Cable and DSL not an Option, Are there any others ?

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Spacehead
I've been thinking of looking for something better than my slow dial-up lately too. I usually connect at 24.0k.

I'm out in the sticks so i don't think wireless would work for me.

Here's the 3 satallite providers i've read about.
Starband - i talked to a local distributor & it's possible to get used equipment for about half the price of new.
HughNet - used to be DirectWay
WildBlue - don't know anything about these guys

Didn't think Starband was still around. It has a reliablity problem although I don' know why since it is hung off the same Sats as Dish Network.

Hughes is OK, been around a while. Started with Gas stations etc using the service and then went residential.

WildBlue is the newest kid on the block with a new Satellite.

Technology

WildBlue uses Ka-band "spot beam? satellites to allow multiple re-use of the same frequency, providing higher capacity at lower cost compared to other available satellite systems.

WildBlue launched its service aboard the U.S. capacity of Telesat's Anik F2 satellite launched in July 2004. WildBlue-1, WildBlue?s second satellite, is being built by Space Systems / Loral and will launch in the future based on marketplace demand.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Spacehead
I've noticed when a connect my other comp to get virus & Windows updates that it'll usually connect at a little faster speed.
Maybe just get a better modem? Never really thought that they would be much different.

The modem can make a lot of difference, but so can the phone cord, and what it is near to it. I can get 28.8 if I go outside to the NID, 26.4 if I connect from any upstairs phone drop, and only 24.0 if I connect from any downstairs phone drop. Same computer & modem.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Spacehead
I've noticed when a connect my other comp to get virus & Windows updates that it'll usually connect at a little faster speed.
Maybe just get a better modem? Never really thought that they would be much different.

The modem can make a lot of difference, but so can the phone cord, and what it is near to it. I can get 28.8 if I go outside to the NID, 26.4 if I connect from any upstairs phone drop, and only 24.0 if I connect from any downstairs phone drop. Same computer & modem.

sounds like a problem with your provider then. you should connect much higher than that. You aren't getting above 28.8 which leads me to believe it is your provider and their modem pool and CO gear that is the problem. Maybe they are using ancient analog modems?

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: spidey07
sounds like a problem with your provider then. you should connect much higher than that. You aren't getting above 28.8 which leads me to believe it is your provider and their modem pool and CO gear that is the problem. Maybe they are using ancient analog modems?

Nope, it is not the ISP or their telco. I've tried numerous ISPs, and am currently with AT&T, most recently also known as SBCIS. I can connect to the same modem pool (or any other AT&T modem pool, for that matter) at 48.8 or something like that from other locations (say, over a telephone line in a nearby city).

The problem is the last mile on my end. I don't know of anyone within 2-3 square miles of me that can connect faster than I can to *any* other modem/pool, and it gets significantly worse about 5 more miles south of my house. Connections are routinely 14.4 - 21.6 down there, and drop frequently.

 

[spidey07]

ah, well then that explains it. you have barbed wire to your home.

not a knock, just what you call really bad cabling. Barbed Wire.

But it still could be the switching gear they are using to service your area.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM
Talked with Tmobile today and gonna go that route. 200.00 to start for the card and then 50.00 a month there after and that includes unlimited use of thier wifi hotspots. I will have 15 days to try it out risk free so no loss there.

is there an option to get the card free with a 2 year contract? i thought that was an option

i will probably try this also, i have to find out if the tower near my house (BFE) has the service at all

 

[intogamer]

Isn't Sprint or Verizon's Data Connection better?

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: spidey07
ah, well then that explains it. you have barbed wire to your home.

not a knock, just what you call really bad cabling. Barbed Wire.

But it still could be the switching gear they are using to service your area.

It could be the ISP's switching gear? How?

My telco's switching gear is a likely case. They keep telling me that it's the last mile copper that is the problem, but I know better than that... all of the copper between my house and the RT was replaced in November of 04. We are less than a mile from the RT by road, and even less than that by wire. There's no way that it should be this poor.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: spidey07
ah, well then that explains it. you have barbed wire to your home.

not a knock, just what you call really bad cabling. Barbed Wire.

But it still could be the switching gear they are using to service your area.

It could be the ISP's switching gear? How?

My telco's switching gear is a likely case. They keep telling me that it's the last mile copper that is the problem, but I know better than that... all of the copper between my house and the RT was replaced in November of 04. We are less than a mile from the RT by road, and even less than that by wire. There's no way that it should be this poor.

the lines blur between the ISPs gear and the LEC gear (which is what your ISP is most likely using, so it's not your ISP gear - but the LEC, you've already shown your ISP can support digital modems from different LEC switches). If you want post in the networking forum. I dont' get too deep into the access layer technology wise. You are ultimately connecting to your ISPs modem pool (and the fact that you connect at 48/56 kind of rules out that end) but again I don't get deep into the access layer so I could be way off. There are local laws applied on who can do what/where/how.

