EDGEing out satellite

July 28, 2007

My list of challenges with DirecWay internet service is well known to regular readers. Over the last several years I've had occasion to do the drive to the office on several extra occasions simply because it is not practical to do the work I do over a DirecWay connection. The speed is acceptable but the latency issues of satellite combined with DirecWay's broken proxy servers preventing XML-RPC calls make work impossible.

Not long ago a colleague asked about cellular-wireless connections. Having had decidedly mixed results using the Treo in this capacity I recommended against it. "It is more hassle than it is worth," I told my colleague.

When I began looking again at what was available I saw the Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U has Mac drivers out there. An express card was a consideration but that would work with only one laptop where the AirCard can go into any of the computers I have or use.

Visiting the AT&T store I confirmed that my part of the world has only EDGE networking and not the speedier 3G wireless. Having heard over and over about how the iPhone is "crippled" by EDGE I was leery and left the store disappointed. In the car a change of heart sent me back in to confirm that I have 30 days to return the card and I put down the cash. Suffice it to say that the first 15 minutes with the card, on the EDGE network, proved that it won't be going anywhere. Read more about EDGEing out satellite

Good article about wireless access

August 13, 2003

Paul Boutin: "If wireless Internet access is such a hot technology, why is it such a dud business?" - Paul points out what I've told several people lately. Starbucks, Borders etc. have the wrong business model. When I'm traveling I don't want to pay $30 a month on an annual contract to catch up on e-mail, but if there is a place that offers free access I'll go there and spend plenty of money to make it worth their while. Would I do it for a small one-time fee? Yes, when I'm traveling. But I've got much more time (and money) to spend when I'm at home. And the expense of the applications to setup the micro payments and run a timer is greater than the return. The normal trips to the local library for a place to connect and work in a place other than the office would quickly be replaced by sitting in Starbucks or Borders or somewhere else spending for a $5.00 coffee.

Verizon to make pay phones into wireless network

May 11, 2003

The Washington Post reported Saturday that Verizon is poised to announce that they will make pay phones into wireless access points. This timing coincides with what our local Verizon sales folks have been saying about Express Net coming soon. Will these be one and the same? I'd hope not as the Post article says they will only put the wireless hot spots in high traffic areas.

The remaining question is when will resort areas figure out that people want wireless high-speed access. I'm tired of paying $9/hour at an internet cafe for access. I'd be far more likely to visit an area that has good wireless in it's motels than one that doesn't..