HI Guys
Found this article on the net (In NZ it's called woosh)...according to this, the package is not suited for online games? [V]
Type: Cellular
Speed: Up to 500kbit/s
Average speed in our tests: 208kbit/s
Monthly cost: $64.95–$1099
What you need: Woosh wireless modem, USB. Mac and Linux users must use the optional ethernet adaptor.
Availability: Auckland
Hot: Lets you roam your house or the city; plug-and-play installation; uncapped home plans; speed/plan user-adjustable via website
Not: Microsoft says no good for Xbox Live; Auckland-only at present
A huge part of Telecom’s natural advantage over every other telco looking to break into the broadband market is the fact it owns the vast network of copper telephone wires that spans the entire country. To try to match this level of supply with a wired network would cost quite a bit to say the least — which is why wireless networks have proved to be an irresistible lure to the likes of Walker Wireless (now Woosh Wireless).
When last we looked at wireless internet from Walker Wireless, it certainly showed some promising signs. But this new iteration of the company bears almost no resemblance to its former self. It has now largely dispensed with WiFi in favour of W-CDMA technology that appears at the heart of the US-developed IP Wireless modems (such as the one pictured below) that connect customers to its new Woosh service.
An IP Wireless modem operates in a very similar way to mobile phone, and indeed Woosh’s transmitters piggyback on Vodafone cell towers, as well as having a few carefully disguised locations of its own. In a further cooperative step, you can buy a Woosh pack from Vodafone stores.
And as with any cellular service, your Woosh will work best in areas of good reception. This doesn’t just mean the location of your house. Placing your IP Wireless modem next to a window will often optimise reception. An optional $55 booster antenna can also help.
The modem itself is small — about the size of a Pocket PC — with a side-mounted omni-directional antenna, USB connectivity and a built-in, rechargeable battery for the ultimate in mobile internet.
Installation turned out to be simple and painless. Head to the Woosh website to check to see if you reside in the (rather limited at the moment) coverage area by typing your street address into a web form, fill in your details, choose a plan and whip out the credit card. In my case, the external USB modem was couriered the next day and setup took just a couple of minutes with some easy-to-follow instructions.
Alternatively, Dick Smith stores are selling a number of well-priced connection packs starting at $263 that include a modem (unsubsidised this will normally set you back a hefty $674 on its own), a limited-time free connection offer and the first month’s subscription to one of the Woosh plans.
For home use, the most enticing of these plans will likely be the Woosh Everyday package consisting of a 250kbit/s speed-restricted service with unlimited monthly data. Of course “unlimited data” is actually subject to a “reasonable use” clause, whereby anyone using excessive amounts of data (around 7–8GB per month) may be contacted by Woosh and asked if they wouldn’t mind considering another plan. This kind of clause is pretty rare these days, with most providers opting for a plain old data cap.
One particularly interesting feature of Woosh is the ability to buy “bandwidth on demand”. For instance, if you sign up for the 250kbit/s Everyday plan, you can turbocharge the connection at a moment’s notice, temporarily boosting the top speed up to either 350kbit/s or 500kbit/s. Sign into the Woosh website, click a button and the modem signs off and back on again automatically. From this point on you’re paying by the minute — 20 cents for 350kbit/s or 40 cents for 500kbit/s. To get back to your normal plan, simply log off and reconnect.
Speed is fairly consistent, with our local FTP tests using our Woosh Everyday account averaging 208kbit/s and peaking at 220kbit/s. Gamers will be disappointed to hear that lag is an issue with Woosh — in our Call of Duty tests, we found online gaming to be unplayable. Games that don’t require such fast response times should be fine, however.
Woosh is limited to a broad swathe of Auckland at present. The company says it plans to expand around the country during 2004. Its near-future plans also feature a push into internet telephone, including a box you can jack your regular telephone into to make calls over the internet — in theory, eliminating the need to deal with a traditional telephone company (or voice call bills) ever again.