But you're right, the year is 2006 and providing 56k is no big deal and considered a legacy application. Without knowing the architecture of your LEC and your ISP and you local laws I can't offer much help.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: spidey07
sounds like a problem with your provider then. you should connect much higher than that. You aren't getting above 28.8 which leads me to believe it is your provider and their modem pool and CO gear that is the problem. Maybe they are using ancient analog modems?

Nope, it is not the ISP or their telco. I've tried numerous ISPs, and am currently with AT&T, most recently also known as SBCIS. I can connect to the same modem pool (or any other AT&T modem pool, for that matter) at 48.8 or something like that from other locations (say, over a telephone line in a nearby city).

The problem is the last mile on my end. I don't know of anyone within 2-3 square miles of me that can connect faster than I can to *any* other modem/pool, and it gets significantly worse about 5 more miles south of my house. Connections are routinely 14.4 - 21.6 down there, and drop frequently.

Don't feel bad, I can't even put a Modem on the line at all. All the neighbors can hear it and when they pick up their phones makes it drop.

Lines are probably 100 years old and it's 6 miles to the nearest town from the Island.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Isn't Sprint or Verizon's Data Connection better?

i already tested both of them out here in BFE, the sprint tower only connects at the original 3G or CMDA or whatever speed, this tower isn't upgraded to edge or whatever the faster thing is

the nearest verizon tower with broadband is about 20 miles too far to the west of me

my only hope is the tmobile tower, the tmobile web site shows it has coverage, but i won't beleive it until i try it

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: spidey07
ah, well then that explains it. you have barbed wire to your home.

not a knock, just what you call really bad cabling. Barbed Wire.

But it still could be the switching gear they are using to service your area.

It could be the ISP's switching gear? How?

My telco's switching gear is a likely case. They keep telling me that it's the last mile copper that is the problem, but I know better than that... all of the copper between my house and the RT was replaced in November of 04. We are less than a mile from the RT by road, and even less than that by wire. There's no way that it should be this poor.

the lines blur between the ISPs gear and the LEC gear (which is what your ISP is most likely using, so it's not your ISP gear - but the LEC, you've already shown your ISP can support digital modems from different LEC switches). If you want post in the networking forum. I dont' get too deep into the access layer technology wise. You are ultimately connecting to your ISPs modem pool (and the fact that you connect at 48/56 kind of rules out that end) but again I don't get deep into the access layer so I could be way off. There are local laws applied on who can do what/where/how.

But you're right, the year is 2006 and providing 56k is no big deal and considered a legacy application. Without knowing the architecture of your LEC and your ISP and you local laws I can't offer much help.

 

[db]

Has anyone shotgunned (channel bonded) DSL?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: homestarmy
My girlfriend's father used to use DirecWay, could that equipment be used by someone else?

yes.

When i baught my house i paid a little to get the old owners equipment. NOw that opened up a lot of other problems.

one was that she owed them like $400 in past due bills. they claimed that the past due was on the equipment and not the person. it took me about 2 weeks to have the hook me up on my own bill. BUT they still tried to charge me the $400 a few times.

I'm amazed that you ever escaped from that nightmare. From what I've heard, it's company policy to keep past due bills with equipment and with accounts, independently, rather than just with the account.

yeah it took a lot of complaining and threats. I gave themmy CC# BEFORE they told that I would have to pay off the $400 balance. and they would just put it on my CC (only have a $300 limit) when it would nto go through they wanted alternet tender.

it took me telling them they just opened themsevles up for a good lawsuit with putting someone else's bill on mine. (no clue if it is or not). finally got high managment and they said ok and turned it on.

though they tried again to put it on. had to repeat the process.

I was so glad that i could get wireless through T6Broadband.com

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: db
Has anyone shotgunned (channel bonded) DSL?

I'm sure it can be done depending on how the ISP is set up.

 

[Spacehead]

I was just reading an article in our electric co-op magazine about broadband-over-powerline. There's a possability they will be bringing this to our area next year

2canSAM, see if avalable in you area. The company is based in Alabama.

IBEC
BPL Today

The plan includes offering IBEC's standard fare, three tiers each for residential and commercial. The most popular is the basic residential tier: 256k service for $29.95/month. All tiers have symmetrical upload and download bandwidth.

But can IBEC really promise 256k to the last farm down at the end of the road? "We're offering it to the end with every co-op that we've partnered with," said Lee. The firm's serving BPL at four co-ops now and has yet to find a customer it can't get 256k to, said Lee. The furthest customer in June 2005 was 13 miles.