Foo - Clearwire experience?

Anyone have any experience with Clearwire (http://www.clearwire.com)for Internet access?

I've been all over their website, but there's nothing that gives even a ballpark idea as to what their "regular" rates are beyond the first three discounted months. Yet, for someone like me, who doesn't have DSL available and who doesn't wish to have cable, this is an intriguing alternative.

Anyone have any ballpark idea as to what their regular rates are, and how reliable the service is?

Anyone have any experience with Clearwire (http://www.clearwire.com)for Internet access?

I've been all over their website, but there's nothing that gives even a ballpark idea as to what their "regular" rates are beyond the first three discounted months. Yet, for someone like me, who doesn't have DSL available and who doesn't wish to have cable, this is an intriguing alternative.

Anyone have any ballpark idea as to what their regular rates are, and how reliable the service is?

No experience with this service, but I would ballpark it at about $60/mo.

Hey Vega

There is also this option
http://b2b.vzw.com/productsservices/wirelessinternet/

Which is a wireless internet card that pulls the signal from cellphone towers. The price is dropping in a lot of areas. A friend of mine has this and it costs $49 a month. You could get a laptop and post on FOO while playing Trivia at the Flying Saucer:).

:roflmao:

Thanks, glenng. I'll look into that. And thanks, SB, for the ballpark guess. That's much cheaper than what I'm payin' on, yeah, go ahead and say it, DIALUP. :mad: What can I say? I just Foo around waayyyyy too much. :p

I would request a demo and do a speed test. I know up here, those devices don't get the advertised speeds.

For which service, Maelstrom? Or both?

Fios Ftw..

That's much cheaper than what I'm payin' on, yeah, go ahead and say it, DIALUP. :mad: What can I say? I just Foo around waayyyyy too much. :pYou're... paying more than $60 per month for dialup?! Last time I used it (around 1999/2000), you could get unlimited dialup for around $20 per month, if not less. And that was from reputable companies, not the scammy NetZero types and the "ad-supported" BS companies.

Do not like there lack of pricing information, very slow service max off 2mbs (I currently get 10mbs for $29.99)

Wirless card may be an idea just watch out for the 2 year contract.

Guess I am lucky having the choice off cable or dsl

VV, did you think about satellite? I'm not sure if they're competitive and it would be a complete failure for me due to latency issues. I'd ballpark that to be in the cable price range ($35-$55) and you would still be tethered to the house (unlike the cellular options).

- edit -
Anytime there is equipment involved, there will probably be a "service commitment". Also, like cable, the price may be affected by what additional services are bundled.

Surprised that DSL is not avaliable according to bellsouth (whom I can't use) the whole of their service area in Charlotte is DSL avaliable.

Or you could move to a more densly populated area and take advantage of the "red_house internet discount plan (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=366167)" ;-)

Or you could move to a more densly populated area and take advantage of the "red_house internet discount plan" ;-)


:):):):):)

I did that for about a year, when I bought my house I decided it was time to get my own Secured network.

Love the fact I can take programs I record on tivo and watch them on the computer :)

VV, did you think about satellite? I'm not sure if they're competitive and it would be a complete failure for me due to latency issues. I'd ballpark that to be in the cable price range ($35-$55) and you would still be tethered to the house (unlike the cellular options).

- edit -
Anytime there is equipment involved, there will probably be a "service commitment". Also, like cable, the price may be affected by what additional services are bundled.

Isn't satellite dependent on modem speed?

Or you could move to a more densly populated area and take advantage of the "red_house internet discount plan (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=366167)" ;-)

Already tried that, though I guess I need some kind of "boost." I can get wireless at the local university across the street, but I don't wanna have to leave my house.

fsm, if you plug my home phone number into various DSL "checkers," they all come back as not available. Same with other numbers in my neighborhood, and even with numbers of local businesses. The infrastructure is just too old, and the phone/communications companies have never bothered to upgrade it. Amazing, considering my neighborhood is right next to a research university.... :rolleyes:

Tried a more powerful antenna? I've seen them at the local Compuglobalhypermeganet, but that's about all I know about them. Worth a shot, maybe?

How about plain Cable?

fsm, if you plug my home phone number into various DSL "checkers," they all come back as not available. Same with other numbers in my neighborhood, and even with numbers of local businesses. The infrastructure is just too old, and the phone/communications companies have never bothered to upgrade it. Amazing, considering my neighborhood is right next to a research university.... :rolleyes:

The DSL checkers do not work,(a lot of times the phone company will have upgraded but only realease the info once they have a certain% of the market) they say I cannot have DSL, which is quite amazing as I transferring Saturdays torchwood through the air as we speak on my DSL that they say I cannot have.:)

I've heard horror stories from folks who went with TWC. Jes' sayin'.

That's why I'm askin' if anyone has experience with Clearwire. I don't think its availability is nationwide yet, but I was hopin' that someone on Foo has learned a little more than what's there on their website, or even has it....

