Wireless Internet Access

[CopInNY]

I'm using a new system I got for my Sony Notebook computer. It's a completely wireless system that works off a small reciever/transmitter plugged into the cable port in the back of the notebook. It's unbelievable how far technology had come, I remember playing Atari and thinking it was the best thing ever. Here I am, at work, eating a few slices of pizza, and surfing o.com all from the cockpit of a vehicle. Unreal. I'm paying only $15 a month more for this wireless sytem then the cable I have at home, and this actually seems to be a bit faster. Is anyone using wireless internet connection? What have you found out to be the pros and cons? Thanks..

[txinvestigator1]

Are you talking about an independent wireless service, or using a wireless transmitter from your Desktop to your Laptop. The former using a cell phone service provider or such, the latter technology such as Bluetooth or WIFI (802.11b) .

I have a Sprint PCS PCMCIA wireless modem for my laptop that I can also use in my Ipaq PDA with an adapter. The connection is slow, 19 Kbs is about all I can get, but they have a new service with speeds up to 144. I will be getting that in October.

The current card will work anywhere in the Sprint PCS network, but the new card only where the new high speed service has rolled out.

We are building a house, and I will install a wireless network using WiFi then. The drawback to WiFi is security. The security settings are not set by default, so anyone with WiFi in range of your network can access your network.

What service and equipment are you using??

[CopInNY]

Tx,

Using Earthlinks service. As far as the equipment goes, I'm not sure. The base unit is at my home, connected to my desktop unit, and the signal is transmitted between the notebook an desktop unit. It's supposed to be comparable to a cable modem, and I believe it, because like I said, this seems to be just a little bit faster then my desktop unit.

[txinvestigator1]

So you have Earthlink on your Desktop, and a wireless transceiver at both the desktop and Laptop?

What is the range you can be with your laptop from your desktop?

Sounds like WiFi.

[Quiet1]

I have wireless internet access. The transmitter is atop a local water tower. You have to be within site distance of the transmitter. The only equipment in the house is the gateway, which terminates at my main PC. There is also the antenna on my roof. I then have a wireless network, letting me transmit that wireless internet signal to another PC and a laptop. I haven't gone farther than 75 feet with the laptop yet.

So far, the only issue I've had is with the trees between here and there. I had it installed in early spring, and then the leaves grew and blocked the path, so I had to get a bigger antenna on the roof. Other than that, no issues at all. I'm paying for T1 access, 69.95/mo. I could get 128 for 49.95, but figured what they heck...you can't take it with you.

[CopInNY]

quote:

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Originally posted by txinvestigator1:
So you have Earthlink on your Desktop, and a wireless transceiver at both the desktop and Laptop?

What is the range you can be with your laptop from your desktop?

Sounds like WiFi.

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No, I have Optimum Online Cable service on my desktop, and an Earthlink connection on my notebook. Not sure how that works..

Not sure of the maximum range, but this morning and this afternoon, my first time using it, I was about 25 miles away, give or take.

Hope that helps...

[txinvestigator1]

Ok, got it. You have a completely different connection from your home.

I love my wireless.

Quiet1,

What you have is typically referred to as Fixed Wireless.

[n567]

Hey, CINY, how much did this wireless connection cost you?

I'm here a whopping 30 miles south of the technology capital of the world, and my only option is wireless from some crappy, overpriced company... 100 bucks a month for 256k/256k, and 1200 dollars in set up and equipment... ****es me off... Perhaps i should look into what Earthlink has to offer...

[CopInNY]

N567,

DEFINATELY check out earthlink if those are the prices you're recieving over there! I paid $750 for equipment, and I pay $69.99/month for the service which is directly comparable to a cable modem service.

[Quiet1]

Thanks, tx. I hadn't heard that term before.

Seeing as I live in what is considered "the sticks", I'm lucky a local ISP is based in my town and provides this service. We don't have cable modem, DSL, etc., available to us here yet. Could be a year or 2 more.

[txinvestigator1]

Quiet1,

From what I have read, the fixed wireless has been a real blessing for folks who don't have access to other hi-speed sources like you.

Is it an always on connection, if so be sure to run a good firewall.

[p01ic3m4n]

a wireless connection is easy to steal from. that may be a factor in bandwidth loss.

[Quiet1]

Yes, it's an always-on connection, and I am using both a good harddware and software firewall (not the Windows firewall!), which has proven, so far, to work well.

Yeah, I know about bandwidth bandits, and I haven't had to deal with that yet either. On the other hand, I could easily sell my excess bandwidth to all of my neighbors and recoup some of my cost for service.

I like to check my actual connection speed here. Just to be sure I'm getting what I paid for. Anyone else know a good way to verify your actual connection speed?

[Evnings]

Before Ricochet went bankrupt the City had a cotract with them for in car wireless internet. That was really neat. They had transmitters on lightpoles every so often, so the reception was pretty good.

The transmitters are still on the poles, its a shame the city won't make use of them for us to have MDT's.

[Royce]

quote:

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a wireless connection is easy to steal from. that may be a factor in bandwidth loss.

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Yes ,that reminds me of people uncapping cable modems...there's really enough bandwidth there already to begin with and people still want more.