Comments on: Blog: Century-CAN, Century Can Go Wireless

By: uh huh!!!!!

uh huh!!!!! — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:14:51 +0000

YEA BUT THE BIGGEST HURDLE OF ALL.WE ARE LOOSING EVERYTHING AND NOONE SEEMS TO CARE WHO WE VOTED TO BE IN THAT OFFICE.THEY WOULD USE BRIGHTHOUSE BECAUSE THEY DONT CHECK ANYTHING OUT ,,,,SORRY JUST DISGRUNTLED ABOUT THE WHOLE TOWN COUNCIL.

By: Bill Clasko

Bill Clasko — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:27:20 +0000

I tend to agree that anything slower than 1.5mps should be “free”. You’re only talking surfing a few sites, and reading email. Would be it be 1.5 mps bidirectional OR much slower on the upload?. Given the fact some folks would chose the “free option” HOW much would ATT want to charge for the main supply/trunk line vs the customers that would ante up the dough to them?.

If the system has an unreliable link, all you’ve got is a dead air, low-power radio station. Even if it’s free, it’ll go for naught if you can only use it half the time

Seriously, and I’m not actually for tax-payer subsidized services competing with the tax-payer owned business BUT if you want to do it right,. the City should offer NOT 768 OR 1.5 service BUT at minimum 10mps per user. Better even, the maximum FCC allowed 30mps DUPLEX free (same speed up as down). (India and Pakistan reportedly have 100 mps service to the poorest of shanties..No wonder they took all our programing/coding jobs!!!).

Right now, I do my part in my little community by running a standalone Linux-OS PC hooked to a Buffalo router. It’s been flashed with DD-WRT software and the power turned up from a miniscule .028 watts to a full 250 MW (1/4 watt). I share with the neighbors within 6 hours around me. I don’;t know if that’s a violation of my contract with the cable operator, BUT my response, if ever asked, will be “WELL my built-in DELL mini-PC wifi card is very weak…I needed the boost. Iv’e been doing this for over a year now. No probs at all..

By: Terri Sanders

Terri Sanders — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:52:44 +0000

I am a little behind on this article,but The Country Bumpkin went WIFI two years ago for our customers using DSL from Bell south.Very few problems,great service….we still have wifi though we are now a St.Vincent dePaul Thrift Store.

By: eo

eo — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:24:44 +0000

The go slow attitude with lots of checking out the company offering to install the wifi system is in order. I read recently of Chehalis, Washington, a city of about 5000 in western Washington wanting to have a wireless downtown area. The result was a big outlay for equipment, and shortly after the equipment arrived the company folded along with the project. The city was hoping to get $0.25 on the dollar for the unused equipment, but seems they bought a “pig in a poke.” No one wants the stuff.

By: James M

James M — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:06:10 +0000

I saw that you mentioned Brighthouse offers similar high speed internet options, but I would like to strongly advise your readers that Brighthouse ends up being the most expensive and least reliable option. I am currently looking for another service provider and this article has helped me weigh my options. Thank you!

By: Dan M

Dan M — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:53:02 +0000

I am happy to hear that someone appears to be doing a decent job in the customer service department. I have been with Brighthouse for the past three years and have had countless issues with customer service. Not only do they fail to provide me with all the channels I want, but anytime there is a problem I can’t seem to get decent assistance from anyone. I am sick and tired of the poor service and I am about ready to start looking at Comcast and other service providers who seem to give better quality.

By: StevenF.

StevenF. — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:31:41 +0000

Interesting article. I completely agree that there are better alternatives to providing free internet for the public than what is being proposed here. For example I have read about people using a Pringles can to make really huge networks.
See: http://g4tv.com/screensavers/features/40546/Pringles-Can-Wi-Fi-Antenna.html

ALSO, on a side note, for anyone looking for high speed internet, I strongly advise against using BrightHouse. Their estimated “high speeds” are not worth the extremely high rates. Most of their packages are tricks to get you signed up for multiple services and charge you more overall than if you had bought them individually. Bright House also has hidden fees and bad customer service.

By: Casandra

Casandra — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:28:13 +0000

Just also wanted to add that for about $30 and a few minutes of your time, anyone can give a desktop computer wireless capabilities through a usb network adapter or an internal wireless card. It is such a simple process, an older child could even do it. So, if Century does get wireless service in the future, it would not be limited to those who have laptop computers. Just FYI.

By: psu1earl

psu1earl — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:09:42 +0000

My thoughts exactly! I did not get why ToC needed a guy from Virginia to do what they could easily get done themselves at no cost…It would be a great selling point to new/startup businesses for the town to offer the free service and great for those who cannnot afford the AT&T, etc..uber lines…Sounds like a great plan!

By: noh8rs

noh8rs — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:06:54 +0000

Looks like you pretty much nailed it William. That is exactly what I was trying to get across.
Let Century or a young “go getter” look into setting this up if Century really needs it.
But, like you pointed out, and I also said, we are not considered a “Dark Zone” because we do have access to high speed internet.

Well done.