Wireless cowboys to serious broadband providers

[jes]

Wireless cowboys to serious broadband providers

Wi-Fi providers are providing broadband access to thousands of South African businesses and residential customers

[UnUnOctium]

The article forgot to mention that a lot of them violate EIRP rules by adding high-gain antennae and PAs.

[Ockie]

But you never see them advertise or see what areas they cover? Can mybb perhaps get a list of the biggest WISPS and compare pricing and coverage? Only one I know of is Screamer? Also...do you need special equipment for these too or can you just sign up, get a username and password and log on with your normal WiFi laptop?

[EddG]

That would be nice.

[zamicro]

But you never see them advertise or see what areas they cover? Can mybb perhaps get a list of the biggest WISPS and compare pricing and coverage? Only one I know of is Screamer? Also...do you need special equipment for these too or can you just sign up, get a username and password and log on with your normal WiFi laptop?

No, unless they have a tower in your yard (or near it), you are going to need equipment to connect to it.

[entrepr]

But you never see them advertise or see what areas they cover? Can mybb perhaps get a list of the biggest WISPS and compare pricing and coverage? Only one I know of is Screamer? Also...do you need special equipment for these too or can you just sign up, get a username and password and log on with your normal WiFi laptop?

Go to www.wapa.org.za for coverage and other details. You can also enter your coords and ask for those in your area to contact you.

The WISP will install the equipment as part of the service and provide a cable feed for internet which you can plug in directly or use a lan switch or wifi ap.

[Ockie]

Go to www.wapa.org.za for coverage and other details. You can also enter your coords and ask for those in your area to contact you.

The WISP will install the equipment as part of the service and provide a cable feed for internet which you can plug in directly or use a lan switch or wifi ap.

Cool. Thank you. Will look at it tonight. Not interested in making use of it...but I am interested in seeing what these guys do, how they do it and how much they charge to do it :-)

[Redsbaron]

Cool. Thank you. Will look at it tonight. Not interested in making use of it...but I am interested in seeing what these guys do, how they do it and how much they charge to do it :-)

Do you care to update us with this homework?

[Ockie]

Do you care to update us with this homework?

Oh...so that is what its called? Homework?

I did have a look and I think I saw two providers that looked ok but only one I think turned out had service in my area. I cant remember the name now though. What I did notice is that most of these guys seem to serve a very specific area...and that area only....not like proper providers that have a nice large network that you can get anywhere. Not that I expect them to have networks like Vodacom of course....no one has a large network like Vodacom ....but it does really limit choice ... that is if you actually have one in your area.

Pricing...if I remember correctly, mmmm it left me feeling rather luke warm...neither here or there really. The one provider that looked promising had a uncapped option I think...but it was basically browsing and email only. No P2P or things like that allowed iirc. Or it was allowed but they most likely slow it down to a point where it just aint worth it.

Ironically....my internet at home aint working so cant even go back and double check. I think the owner of the ADSL line did not pay Telkom lol.

[Redsbaron]

Oh...so that is what its called? Homework?

Pricing...if I remember correctly, mmmm it left me feeling rather luke warm...neither here or there really..

Thanks ocleroux.

PS You got your THREE STARS ALL GOLD for homework executed, delivered on time, and without any racial connotations, undetones, remakrs or smirks! Well done.

[Ockie]

and without any racial connotations, undetones, remakrs or smirks! Well done.

??

[Redsbaron]

??

Its meant as a compliment. Anything and everything today needs a bit of racial nonsens to become newsworty. Please ignore, or do not let it trouble you!

[Ockie]

Its meant as a compliment. Anything and everything today needs a bit of racial nonsens to become newsworty. Please ignore, or do not let it trouble you!

ah ok.tnx for clearing it up. thought it was a jab at me for some reason and was not sure why.