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robert  
#1 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2014 3:23:39 PM(UTC)
robert

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/8/2014(UTC)
Posts: 114
United States
Location: New york

I have a great home we build a few years back in rural Arkansas on Round Mountain. Less than 2,000 square feet, so it’s no mansion, but we’re situated in the middle of 10 acres and can’t see our nearest neighbors. We love it.
Our internet access sux.
First I tried satellite and the latency was just too high. My wife complained she might as well wait to go to work to get on the internet.
Next I sold my soul to Verizon. I finally got a great aircard coupled with a Cradlepoint modem and have atm 17.31 Mbps down, 13.82 Mbps up, and 50ms ping time. Couldn’t ask for much more except my monthly bill is often $355 as I frequently pay the highest tier of 50 gb cap to avoid overage charges. We don’t always use that much, but a game/movie or two and it quickly adds up.
I found a WISP nearby!
A tech visited today and determined my site meets the minimum requirements for service.
In other words, from the top of my home he found a signal from a tower three miles away at 7 Mbs.
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS
a) The antenna the tech used to determine signal strength looked like a satellite dish for television. I wasn’t aware wifi signals would benefit from a focusing dish. They said they had less effective antennas and you can see one on their website (a flat box on a pole). Any thoughts?
b) They offer plans of 6 Mbps Down / 1.5 Mbps Up and a 3 Mbps Down / 768 Kbps Up. But they described the 6 Mbps plan as more of a privilege than something you could necessarily pay for even if your signal strength was strong enough. Is this a matter of how many homes are going to be on the tower? In any case, they said there were no usage caps.
c) The tech conducting the site survey suggested I have an oak tree that may pose a problem. He said when it rains water on the leaves may cause me to loose signal and I could consider trimming the tree. I’d rather not trim. Could this be trouble?
Regarding this WISP, do y’all think my problems are solved?
Or am I just trading my high Verizon bill for a new set of problems?
Thanks for any thoughts! David
james  
#2 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2014 12:18:00 PM(UTC)
james

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 43
Canada

a.) they are probably using Motorola Canopy which uses passive reflector dishes not to be confused with satellite.
b.) Any answer to this is pure speculation. Congestion? Perhaps, Policy? Perhaps. Only the WISP can answer that.
c.) trim or cut down the tree. You could wait to see if you have issues but if you do have issues cut the tree - don't call and whine.

Use the service, make sure it works to your satisfaction and then cancel Verizon. Some wisps are great, some suck. Just like any other business.
robert  
#3 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2014 12:18:15 PM(UTC)
robert

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/8/2014(UTC)
Posts: 114
United States
Location: New york

wow thanks wd!
a) ok cool
b) I'll ask
c) How about a telescoping antenna mast? I wonder if I could get above the tree. The tree might be a deal breaker as we're not gonna cut it down.
james  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2014 12:18:27 PM(UTC)
james

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 43
Canada

If you don't need the height you could do a pole mount on the other side of the tree or to either side of it. We do these frequently
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