Sprint Wireless Broadband - Anyone Try It, Comments Please

[ISH]

I am considering switching to Sprint's Wireless Broadband.

I would be upgrading from DirecPC, which has caused me more trouble than what it is worth. Most of the time my 33.6 modem is faster than the satellite, and when the satellite is faster it's not by very much. DirecPC tech support says my system works and everything is okay. Friends don't let friends buy DirecPC is my new motto... yes it is that bad.

I would like to know from people who are using Sprint's Wireless Broadband, how they like it in general, plus:

Can you see the ground station antenna from your residence?
How far are you from the ground station antenna? (if you know)
How fast are your downloads, on average and peak speeds?
How high was the receiver mounted off your roof?
Has anyone tried using a Cable/DSL router with this setup? Does it work?
Have you ever had any down time, and if so how long?
Has weather been a problem with reception of the service?
How long did you have to wait for installation once you placed your order?
Would you recommend the service to a friend?

Thanks a bunch, I am trying to get as much opinions from users about this service before rushing in, and purchasing the hardware. I don't feel like getting screwed again on a wireless internet service.

ISH

 

[Bappo]

I dont have Sprint wireless but I am using an 80211.b wireless connect to the internet which uses WaveLan hardware. What I am on is wireless both up and down so there is no modem; only the cad in my box connected to an external antenna.

Can you see the ground station antenna from your residence?
Your antenna must be line of sight to the bridged receiver/antenna and any distance over about a mile you start dropping off in bandwidth unless you get really expensive stuff. 3 miles is about max on the less expensive equipment.

How far are you from the ground station antenna? (if you know)
I'm about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away.

How fast are your downloads, on average and peak speeds?
I average about 970k up and down regardless of time of day.

How high was the receiver mounted off your roof?
Not on the roof, it is on the side of my house under the overhang.

Has anyone tried using a Cable/DSL router with this setup? Does it work?
Dunno, haven't tried

Have you ever had any down time, and if so how long?
Has weather been a problem with reception of the service?
Only service issues have been ISP related when they mess with hardware and dont tell anyone thinking no one will notice.
Nope, been in huge blizzards and no drop off.

How long did you have to wait for installation once you placed your order?
3 days.

Would you recommend the service to a friend? Yup

 

[SUOrangeman]

Can someone post some links to these services? How about a price estimate?

-SUO

 

[Bappo]

Mine is just a local service at 50/mo static IP unlimited. Sprint started in Arizona I believe. The important thing is 80211.b standard. That way there is no modem up. Straight wireless. To get DSL that hits 970 up and down with a static IP around here would be twice what I pay. I can't get DSL anyways because I live too far away from downtown. Cable isn't here yet so wireless is my only option and a quite good one at that.

 

[wreed]

Try this site....here

 

[SUOrangeman]

I didn't see anything on Point.com's consumer site. I'll have to dig into their business site later.

-SUO

 

[Blackberry Junkie]

Here's the link for Sprint Broadband

 

[ISH]

Well I am signed up for this service, Sprint Broadband will be online in my area by the end of the year, I will follow up here with what I think of it.

I would still be interested in anyone's comments regarding this service.

Thanks...

ISH

 

[corkyg]

We have it here in Tucson, AZ. I have two neigjhbors that love it . . . it works great for them because they are on hill tops that have LOS to the transmitting antenna out West in the Tucson Mountains.

I am in a "hole" and have to pay through the nose for IDSL . . . but 144 kbps is better than 36!

I am waiting for the day when Sprint or Gain put in some more antennas. And, this coming spring. Comcast says they will bring in cable modem service to our 'hood. Until then . . . I pay a whole lot for better than average quasi-broadband service installed by Covad.

I am insanely jealous of my neighbors and their Sprint Broadband. They love it!

 

[SUOrangeman]

Sprint also has something called Sprint Ion that mixes broadband and POTS. I don't think any part of it is wireless tho.

-SUO

 

[arthurb1]

Ok, I have 802.11b here CogoLink, got it way before their name change from AvalancheNet and their consequent price hike, I plan to go to Sprint, but I still have 6 mos. at 1mb for the 256k price. I have a 98 ICS box into a BEFSR11 (nothing but OS and ICS on the SE PC) and then my LAN, I also run a Dlink 802.11 bi inside for my laptop, good to do homework off of the gaming computer. Weather no, I get 500 both ways, I am promised a T1, they can't sort it out, but I am associated to a crappy AP (access point, owners house no less) I waited about 5 days interest to install. I would reccommend it I have a dynamic IP, (they assign) that is always the same and they do not care what I do with the connection, I plan to host. 20ft Antenna on my roff cause of the freakin trees. No weather downtime, once for a day (the longest) otherwise sptty ones about 2 a month at 5-15 mins. each. I will switch to sprint since AtHome suck here, and I am stuck for DSL. Sprint limits to 256k up load though.