Glenn Fleishman at Wi-Fi Networking News points out that SBC is now offering a Prodigy branded Wi-Fi device for dial-up users. The Prodigy Wi-Flyer comes it at around $130, works with both DSL and dial-up, and features a dial-up modem, one ethernet port, and Wi-Fi hardware in a single unit. Seems like it's targeting an increasingly dwindling niche: 39% of American web-users are still on dial-up, likely because they're very cost conscious, or they don't use the Internet for much. Neither seems likely to spend $130 to network their 30kbps service, though it might be nice for business laptop users at non-Wi-Fi enabled hotels.
I dunno. Back in the day when broadband wasn't reaching our neighborhood, we had our few computers on the same modem-line, bumping each other off. I finally dropped $200 (in that day) for a Netgear 56k Dial-Up router (w/ a 4 port 10 MB/s hub!). Essentially, we moved from a slow, unstable internet connection...to a slow, stable internet connection. (as stable as dial-up got, but no more dial-up bump wars anymore!)
Not to meantion, I began to enjoy LAN-benefits. No longer did I need to download that huge patch for hours to EACH computer...one computer could download it, and I'd have LAN-speed access to the files for the rest. Also, even though I really couldn't play internet games for a hill of beans...LAN gaming was an awesome experience, for the first time. It honestly felt like broadband, (because it was, kinda) even though it was only with the folks in the next room or so.
Anyone want to buy a turntable that can send digital audio wirelessly through your house?
This "day" was less than three years ago for me, and I currently have family who are in need of such a product now. (ie. multiple computers, but no avalibility for broadband) We don't have 100% broadband saturation in the country here folks, and until then, dial-up will continue to be a "solution", nomatter how ugly we might see it to be.
I wish I could find some of the old-school broadcast turntables we used 30 years ago. Those things were tanks, and with proper maintenance played on forever.
Anyone want to buy a turntable that can send digital audio wirelessly through your house?
Don't let your DSLR colored opinion confuse your vision of reality with the truth.
The truth is that there are many, many people who realistically understand that they can get along just fine processing E-Mail, doing online shopping and information searches without broadband.
Sure it can take a while to get your patches, virus updates, and a large product manual in the form of a PDG, but don't make the mistake that everyone (or even the majority) of the people on the planet are "Netizens" because they simply are not.
The reality is that the majority of the population has no need for broadband, at this time, because there is just no real requirement that impacts their day to day lives.
Don't bother pointing me to P2P because Ma n' Pop just don't give a damn about the latest cuts from whomever... Point me to an application that actually *requires* broadband.
Don't bother pointing me to P2P because Ma n' Pop just don't give a damn about the latest cuts from whomever... Point me to an application that actually *requires* broadband.
I agree. Very stupid, pointless idea. Some companies offer 128kbps speeds via cell phone.
...to one computer, with lousier ping than traditional dial-up. Also, the price of those packages might very damn well be that of DSL or greater, dependant on how much the cell company wants to stick you.
Quite honestly, for those who want to home network (ie. more than one PC) and happen to be stuck in a broadband-less area, this device wouldn't be half bad.
Dial-up cost me ~$50 a month for unlimited. A one year contract with Wildblue will cost ~$300 for hardware and ~$50 month in a limit of ~10GB down and ~3GB up a month. So do it look like I am very cost conscious? NO!
Neet to clarify. It is ~$50 total. It cost ~$20 + ~$30 for Dial-up ISP and 2th phoneline so I can use the first line for phone calls. The V.92 callwating do not work for me. Other ISPs are long distance. DSL stops 1 mile from me and the same is true for cable.
Viable users? - BB incapable; too cheap for Satell
The only users of this would seem to be those who can't get DSL or Cable BB and won't spend the money for satellite internet.
If you want to create a wireless internet in your house and have the money to buy multiple computers, you can afford broadband access. So only ones left would be those without broadband access and don't want satellite access.
If you want to create a wireless internet in your house and have the money to buy multiple computers, you can afford broadband access.
There are also those who very well might still be without broadband access period; it may not be a factor of affordability. I was in that boat for the longest time, while the rest of LA & surrounding areas were getting wired.
The only users of this would seem to be those who can't get DSL or Cable BB and won't spend the money for satellite internet.
If you want to create a wireless internet in your house and have the money to buy multiple computers, you can afford broadband access. So only ones left would be those without broadband access and don't want satellite access.
I don't know. The type of work I do, if I was outfitting a summer home or similar, dialup would be better for me than satellite. Typing in terminal windows with more than 500ms of lag is just a drag. And it's pretty low bandwidth work anyway.
Pre-DSL and before the boss sprang for a 56K frame relay line to my apartment I had a network (not wireless though) with a /29 of real IPs routed to it. Terminated it on a BSD box that kept the connection nailed up, handled routing from the modem to LAN, and did some basic firewalling. If you take away the more "recreational" uses, it was surprisingly usable. I even setup a small "suck" news server to yank porn down from the newsgroups overnight (for my roommate of course).
