[sllug-members]: Broadband when DSL not available?

[Knight Walker]

On Sun, 2006-09-10 at 10:23 -0600, James Knowles wrote:
> I just moved to a place where DSL is not available (south end of Lehi).
> 
> Because I've been spoiled with high-end DSL for so many years, I've 
> completely become out of touch with broadband alternatives.
> 
> What options exist outside of DSL?

The two that I know of are: cable and fixed-point WiFi.

Cable Internet is usually available in areas where (digital) cable TV is
available (Since they use the same transmission lines).  If it's
Comcast, it's about as fast as the fast DSL Qwest was offering (5MB/512
or something like that).

The other option (And the one I'm using for the time being) is
fixed-point WiFi.  This is basically just 802.11b/g (Some use different
gear, but it's the same effect) but with a PCI card in your server and a
big 24dbi wire mesh antenna on your roof that shoots a beam (more or
less) at a WiFi antenna maintained by your WISP (Wireless ISP).  Most
WISPs I've seen offer about 512/510 or 1M/384, but that's shared with
all the clients on your tower.  Usually not available in apartments, and
if you're in a PUD or condos (Anything with an HOA) they are likely to
bitch about your antenna placement.

Service from WISPs can be kinda iffy. I've lost signal with my WISP only
twice and that was because their transceiver on their tower went out.
Usually when the connectivity gets lost, it's because their router or
their back-haul goes out; so I can still see the wireless signal, and I
can see the other computers in my wireless segment trying to communicate
with the router, but the router not responding.

In my particular case, it sort of sucks because I had a static IP
(Sorta, since it was NAT'd on their end) but when they switched their
back-end from Qwest T1 to Covad business Cable, I lost my IP, and
they've done nothing (after repeated calls) to rectify the situation.
As it is, I'm just sitting tight until DSL gets into my neighborhood,
since I want to host my own servers.

Anyway, enough rant from me.  But as far as I know, your three broadband
options are UTOPIA (Not available in most locations yet), DSL, Cable,
and WISP.  You'll have to research what's available in your area.

-KW