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Wireless internet is not a solution – it's very obviously inferior to wired if you don't need the mobility. More expensive, lower bandwidth, higher latency, low

by raquo 10y ago

Wireless internet is not a solution – it's very obviously inferior to wired if you don't need the mobility. More expensive, lower bandwidth, higher latency, lower reliability.

DaiPlusPlus 10y ago
"Fixed wireless" systems like microwave and other line-of-sight systems have negligible latency (and considerably less latency than DSL which never seems to go below 20ms for me) and you can theoretically get gigabit speeds, and because there's no last-mile infrastructure besides an antenna it's less expensive to set-up too. The only thing you mention that applies is limited bandwidth: such systems only work in low-population-density rural environments, it would not work in Manhattan. There needs to be more consumer education to allow them to differentiate between high-performance things like fixed-wireless compared to running their home internet off their phone's LTE connection. Funnily, my iPhone's LTE connection (according to SpeedTest) has very good latency and throughput: I get ~10ms to my nearest major city and ~30mbps downstream, sometimes my LTE upstream speed is faster than my home DOCSIS connection. Alas I can't use it as my home connection because I need a static IP address and more than a few gigabytes of data-transfer per month (more like a few terabytes...)
- 69mlgsniperdad 10y ago
  I have a grandfathered 'unlimited' data plan with tmobile. I get 75mbit down and 40-70mbit up where I live and the places I spend 99% of my time. I often use a vpn(to hide user agent) and tether to get those speeds on my laptop when I'm not at home. Haven't had a problem with data caps yet, often use 50ish gigs of data, and have tethered over 20gb recently with no issue. Edit: Nexus 6p on LTE 700mhz
  - chrishacken 10y ago
    That only works because you're 1 person. If everyone in your town decided to do this your phone would be unusable. We have ~50 users on our unlicensed fixed wireless service and we've been running into numerous signal issues. Wireless isn't the answer.
    - 69mlgsniperdad 10y ago
      Was just sharing my experience in downtown Detroit.
cft 10y ago
Actually. I have a legacy unlimited plan with Verizon (costs $170/mo). When I need to upload or download something large fast, I tether my laptop, since I get 7-9Mbps upload via my phone, versus 768Kbps via my phone DSL. I actually thought of getting rid of my $100/mo slow DSL. I wonder if permanent LTE tethering will be viable in the future.
- anon2264 10y ago
  Why haven't you done it already?

by raquo 10y ago

Wireless internet is not a solution – it's very obviously inferior to wired if you don't need the mobility. More expensive, lower bandwidth, higher latency, lower reliability.

DaiPlusPlus 10y ago

"Fixed wireless" systems like microwave and other line-of-sight systems have negligible latency (and considerably less latency than DSL which never seems to go below 20ms for me) and you can theoretically get gigabit speeds, and because there's no last-mile infrastructure besides an antenna it's less expensive to set-up too. The only thing you mention that applies is limited bandwidth: such systems only work in low-population-density rural environments, it would not work in Manhattan. There needs to be more consumer education to allow them to differentiate between high-performance things like fixed-wireless compared to running their home internet off their phone's LTE connection. Funnily, my iPhone's LTE connection (according to SpeedTest) has very good latency and throughput: I get ~10ms to my nearest major city and ~30mbps downstream, sometimes my LTE upstream speed is faster than my home DOCSIS connection. Alas I can't use it as my home connection because I need a static IP address and more than a few gigabytes of data-transfer per month (more like a few terabytes...)

69mlgsniperdad 10y ago
I have a grandfathered 'unlimited' data plan with tmobile. I get 75mbit down and 40-70mbit up where I live and the places I spend 99% of my time. I often use a vpn(to hide user agent) and tether to get those speeds on my laptop when I'm not at home. Haven't had a problem with data caps yet, often use 50ish gigs of data, and have tethered over 20gb recently with no issue. Edit: Nexus 6p on LTE 700mhz
- chrishacken 10y ago
  That only works because you're 1 person. If everyone in your town decided to do this your phone would be unusable. We have ~50 users on our unlicensed fixed wireless service and we've been running into numerous signal issues. Wireless isn't the answer.
  - 69mlgsniperdad 10y ago
    Was just sharing my experience in downtown Detroit.

cft 10y ago

Actually. I have a legacy unlimited plan with Verizon (costs $170/mo). When I need to upload or download something large fast, I tether my laptop, since I get 7-9Mbps upload via my phone, versus 768Kbps via my phone DSL. I actually thought of getting rid of my $100/mo slow DSL. I wonder if permanent LTE tethering will be viable in the future.

anon2264 10y ago
Why haven't you done it already?