ROOFTOP INTERNET: REPLACES DSL & CABLE?

[kurmugn]

There is a new internet service starting in California that uses rooftop radio links for internet connection. It boasts upload and download speeds faster than DSL, but at a fraction of the installation and monthly cost. It is called DIGITAL PATH (

http://www.digitalpath.net).

Does anyone have a direct user experience with this company? Since they don't have to lay cables or put up poles, they can be cheaper. But does it work?

 

[a31ford]

HI,

No experence with them BUT, I'm on a P2P (Point to Point) 2.5 Ghz wireless internet system (sounds like what they are doing) I put up a tower (100ft) NOT that it was needed IF I was in the city, however, I'm not, the closest "repeater" to me is 9.6 miles (we live over 20 miles from town) Our system has been working fine for over a year, we had one problem for about 1/2 a day (was REALLY windy that day) other than that, the system works real good (OURS, that is)...

Cost is about 25.00 a month, speeds are BLAZING fast (over 600k sec. from a good server).

Initall cost of tower, concrete base, cat5 lines to house from tower, and power from house to tower $1400.00 (we recovered that in 8 months simply not having to wait for a download......

Greg

 

[JohnFortier]

I've just read their, rather information free, web site and, as far as I can tell, they're using multiple repeaters to provide service within a city environment.

I don't know if anyone reading this thread has done any line of sight work, but setting up such a system in a city is really fraught with problems. Reflections and refractions can cause deep fades and if the objects causing them are moving, cars, busses, trucks, trains etc, there is no way of predicting the time or depth of the fade.

Proffessional line of sight installations on fade prone paths use space division and/or frequency duplexing to ensure that two signals with different fade characteristics are received. This is why you frequently see two dishes on a tower both pointing in the same direction. A single, simple dish cannot provide this duplexing and is subject to fades.

Didn't Telligent try this a few years ago and sink almost without trace? They wound up providing only 20% of their links via radio and the rest via leasedlines, which they couldn't afford.

Greg's system sounds like a good, solid line of sight system and, if there is no source of reflections or refractions in his path, then the system should be solid.

Trying the same thing in a city environment is really fraught with problems.

Actually, Greg, I'd be interested in finding out where you got your kit and connection, since I'm planning to build a house in northern Vermont, miles from anywhere. the lack of a good, fast internet connection has been bothering me.

Regards

John

 

[robertjo]

Teligent tried it, and failed. Sprint tried it in Houston (BroadBand Direct), and failed. The issue is with signal power from the remote/user end. The main transmitter has the gain to get the signal out to the subscriber, but the subscriber modules typically do not have the power to get back to the master site with great reliability. The multipath fading as well as signal degredation from trees is a killer further out from the city.
Kurmugn- I would ask the wireless internet company for a refrences from others who have the service in your area. If you would be the first in your area to try the service, talk to their sales manager and ask if you can have a free trial, and be available as a reference to other potential clients. This would get you free service (for a while), and get them a toe in to the market in your area.