What wireless router had a com port that was compatible with a modem? Did you ever get said system running? I was only ever able to get a system like that running but had to use a computer with internet-connection and an AP.
What wireless router had a com port that was compatible with a modem? Did you ever get said system running? I was only ever able to get a system like that running but had to use a computer with internet-connection and an AP.
First hit with A quick Google. »www.netgear.com/products ··· 114P.php "Uplink RJ-45 port RS-232 serial port with DB-9 connector for external analog or ISDN modem" I currently use a 704p (not wireless) with my old 56k modem as a backup to DSL. works great ! I've set up other folks in this manner using Netgear products mostly. It's not hard to do or find. HTH
Even more simplistic than that, OS X has a very good Internet Connection Sharing setup. Before he got rid of his Powerbook, my father and I were travelling one time and we were in an airport lounge and rather than spring for T-Mobile's horribly overpriced wifi service, he started a dialup connection on his Powerbook. One patch cable later and a simple two-step configuration on the Powerbook and we were both online and laughing at the people who were paying $6.00 an hour for wifi access (fortunately our airport has free wifi, Pittsburgh International).
You can get a used base station cheaper on eBay or Craigslist.
Probably even an original AirPort, which would still be nicer than this thing. While some call it overpriced, inside is a nice Lucent networking card and the base station itself runs Karlnet software. And for those that can't deal with complex configs, the included admin tool is pretty simple.
I have a wifi network at our country house with dialup. Not easy to set up tho. With call waiting and v92 modem you can still take calls while online. Cost is $5/m (all2easy.net) vs $50/m for 1.5 DSL (TDS Telecom).
What's really needed is a router that is designed to work with Windows connection sharing without a lot of fussing, or just has a built in modem for not too much.
What's really needed is a router that is designed to work with Windows connection sharing without a lot of fussing, or just has a built in modem for not too much.
Huh?? Being windows connection sharing is a limited DHCP server, then why would you need a router. The easiest way to run that sort of setup is use a hub or switch. Setup Windows ICS and point it to the dial-up connection and allow other users to dial on demand. Viola, you have your $130 overglorified router.
What's really needed is a router that is designed to work with Windows connection sharing without a lot of fussing, or just has a built in modem for not too much.
Huh?? Being windows connection sharing is a limited DHCP server, then why would you need a router.
For wireless. I guess you can do the ad hoc thing or maybe an access point. Anyway, wireless and dialup is a PITA.
Actually, I was looking for a product like this a while back.
I was looking to set up a small hot spot and didn't want to people to leach off high speed for downloading huge files. This was to be a hotspot for casual use with very limited users - 3 tops at any time.
"though it might be nice for business laptop users at non-Wi-Fi enabled hotels"
And non-WiFi (or broadband) enabled job sites, or meeting sites, or your grandma's house or any number of dialup-only temporary places you might want to connect but don't want to be physically tied to the phone line.
$130 is a bit spendy but if it works and you need the functionality, it's probably worth it.
So you live in the sticks, satellite blows and is expensive, no cable, no DSL, no WISPs... your kids have a computer and you need to check the current selling price of your produce on your laptop. Dial-up all the way baby!
Its only a lack of availability for those that don't have a clear view of the southern sky. Sat. is more than available to people who can't get dsl or cable. Its the price that people don't want to pay for. Many of the people who still have dial up can't swallow the price or can't afford it. The other smaller portion don't have a clear view and are out of range for both dsl/cable. But, I'm pretty sure that number is small.
I live in an area were people bitch all the time about not having broadband, yet Satellite is more than available. People are just cheap and don't want to pay the piper for "high speed". So all we "pioneers" have to foot the bill in order for all the rest of them to get cheap ass prices in order for them to get their asses in gear and switch.
Yeah, I'm being harsh.. I'm just tired of people bitching about not having broadband. Its widely available. If you move and you want broadband, figure it into your moving plans. If you don't and end up in an area like mine then put up or shut up, or hell even move. But don't bitch about it. Broadband is a choice/privilege, not...absolutely not a right. AOL, Earthlink, etc would like to have you think its a right because they make a ton of money off of you. People seem to forget where the net came from. The origins came from a DOD...yes a DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE project. So, hell if the military really wanted to they could probably shut down the net. Although now it would be pretty hard considering how it has affected the world's economy.
Screw the U.N. and the rest of the bickering countries. You didn't come up with the net, so what gives you the right to come in and take it from us? Really, something that the AMERICAN tax dollars paid for. Perhaps there is foreign money in this, but I'd like to see proof. Because there is a cause does not mean the effects suggested correlate to each other. Just as intelligence doesn't necessarily denote wisdom.
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