[OKDXA] DSL SERVICE

[Jerry Kincade]

Please don't think I'm shilling for the satellite people, but there is at
least one effective alternative. A couple of months ago I gave up on my
employer ever getting DSL service out here in the woods, and bought the new
DirecTV "DirecWay 2-Way" satellite broadband service. About $500 up front
(two modems and a special dish are required, plus the FCC won't let you
install it yourself because it transmits to a satellite) and $60 per month
after that. No phone line required after initial activation. I've done a lot
of speed testing since I got it - downloads have varied from about 400Kbs to
1.7 Mbs, with the higher speeds during off-peak hours. I have never seen it
run under 400K.  Uploads are capped at about 40K to keep the load off the
satellite, which makes upload speeds about the same as dialup. I don't mind
that because I don't run a website from home or do Napster/Kazaa music and
video uploads, just downloads and normal type surfing. It includes ISP
service from direcway.com and 5 email accounts thrown in. My day job is Ma
Bell DSL repair/install tech, so I'm familiar with actual (not advertised!)
broadband throughput numbers. This service is competitive with the average
DSL circuit, with the exception of uploads being capped at about 40K instead
of 128K. It's a dynamic circuit (IP assigned by the ISP server) with no
PPPoE connection software required. You are online 24/7 - so be sure you
have a firewall. The Windows XP Pro built-in firewall seems to work fine.
One bonus:  Since switching from dialup to this service, incoming email spam
has completely disappeared. Interesting how that could happen, since before
this I was probably averaging 30-50 spam emails per day.

I run my setup here on three machines. The main machine (WinXP Pro) is on
the satellite, the shop/ham shack rig (200' from the house, WinXP Home) is
on a NetGear phoneline LAN, and the laptop (Win2000 Pro) is on a NetGear
wireless LAN. They all work like a charm with no conflicts, can surf
simultaneously if desired, and the network was easy to set up using XP
Pro's. If you need broadband and can't get DSL (still the best choice), this
another good alternative. It works, and it doesn't matter a bit how far out
in the country you live... End of longwinded dissertation.

73, Jerry W5KP   Mustang

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Clark" <w5vw@yahoo.com>
To: "OKDXA REFLECTOR" <okdxa@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:59 AM
Subject: [OKDXA] DSL SERVICE


>
> Fellers, there recently became available out here a wireless dsl service.
Not satellite but from a local provider. I changed to it and it is really
OK. You can start at a true 65 k and go up to 750 k service. I am only using
the 128k level at $29.95 per month and it is so much faster than the dial up
. The high end is $59.95 per month. There is a $330.00 equiptment and hook
up charge but the monthly deal is ok.
>
> The 128 k service made me think I had got a souped up computer, pages
almost instantly and NO dial up. When the computer boots up you are on.
>
> The wireless service is spreading pretty fast. You might ask around. The
Farmers CO-OP here in Burns Flat is the provider, same as my dial up. If the
wireless has a glitch you can still just do the old dial up and go.
>
> Also the telnet cluster in Lawton, kc5nyo.dns2go.com, is an excellent
place to connect. Rarely many connects.
>
> For anyone in a rural area I would suggest you check around for
availability of this wireless service. Works so fast it gives my eyelids the
high speed flutters !!!!!!
>
> 73  BILL-W5VW
>
>
>
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