I need help!

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

I just bought a new house, and unfortunately it is 1 mile away from getting Cable or DSL. Neither Time Warner or Verizon will get me service because in that one mile there are only 12 homes. Time Warner requires 24 homes/mile, or they require me to pay $24,000 to get connected.

Now, my options are something like WildBlue Satellite, or 3G.

I have looked extensively into the Sat options, and they seem a bit faster than 3G, but the latency is a killer. I'll never have a ping lower than 1000ms! That's disgusting. And I guess during peak hours, the speeds fall waay off.

All I know about the cell coverage I have where my house is, is that my T-Mobile phone will not connect in the basement, and outside I get 1 bar, and frequent drop outs. The closest cell tower is 1.7 miles away.

I'm wondering if someone here can help me to determine the best carrier. I did try the coverage tool linked here on the website, but all 3 main providers show up as full blown coverage, I don't believe that... My zip code is 14094.

Also, I'll need help & suggestions on the hardware. I'll have a network of 4-6 computers, and I'd like them to be connected via Cat5e, not wireless.

I'll need to know if I need an antenna on the roof, how I find a tower to point at, etc.

Basically I'm starting from scratch in terms of EVDO. I have fiber connection at work, and a cable connection at the house I'm moving from, so I know I will be disappointed with any of the other options, but I can't go back to dial-up, I think I'd die Smile

I'm very afraid of the overcharges. I'd almost want to setup some kind of automated internet cutoff. Something that monitors my usage and if I get close to the limit, it kills the 3G connection.

im_electronic · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:45 am Post subject:

Have any friends a mile down the road Razz

I've used wildblue, and it's decent, but didn't like their QoS maintenance crap. used it in a business office at a summer camp where I monitored manually via dd-wrt's traffic monitoring.

as for EVDO I like my MBR1000 and sprint 598U, for you a yagi aimed the right way would get the best signal, combined with a extension to the modem and a USB extension as well.

if oyu do have a friend within range ubiquiti wisp gear is decently priced.
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PortoBatMBR1000

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171

right now, when a location appears to have coverage from multiple carriers, we're recommending sprint service because of recent press.

We'd suggest you start with the Sprint 598U that's on sale for FREE up front on 2yr contract (you make $50 after mail in rebate)

Add to that, this external omni building antenna

And if you already have a network, you can use the CTR350 to feed it.
(if you don't have a network, you'll need a switch)

No carrier offers a way to shut off service to prevent overage charges because they want you to use up bandwidth and pay them more.

Sprint's service comes with a 30-day trial period and the antenna/router are covered by 3gstore's 14-day return policy. details are at: http://3gstore.com/rma

Maureen · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

Before I buy anything, or sign up for any contract, how do I test Sprint signal strength?

I do not know anyone with a Sprint cell phone.

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171

im_electronic · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

ubiquiti wisp gear is wifi bachhaul gear, so you would get cable in at your barn, then use a wifi point to point link to you house, that distance is easily doable.
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PortoBatMBR1000

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

Ok, well I did some digging, and this is a Verizon cell tower 1.7 miles away.

The red dot signifies the light on the tower.

Will the proximity/clear line of sight to the tower help with signal strength?

Winter_Harbor_Oyster · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject:

If you can literally see the tower, you should be in fine shape, without the need for an external antennae. You have 30 days to test the equipment anyway. Alot of us are 5+ miles away and would need a helicopter to see the tower.

ed · 3Gstore Employee Joined: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 56

WhiteDwarf, that image is great. You should have no problems with Verizon service at that distance. Even if the signal is weak there a Yagi antenna aimed at that tower would boost it quite a bit..
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BITF, PITM

WhiteDwarf · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

Ok, I got my Verizon USB760 today, and borrowed a laptop from work to do the RSSI survey. I don't have the CTR350 router hooked up yet, does that affect my results at all?

Here are the results:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/621782657.png RSSI=-81 Basement

http://www.speedtest.net/result/621774717.png RSSI=-69 Living Room

http://www.speedtest.net/result/621779876.png RSSI=-46 Front Yard

When I do get my PC's over here, they will be in the basement and so will the modem & CR350.

Do I need an antenna?

I am disappointed with those ping numbers.

EDIT: I'm having my first problem. My IRC client cannot connect to its server, says connection timed out. Is there anything special I need to do to get mIRC to work on EVDO?

dsm382 · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

well crap if i had Up/Dn speeds like that I would be as happy as a pig in slop...

i am about 2miles from my tower but I am much much higher then the tower, and do NOT have a L-O-S.
i have an external Grid antenna, that i need to raise and adjust with a compass soon as i figure out how to do that.

right now i have a -77 and

course if the wind blows it will change, (-114 to -90) but new pole is going up tomorrow higher and more secure, then a 're-tune' and maybe i will be good.

I, like you am so close to DSL i can taste it. girl rides the bus with a girl that has DSL less then two miles away. i have digital cable but no NET, L-O-S guy stops two miles from my house, Sat is out due to it's crap, and i need a VPN.

good luck let us know your result.

and again

trying to watch a vid on Utube but no luck oops wind is blowing, dropped to -115 will fix that tomorrow.

dsm382 · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Initial RSSI Site Survey