Wondering about wireless

antyler

Golden Member
Aug 7, 2005
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I live out in the country, too far for Comcast, and SBC doesnt have service by me. I heard that my dial-up service is going to offer wireless. I dont know alot about wireless though. Does this mean that they have a server/tower/whatever, that gives the signal and then all i need is a router for my house? Or do they run cables and then i set up personal wireless network like normal? any ideas?
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
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Originally posted by: antyler
I live out in the country, too far for Comcast, and SBC doesnt have service by me. I heard that my dial-up service is going to offer wireless. I dont know alot about wireless though. Does this mean that they have a server/tower/whatever, that gives the signal and then all i need is a router for my house? Or do they run cables and then i set up personal wireless network like normal? any ideas?

Most WISPs (wireless ISPs) have radio equipment on the top of cellular telephone towers. A dish (that looks almost identical to a satellite dish) is installed on your house (or property), and it feeds a router.

Satellite internet connects to a.... (I've forgotten the name of it, effectively what most people call a modem) and then to a router. All internet connections are fairly similar, and a connection is provided for a 10/100 connection to a router.

I also live out in the middle of nowhere, and while I currently use only dialup, some neighbors use AgriStar, and some use WISP (a local dialup provider is also a WISP).
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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The likelihood is that you would not need a parabolic as described above but a simply yagi directional. Either would work fine but you'll have to have clear line of site to the tower either way. If you can get that from your rooftop then you'd be good to go. They mount the directional antenna on some sort of bracket then run coax to a bridge. from there you'd go ethernet to your router. No line of site, no terrestrial wireless link. Seems like your questions would be better answered by your provider no? Just guess work here.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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A more realist process would be to find out what is actually available in you area and get info from the providers.

If the info is not clear, or you can not make up your mind, then a specific question might be answered much better than the current list of speculation, as seen above, that might send you on a ?wild goose chase?.

:sun:
 

antyler

Golden Member
Aug 7, 2005
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I was just wondering how wireless internet works. Its apparent that i have to put a dish on my house in line of site to the signal tower. Is wireless comparatively slower than cable or dsl?