Going wireless.

[onejayhawk]

I am fed up with the cable companies, and have gone Dish for the TV. That leaves other avenues for the internet access, and a couple months of dial up has proven unacceptable except in emergencies. So I am positioning a wireless modem, and installing a wireless router. Is there anything I should know that is not in the documentation?

J

 

[Zelig]

Wireless internet sort of sucks, why don't you get cable, fiber optic, or dsl instead?

You do realize you can use your wireless router with a landline internet connection?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Indeed, if you're dumping cable internet, check to see if you can get FiOS. Currently, its the best internet connection you can get in the US as a regular consumer ( Im not considering higher tier connections as those are meant for businesses and are much more expensive)

 

[onejayhawk]

We are wireless for lack alternatives. DSL is not available at all, and we are years from fiberoptic, if it ever gets here. Its cable, wireless, satellite or dial up.

J

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Stick with cable then. As crappy as it is, Wireless is even worse so.

 

[Grisu]

what's so bad with wireless? I have never tried it myself, but from the few friends who have it I have never heard of problems. Are there any specific problems attached to wireless?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Well, I think by wireless onejayhawk means something like a 3G modem, which isnt that great. Unless Im missing something here. Because outside of that kind of wireless, you still have a wired connection going to the modem, and after that it goes wireless using the router.

 

[Grisu]

Well, I think by wireless onejayhawk means something like a 3G modem, which isnt that great. Unless Im missing something here. Because outside of that kind of wireless, you still have a wired connection going to the modem, and after that it goes wireless using the router.

yeah, that's what I was thinking, though for single user installations you can usually use a usb-stick which would make you totally wireless. I was just wondering what's bad about it? The relieability? Performance?

 

[Zelig]

yeah, that's what I was thinking, though for single user installations you can usually use a usb-stick which would make you totally wireless. I was just wondering what's bad about it? The relieability? Performance?

Performance, 3G connections generally top out at around 2-4 mbits.

Reliability is going to be the same as the 3G cellphone network: very good unless you have power outages or emergencies.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

They are also notorious for limits. Even your 'unlimited' connection might in fact be limited to 5GB ( There was a fiasco about this a year ago)

 

[Grisu]

Performance, 3G connections generally top out at around 2-4 mbits.

doesn't sound too bad, I only have 5mbit on my adsl (even less upstream) and that's way more than I actually need YMMV, of course

Reliability is going to be the same as the 3G cellphone network: very good unless you have power outages or emergencies.

not a problem here, can't remember the last power outage in my area.

They are also notorious for limits. Even your 'unlimited' connection might in fact be limited to 5GB ( There was a fiasco about this a year ago)

now that's more of an issue. I hate limits

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Well, 2-4mbit is on a good day. Throw in some signal interference, distance from towers and suddenly you're down to 500kbit.

 

[Maniacal]

Just don't try to download large files, movies, live streaming videos or play non-turnbased games on it.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Ah yes, I forgot to mention latency which is high on a wireless network. Good luck getting a ping below 300.

 

[onejayhawk]

Well, I think by wireless onejayhawk means something like a 3G modem, which isnt that great. Unless Im missing something here. Because outside of that kind of wireless, you still have a wired connection going to the modem, and after that it goes wireless using the router.

Both ways wireless. There were signal problems where the computer sits, so we are using a wireless router. I am having fits with the Belkin adaptor they sent, and am told this is not unusual.

Is a wireless card better than a USB adaptor? I am dubious about tying up yet another USB port, but cards are also cheaper.

Stick with cable then. As crappy as it is, Wireless is even worse so.

Not an option at this point. They billed me for things I did not want and did not order, so I refused to pay. For some reason that is a problem with them.

Just don't try to download large files, movies, live streaming videos or play non-turnbased games on it.

Maybe that is why I am getting on fairly well. I dont stream much and never play games on line.

J

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Not an option at this point. They billed me for things I did not want and did not order, so I refused to pay. For some reason that is a problem with them.

If you play this bit right, you can get free internet for a while. As long as you have a record of you never ordering what they say you did, then you're in the right. Contact then, the BBB and one or two of your local news stations. The news stations will especially love this kind of story as they tend to jump all over "evil company penny pinching consumers" stories.

Either way, if you're looking for something comparable to cable internet, or even DSL, then Im afraid any sort of wireless internet is not for you. Be it satellite or 3G, they're high latency, low reliability and generally slow connections. I dont think Id be able to do anything but basic browsing on them, definitely no gaming and possibly not even streaming video.