There is something relatively new available in our area called WDSL. The basic system boasts 256K up and 512K down. Their fastest setup is 512K up and 1M down (T1 is 1.2M). My question is: Has anyone had any experience with WDSL? Pros/Cons? The cost is a little high starting at $49.99/month ranging up to $199.99/month for the close to T1 speed. I have tested their system (using a neighbors new system) and it does work with VPN (Virtual Private Network) unlike Satellite. My employeer, Applied Materials, utilizes a VPN which has prohibited me from telecommuting as much as I would like to. The neighbor has only a few weeks experience with the system and really can't give me any long term reliability info. My 2 year contract with Hughes.net is up in the middle of February so I am exploring my options. Satellite was the only broadband available in Jarrell two years ago. Now there are options.
Merry Christmas, Tom. I have no info to share but I'll run past my I.T. manager at the office tomorrow and see if he can chime in with some useful information.
Tom, Here are a few general comments..... "It is Wireless DSL, not too familiar with it, but if it lets him access his VPN in to his office network, then it sounds like a good deal. The main concern is the speed he needs to work efficiently. If he used his neighbor’s and did all he is going to do from home with no problem’s it should be fine. If he has the option to go with a wired network I would strongly recommend that, but if not that should be sufficient. " "If he doesn’t have access to wired internet access, and it enables him to VPN to his office network, then it does sound like a good solution. The main concern is the speed he needs to work efficiently and will he be locked into a long contract, and if they offer any kind of service level agreement for the speed they quote"
I'm sure you probably did internet research Tom, but just in case I'll toss in this link. Wireless DSL Terry
Thanks George. The speed of their slowest account rivals that of my present satellite up/down link. They have options (same equipment just "flip a switch" at the central office) that are close to T1 connection (more than double the speed of what I have now). As far as wired, no such luck. Directions to my place include going north from Austin until you hear the cows moooo. There is no such thing as cable modems, wired DSL, etc. We don't even have the option of ISDN. Thanks again.
WDSL going in today. Hughes.net satellite will be turned off shortly. I have been waiting since November 2001 for a high speed connection that will allow me to telecommute using my employer's VPN system. Happy days are finally here.
I am a little puzzled. Every speed test I run shows this Wireless DSL to be about 5% to 10% slower than my Satellite connection. However, pages come up quicker, e-mail sends/receives faster, etc. Everything points to my system running much better except for the numbers. The only explanation I can think of is that these speed tests ignore the normal delays associated with satellite. My schedule, a spreadsheet in Excel format, on my employeer's VPN network took 3 minutes and 22 seconds to open on satellite. :shock: The exact same file took 11 seconds on the WDSL connection. I know that this is due to satellite to VPN incompatibility more than connection speed. Also, Lotus Notes (our e-mail application) took almost 13 minutes to open the first message on satellite :cry: when WDSL opened it in 16 seconds. Needless to say... I am one happy camper right now!
I found one issue with WDSL... Ice on the antenna will stop the signal. Of course, the same thing happened with Satellite. We are in the middle of a winter storm. or at least as much of a winter storm as Texas can get. We have been hit with sleet and snow for two days straight and they are talking about another night of 4+ inch snow. I have come to realize that snow and ice lure out the idiots to drive on the streets that I cover. ATTENTION ALL IDIOTS: Stay at home!!!!!!!!!!
We had a false alarm last night, but I think tonight we'll get the sleet/rain...no snow though. Terry