Post in Minneapolis Wi-Fi: Time to Pull the Contract?

Mar 24 04:41 UTC

Lee,

I'm an IT pro with 14 years internet and 9 years WiFi (802.11b/g/n)
experience.

I'm pleased to hear the 1500 speed on your USI connection is to your
satisfaction. However, the only service that does NOT compare favorably to
satellite internet is dial-up.

On my Comcast connection I get a typical sustained speed of 6000bps. On a
good day it'll hold nearer to 10000bps. Visiting my retired Mom in the
Chicago area this weekend where her AT&T cable service tests at a sustained
11000bps.

Let me go further...

I never understood how USI was going to get WiFi to work with the present
density of access points. If I were to plan such a system, I would have at
least twice the density.

Requiring special WiFi amplifiers in the consumer's home is proof positive
that the system as deployed is a bust. The proper place for the right
amplifier is on the poles.

Can someone tell me who on G-d's earth approved a contract where the base
station density is 1/2 of what is required to be effective? That bureaucrat
should be CANNED.

I expect we'll have a WiFi standard in the next 5 years that will probably
work at the present access point density. So what to do with the present
system? I agree that it's time to consider pulling the plug.

Steve Basile
Standish

> From: Lee <<email obscured>>
> Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:06:37 +1300 (NZDT)
> To: Minneapolis Issues Forum <<email obscured>>
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis Wi-Fi: Time to Pull the Contract?
>
> I recently switched from my satellite provider to USI for my internet, and I
> must say that USI is remarkably fast and way less expensive.
>
> With my satellite provider, I was paying $39.99/month + the modem rental
> ($4.95/month, I think). With USI's annual payment plan, I'm now paying
> $228/year (works out to be a little less than $19/month) + $55ish/year for
the
> Ruckus rental ... so essentially I'm saving $250/year with USI AND getting
> much faster service. Plus I live on the 6th floor of a downtown condo. On
> average, I'm getting about 1400 kbps (almost full T1 speed), though lots of
> times the speed is much faster.
>
> Sure, you REALLY REALLY need to use the Ruckus amplifier to get the best
> signal quality, but if the cable/satellite providers also make you rent a
> modem from them, it's pretty much a wash on equipment costs. Plus since I
have