TWL: wireless internet connections
Over the past two years I have principally used a Sprint PCS tri-mode
phone for the laptop email connection and found speeds pretty
consistently around 9600 -1200 baud. Sometimes a little better. Fine for
email. I recently switched to Verizon because of coverage and it seems
that CDMA2000 3G is the current wave of possibility offering 90-114,000
potential, I also changed to XP on the laptop. For anyone's benefit if
you have the LG phones from Verizon (which are top rated by Consumer
Reports) forget trying to load the Verizon phone drivers - which are
made by LG. They crashed my XP machine, although not my Win 98. Next
week Verizon is exchanging my Mobile Office Kit and phone!
Is anyone using 3G yet?
Ron Barr
Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC 42
Interesting article about yet a new technology for fast wireless internet in
the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30446-2003Jan22.html
Bob
R C Smith Jr
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Marsh Harbour, Abaco
BAHAMAS
rwhb@msn.com wrote:
Is anyone using 3G yet?
About 2 weeks ago, we set up a laptop with Verizon "Expressnet" service.
We purchased the Sierra Wireless Aircard-555 from Verizon. So far, we
are pleased (not thrilled) with the service. Average speeds are around
60kbps with occasional jumps to 90kbps and more than occasional jumps to
"very slow". It feels like 64kbps ISDN.
We lost all signal during a heavy rain storm, and for some reason the
service seems to slow down during periods of heavy wind.
The floating IP addresses which are assigned do not reverse resolve, so,
many network services which require resolution will not function; this
should not be a problem for those wishing to use the service for email
and the web, but will present a problem for those wishing to do things
like VPN, or other fancy stuff.
The connection will be dropped after 5 minutes of no-data. This is
annoying.... stop to compose a message, and poof, you have to "re-connect".
We installed a repeater http://www.boatantenna.com/cellular/da4000.htm
with mast mounted antenna to try to address the rain/wind signal loss
issues, but so far, I can not say if it was worth it or not. Time and
cruising will tell.
Having said all this, the service has allowed us to stay in touch with
our business, do on-line research, handle a very large amount of email,
as well as a substantial amount of full list traffic (TWL, and
Live-aboard) .... and all for $99.00/month flat rate. A real bargain.
We are leaving the Galveston area soon, (we keep delaying our departure
because of the bad weather up north) and will be cruising to New York
City. That will be the real test of the service!
Bob
--
Kelly & Bob
M/V Tamara B
http://www.tamara-b.org
Bob,
Have the same card and software. You are able to do VPN with it. Company
bought mine so I could be "on call" 24 hours a day for support. Let us
know how the external antenna works out, I have the same problem with
'rain fade'.
Thanks,
Jeff Barfett
Bob wrote:
rwhb@msn.com wrote:
Is anyone using 3G yet?
snipped..
About 2 weeks ago, we set up a laptop with Verizon "Expressnet"
service. We purchased the Sierra Wireless Aircard-555 from Verizon.
So far, we are pleased (not thrilled) with the service.
We lost all signal during a heavy rain storm, and for some reason the
service seems to slow down during periods of heavy wind.
The floating IP addresses which are assigned do not reverse resolve,
so, many network services which require resolution will not function;
this should not be a problem for those wishing to use the service for
email and the web, but will present a problem for those wishing to do
things like VPN, or other fancy stuff.
We installed a repeater http://www.boatantenna.com/cellular/da4000.htm
with mast mounted antenna to try to address the rain/wind signal loss
issues, but so far, I can not say if it was worth it or not. Time and
cruising will tell.
Bob