So let's say you live in an area where you can get internet access via WiFi. Presumably, you would be connecting to that access via the wireless cards in your PCs. But wouldn't that also mean you couldn't network them together via that connection? Or is there a kind of wireless router that can connect to the wireless ISP and then your PCs would connect to that?
How does having a wireless ISP work with a home network?
- Thread starter Slick5150
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Metron
Golden Member
- Oct 16, 2003
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I think you're confusing wireless internet and WiFi (wireless B). Wi-Fi is typically VERY short range, and I don't know of any service providers using that technology to "distribute" their internet service. They would need a Wi-Fi antenna every hundred feet or so... economically not feasible.
However, you can get Wireless Broadband from Verizon for $59.99 / month. That uses a CELLULAR connection (not WiFi) and normal cellular towers, but requires a special card.
However, you can get Wireless Broadband from Verizon for $59.99 / month. That uses a CELLULAR connection (not WiFi) and normal cellular towers, but requires a special card.
i get internet from a WISP
i have a long range wireless bridge that gets signal from an antenna on a guys barn about 1 mile away
the bridge has a static IP and a single LAN port
i plug my LAN wireless router into that and configure it to use the bridges static IP as the "WAN" side of my router
and i then connect all my pc's to my LAN wireless router with USB wireless NIC's
i have a long range wireless bridge that gets signal from an antenna on a guys barn about 1 mile away
the bridge has a static IP and a single LAN port
i plug my LAN wireless router into that and configure it to use the bridges static IP as the "WAN" side of my router
and i then connect all my pc's to my LAN wireless router with USB wireless NIC's
Any idea if you can get that to work with Smoothwall?
I need to find my parents some form of reliable data service that's faster than dialup.
Viper GTS
actually, i was surprised myself, i googled the model of wireless bridge my WISP gave me and it turns out it is 802.11b :Q , just a 'long range' version. the spec sheet says 200 mW
the antenna i get my signal from is about 1 mile away and my bridge has a standard 6" antenna. i am thinking of getting some fancy antenna for it to see if i get higher speed
the WISP has leapfrogged antennas from the town they are based in (10 miles from my house) out to where i am by putting up antennas on people barns and silos and water towers and anything tall where he traded free internet access for letting him put up another antenna. something like that
it sure beats satellite and POTS :thumbsup:
verizon has broadband service in kansas city, but the towers that have it stop about 15 miles from my house, so i can't get that. my WISP charges the same price as the verizon offering. if verizon ever expands all the way out to us, i may try it
The city I live in has WiFi access all over the city. It's not cellular. But even if it's cellular my point is the same. A normal router wouldn't be able to serve as the internet gateway for that type of a connection unless there's something I'm missing here.
Rubycon
Madame President
- Aug 10, 2005
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Get you a PCI card with Cardbus 2 socket - yes the PCMCIA will stick out of back of case - this will be computer running smoothwall. You could use something like a celly (from your 850 or bust days haha) and 64MB but I'm sure you know this mentioning that product.
Anyways, the PCMCIA adapter to PCI for PC is key for this to work.
One problem you may have is getting smoothwall to recognize the verizon card. Sheesh that dialer is probably similar to ppoe crap but you still need a poller, etc. As an alternative you could squeak by with a copy of 2000 pro using ICS.
Anyways, the PCMCIA adapter to PCI for PC is key for this to work.
One problem you may have is getting smoothwall to recognize the verizon card. Sheesh that dialer is probably similar to ppoe crap but you still need a poller, etc. As an alternative you could squeak by with a copy of 2000 pro using ICS.
Metron
Golden Member
- Oct 16, 2003
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Viper,
My boss uses VZ wireless broadband for the very same reason... no cable or DSL out where he lives. He could get ISDN (too slow) or satellite internet (too expensive), so he opted for the wireless solution. It's still slower than DSL, but far better than dial up.
From VZ's website:
"Using BroadbandAccess the KPC650 operates with typical download speeds of 400-700 kbps and bursts up to 2.0 Mbps."
All of Verizon's adapters appear to be PC Card, though if you had a desktop with a PC Card adapter and another network adapter..... you might be able to get Smoothwall to work.
*edit* Cool... didn't know that Fobot! I stand corrected. C6FT7 explained exactly what I was thinking... there you go Viper!
My boss uses VZ wireless broadband for the very same reason... no cable or DSL out where he lives. He could get ISDN (too slow) or satellite internet (too expensive), so he opted for the wireless solution. It's still slower than DSL, but far better than dial up.
From VZ's website:
"Using BroadbandAccess the KPC650 operates with typical download speeds of 400-700 kbps and bursts up to 2.0 Mbps."
All of Verizon's adapters appear to be PC Card, though if you had a desktop with a PC Card adapter and another network adapter..... you might be able to get Smoothwall to work.
*edit* Cool... didn't know that Fobot! I stand corrected. C6FT7 explained exactly what I was thinking... there you go Viper!
what speeds do you get, and how much do you pay?
on a side note, can something like this (wireless intarwebs -> router -> whatever connects to the router) be done with Verizon EVDO?
Ah, so a bridge would connect to the WISP, then the router would plug into that and the PCs would connect through that router as usual then?
Got it. That answers my question. Thanks!
Yeah driver support was my real concern. I guess ICS wouldn't be the end of the world, or even ISA Server.
Smoothwall is just so simple & free.
Did a little looking, it seems there will be EVDO capable broadband routers out shortly (with cardbus slots for provider hardware). That could be a nice option, though likely pricey.
Viper GTS
i pay $58.99 per month, basically the same price as verizon's offering
i get about 300 kbps down and 500 kbps up
the download varies a bit (i think because i share a branch with others and maybe they are downloaders) but the upload is pretty steady
so it isn't as good as most dsl, but it is good enough and no latency like the satellite i was on
i have used the Sprint Vision internet using a PC card in a desktop i have that has a PC Card slot running Windows XP and Internet Connection Sharing to share it on my LAN. it is ok , but too slow. just at most 2 times dial up speed. if sprint ever actually upgrades that service to "3G" speed, which is supposedly about the same as the verizon EVDO service, then that might be another option. but sprint needs to drop the price. the card i have is provided by my work but our corporate is still $68/month
i tested a verizon EVDO card , it uses special software so i think you would be limited to using it on windows pc initially, but those linux dudes generally get drivers for everything purty quick
but if you get a desktop with a pc card slot (mine is a mini model bare bones from newegg) and use internet connection sharing in windows xp , it should work fine, just like i did with the sprint card
mobobuff
Lifer
- Apr 5, 2004
- 11,099
- 1
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The WISP gets a high speed wired connection, and then places high-powered (usually rated at about 12dBi), omni-directional antennas around its service area. Receiving "antennas" are made usually with a metal casing and inside is a Wireless 802.11b PCMCIA card connected to a special circuit board that provides the PCMCIA adapter and RJ-45 port. For the connection to be succesfull there needs to be a clear line of sight between the broadcasting antenna and the receiving antenna, so this metal box has to be placed in a highly elevated position. When the ISP wants to service a greater area, they may set up a high powered yagi antenna to throw the signal much farther in one direction towards a receiving antenna where the signal is relayed and broadcasted omni-directionaly. Regular 802.11b receiving devices can pick this signal up, but without the correct IP address and WEP key, it's useless.
The company I used to work for did this off of a high-speed DSL line.
The company I used to work for did this off of a high-speed DSL line.
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