Back on-line again!
Category Technology
Finally, I no longer rely on satellite for internet connectivity. Actually, to be more accurate chronologically, I don't have to rely on dial-up for access to the internet. Earlier this year, the satellite system that I was using died suddenly. I was hesitant to get it repaired because I just didn't think that the service was worth even a fraction of what I was paying for it. Despite spending over $10,000 to get the dish installed and a monthly bill of $300, access was always marginal at best, upload speeds were horrendous and the service was often unavailable. In fact, the first thing I noticed when switching back to dial-up was that the speed in many ways wasn't all that much slower. Certainly downloads took much longer, or were impossible, but regular web-browsing was pretty much the same and in some ways actually faster. This is mainly due to the unavoidable latency of the satellite connection. Now, I will not claim that dial-up was pleasant or that it was possible to get any real work done, but by moving servers into a new office in town, I was able to limp along while I searched for some new alternatives. In reality, there was only one real option - wireless. The phone lines here are old and of poor enough quality that no one I know has ever managed to get a connection at a higher speed that 26.4K. I toyed with the idea of getting a T1 line installed, but the cost was prohibitive and my concern was that the phone company would be willing to take the order, but unable to install the service. I started researching wireless equipment and drawing up plans to become an ISP. Then one day in mid April, a neighbor called and told me that a guy had come knocking on their door looking for the person that owned a house up the side of the mountain where he wanted to put a tower for wireless internet. A flurry of email messages ensued, and after a few months of feverish activity service started being delivered in mid-August.
Finally, I no longer rely on satellite for internet connectivity. Actually, to be more accurate chronologically, I don't have to rely on dial-up for access to the internet. Earlier this year, the satellite system that I was using died suddenly. I was hesitant to get it repaired because I just didn't think that the service was worth even a fraction of what I was paying for it. Despite spending over $10,000 to get the dish installed and a monthly bill of $300, access was always marginal at best, upload speeds were horrendous and the service was often unavailable. In fact, the first thing I noticed when switching back to dial-up was that the speed in many ways wasn't all that much slower. Certainly downloads took much longer, or were impossible, but regular web-browsing was pretty much the same and in some ways actually faster. This is mainly due to the unavoidable latency of the satellite connection. Now, I will not claim that dial-up was pleasant or that it was possible to get any real work done, but by moving servers into a new office in town, I was able to limp along while I searched for some new alternatives. In reality, there was only one real option - wireless. The phone lines here are old and of poor enough quality that no one I know has ever managed to get a connection at a higher speed that 26.4K. I toyed with the idea of getting a T1 line installed, but the cost was prohibitive and my concern was that the phone company would be willing to take the order, but unable to install the service. I started researching wireless equipment and drawing up plans to become an ISP. Then one day in mid April, a neighbor called and told me that a guy had come knocking on their door looking for the person that owned a house up the side of the mountain where he wanted to put a tower for wireless internet. A flurry of email messages ensued, and after a few months of feverish activity service started being delivered in mid-August.