open Range no longer provides their customers with the UPS labels for the return of their crappy product. This company sucks and I would never ever recommend that anyone use their services in any state. |
|
 EB
@184.164.79.x | reply to papawjim
Open range sucks! The only good thing is, they don't require a contract. The service is terrible- very slow. So i've tried to call and cancel and I can't get ANYBODY on the phone. Ive called 3 different open range comm. numbers and i can't even get a voicemail to leave a message. Very frustrating.... |
|
EB
@184.164.79.x | reply to papawjim
Don't go with open range.... |
|