The DSL checkers do not work,(a lot of times the phone company will have upgraded but only realease the info once they have a certain% of the market) they say I cannot have DSL, which is quite amazing as I transferring Saturdays torchwood through the air as we speak on my DSL that they say I cannot have.:)

But Bellsouth, um AT&T ('scuse me) claims they have to send someone out to the home (probably between 8am and 5pm, with no particular designated time) to even determine if I can access DSL. Shouldn't they be able to look at their records of infrastructure upgrades without having to send a technician out here to waste my time?

TWC's cable kept going down on me, which is why I switched to DSL, however I did not not pay for cable internet for the two months I had, I just got fed off off complaining for my free time.

Since heard they pulled some off the equipment and replaced it my neighbours who still have TW for internet say it does not down any more, sticking with DSl fortime being.

But Bellsouth, um AT&T ('scuse me) claims they have to send someone out to the home (probably between 8am and 5pm, with no particular designated time) to even determine if I can access DSL. Shouldn't they be able to look at their records of infrastructure upgrades without having to send a technician out here to waste my time?

They are full of ****, from the sound off it, they are playing predatory sales.

Tech will suddenly confirm it will work and try to sign you up there and then.

TWC's cable kept going down on me, which is why I switched to DSL, however I did not not pay for cable internet for the two months I had, I just got fed off off complaining for my free time.

Since heard they pulled some off the equipment and replaced it my neighbours who still have TW for internet say it does not down any more, sticking with DSl fortime being.

Downside I've heard isn't access, but customer service. When one has a real problem, or otherwise wishes to leave the fold, TWC doesn't like it. Almost "cult-like." :eek:

And that scares the bejeesus outta me. :cry:

hey Vega, i know your not too interested in cable, but i use roadrunner and its like $45/mo. i couldn't deal with dial-up after roadrunner for the past several years.

They are full of ****, from the sound off it, they are playing predatory sales.

Tech will suddenly confirm it will work and try to sign you up there and then.

Heh. If they'd only confirm the presence of the proper switching gear, I'd go with CT Com. :D

hey Vega, i know your not too interested in cable, but i use roadrunner and its like $45/mo. i couldn't deal with dial-up after roadrunner for the past several years.

It's TWC in my area. Don't know about yourn. TWC would be my laaaaaaast resort. :mad: I'd go over to UNCC before I'd go with TWC....

It's TWC in my area. Don't know about yourn. TWC would be my laaaaaaast resort. :mad: I'd go over to UNCC before I'd go with TWC....

yea, it is TWC up here. but as long as TWC keeps me internet connected im happy.

Downside I've heard isn't access, but customer service. When one has a real problem, or otherwise wishes to leave the fold, TWC doesn't like it. Almost "cult-like." :eek:

And that scares the bejeesus outta me. :cry:

never have a problem with that I take the equipment to a local TWC store, no problems what so ever.

Have you had any trouble with their customer service when you've needed it, WP? Or has everything been ok as long as you're payin' monthly?

never have a problem with that I take the equipment to a local TWC store, no problems what so ever.

But when you wanted to cancel and leave...?

But when you wanted to cancel and leave...?

I did!!!

I no longer use them for the internet.

we haven't had any problems with the cable or internet for a long time. i dont rememeber when we started with TWC here, cause we had satellite to begin with. occassionally, the cable's gone out, but we've called and it's been fixed fairly quickly. i mean, if i had a problem with it, i'd be the first to complain, cause once you leave Dial-Up, you'll never be able to go back. and, any time we've had problems with the dvr's or just the cable tv, we've had someone come out & fix or taken equipment to local TWC and exchanged with no problems.

They have it in Jacksonville and since they moved in my Bellsouth DSL has dropped from 52 to 39. Clearwire is running about $35 locally and has pretty good service. I know several people that have it and they have no complaints.

They have it in Jacksonville and since they moved in my Bellsouth DSL has dropped from 52 to 39. Clearwire is running about $35 locally and has pretty good service. I know several people that have it and they have no complaints.

Thanks, jaxgtr! I may just give it a try when I get my new notebook. Then I'll actually be able to see all the videos that get posted on Foo, instead of skipping them. :)

Clearwire started up here in Seattle, and I get numerous mailings from them every month. There are several plans, but the high-speed internet only plan is $ 36.99/month after the introductory offer expires. If you are in an area that gets good reception, it is apparently pretty reliable. I have heard stories of people with poor reception having difficulty, however. Clearwire is a Wi-Max wireless network and the coverage is very spotty once you get outside the larger cities.

The desktop modem has gotten somewhat smaller, but is still the size of a paperback book and should be placed near a window, but the pc card modem, fitting into an open laptop card slot, is supposed to be pretty interesting.

Thanks, MC! :beer: I'll be sure to inquire about the level of reception I can expect.

I haven't used Clearwire, but access by wireless WAN, as a previous poster may have mentioned, could be a solution for you. Verizon's wireless WAN service goes for $50/month, and has been working well on my computer. One can connect if the computer is within range of a cell phone network - which these days means across much of the US.

S.

Thanks, Strack! ! I'll keep that on my short list of options. :)