[Linux-users] Hughes Data-Sat service anyone?

[Michael Hipp]

Collins Richey wrote:
> On 8/28/07, Michael Hipp <Michael at hipp.com> wrote:
> 
>> Before I looked at any kind of satellite, though, I'd look at some EVDO
>> solution.
>>
>> Before that I'd scour the highways and byways for a WISP. They're almost
>> everywhere.
>>
> 
> Some of us have been hiding under a rock. Please describe the terms
> EVDO and WISP and why one might want them.

In addition to my previous message that crossed in the mail with yours, (by 
way of example) here's the service I'm using at the SOHO:

   http://alltel.com/business/enhanced/data_access.html

Note that AT&T/Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint have similar offerings and large 
coverage areas especially in the population dense areas of the country.

One caveat: these guys advertise "unlimited" service but that word sometimes 
doesn't mean what one would think. I hear Verizon is particularly guilty of 
this particular form of marketfraud.


A WISP is (usually) a somewhat small, local operator who buys bandwidth from 
some common carrier (telco), routs it up to a set of radios, routers and 
management devices that feed (2.4GHz, 5.8GHz or 900MHz) RF up to a set of 
antennas on a tower. He then mounts a (typically) dictionary-sized antenna on 
the eave of your house and points it at the tower. After stringing a cat5 
cable inside to your computer and getting you to John Hancock a piece of 
paper, you then have Internet access with performance, reliability and price 
comparable to most DSL and cable.

Note that the RF requirements typically dictate a line-of-sight or near-los 
view of the tower. The 900 solutions are the only ones that can claim near-los 
performance but a lot of WISPs don't have such deployed, preferring the more 
common and cheaper 2.4GHz solution.

WISPs are to be loved because they are often independent local guys who will 
break their back to give you good service. They are also one of the few 
options to avoid giving more money to whichever corporatist monopoly rules 
your town with its mailed fist.

In any case, EVDO or WISP if you have good coverage are far better than satellite.

Michael