Dsl

[Milner]

Anybody use earthlink DSL?
I am thinking about getting it. $20 for 6 months, then $40. Free modem, just pay $20 shipping, no activation. Seems like an ok deal, less than qwest.
Current ISP charges $10 for dsl, but I have to pay qwest for the line, so it ends up being more....and networld sucks!!

Opinions? Other options? Don't want cable, then I'd have to pay for my cable tv too

 

[Brett]

Don't want cable, then I'd have to pay for my cable tv too

Get cable :greg:

 

[Caleb]

actually, no you wouldn't have to pay for Cable TV

I have cable internet right now...I like it a lot BUT I am tired of paying $60 a month. As soon as its available in my area I will be going with www.thebluezone.com it starts at $15 a month and goes up to $30 a month. The other beauty of the blue zone is that upload speeds are the exact same as download. So if you do much uploading then its really nice, BTW cable upload through comcast is only 256 so you can x4 your upload speed if you do the highest plan (for half the price of cable). However download is not as fast (that subjective too though) No experience with earthlink though, give it a try (as long as you dont have to agree to a contract) and cancel if you are not happy with it, BUT I bet you will love just about anything if you are coming from dial-up.

 

[Milner]

I checked the blue zone thing, but they have no plans for my area anytime soon.

 

[JoeT]

Go buy a wireless card for your PC first. You might be able to milk a neighbors wireless DSL connection like I did.

 

[Tacoma]

 

[Caleb]

Go buy a wireless card for your PC first. You might be able to milk a neighbors wireless DSL connection like I did.

my Wireless is open, I dont care if my neighbors want to use it...BUT as soon as I start to see any evidence of hacks (attempted atleast) I will make them regret it

IMO, it quite amazing how many access points are wide open. War driving is fun sometimes

 

[JoeT]

Go buy a wireless card for your PC first. You might be able to milk a neighbors wireless DSL connection like I did.

My neighbors has WEP enable so it's a secured connection. I'm paying a couple of bucks a month for DSL speed. He's across the street and my puter is in the basement, and I still get about 244k speeds. But I've found about 3-5 other DSL connections around me.

 

[BioNuke1]

Try making a "Cantenna". It's a tuned WiFi semidirectional antenna made from, well a can... Before I made mine I was picking up 1 network. First time I plugged the cantenna in I got 6 networks.

Heres a good link on how to fab one. http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

 

[JeeperG]

WTF

Thieves.

BTW: Marc what city are you located?

 

[Brad J]

Try making a "Cantenna".

Thanks for the idea. I bought a cheap WIFI PCI card and pic up usually 1-5 WIFI networks around me but have never had a strong enough signal to connect. I was going to buy a 1 mile range WIFI card but I will try this 1st. It sucks only connecting @ 28.8k everytime and options and funds are limited.

Thanks, Brad J.

 

[Caleb]

Thanks for the idea. I bought a cheap WIFI PCI card and pic up usually 1-5 WIFI networks around me but have never had a strong enough signal to connect. I was going to buy a 1 mile range WIFI card but I will try this 1st. It sucks only connecting @ 28.8k everytime and options and funds are limited.

Thanks, Brad J.

do you have a link to a 1 mile range card??? I have honestly never heard of a card capable of doing that, and its not cause the hardware cant do it, but rather the technology. The new 802.11n thats coming out has a MUCH greater range but it still isn't up to a mile...

 

[Brad J]

do you have a link to a 1 mile range card??? QUOTE]

I printed out the order info a couple of weeks ago and have been debating if I should buy it and it looks like now it is no longer available in the USB model but you can get one for a Laptop.


http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=369&msg=95380 (Not Available)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-detailsInactive.asp?EdpNo=95380 (Not Available)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...-details-print.asp?EdpNo=683665&Sku=P999-1000 ($80, works 500 feet for Laptop)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=683665 ($108, 1 mile range for Laptop)

I wish I had picked up the USB one for $80 when it was available.

Thanks, Brad J

 

[Caleb]

thats cool, but like it said, in open field testing...most signals will travel quite far in an open field...in the real world with walls, buildings, and other signals (cardless phones for one) in the way I would be willing to bet that card is no better than any other nice card. I would save your pennies, if you want a "b" card you can get it for MUCH cheaper than $108, you can even get a nice "g" card for cheaper than that. Something like this would be a much better investment of that kind of money. 800% better range than "g" and the other beauty of it is you can continue to get "n" speeds out of it even if a "g" or "b" devices is on the network, normally you can only go as fast as the slowest device.

 

[Brad J]

normally you can only go as fast as the slowest device.

So if someone were to use a "b" card it would slow everyone down? That would not be very good.

Thanks, Brad J

 

[Caleb]

So if someone were to use a "b" card it would slow everyone down? That would not be very good.

Thanks, Brad J

yep, if everything on the network was "g" and one person had a "b" card, then the fastest anyone could transfer files would be 11mbs...now this isn't much of an issue for internet because if you have a connection that can max out an 11mbs line then I want to come live at your place most highspeed internets are only 1-3mbs...

 

[BioNuke1]

The actual throughput of 802.11b is like 5mbps....

I'd hold off on the 802.11n until its become standardized, it's still being developed and the protocol is going to change alot.

I got my D-Link G card for $20 after a rebate :-\

 

[Caleb]

The actual throughput of 802.11b is like 5mbps....

I'd hold off on the 802.11n until its become standardized, it's still being developed and the protocol is going to change alot.

I got my D-Link G card for $20 after a rebate :-\

yeah, I agree...but if you are going to spend $100+ you may as well get the "n" even though it will be changing...

 

[Milner]

You guys make my head hurt. I have n idea what you said.
Anyway, is there any way to tell if someone around me has wireless? Hell, I pay em to share.....

Seems like I remember reading something like my laptop is already wireless ready? How can I tell. I am a computer idiot.

Marc

 

[BioNuke1]

Anyway, is there any way to tell if someone around me has wireless? Hell, I pay em to share.....

Marc

lol start knockin on doors

If you have WinXP (or not) go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Network Connections/Right Click your wireless network connection (enable if not)/View Available Wireless Connections........ then press alt Q control-f blackslash tilde up up down down a a b b select select start.