[lug] broadband internet to Superior

[Harris, James A (Jim)]

Phil, 

I don't know what specific area you live in, but in the Horizons community
of Rock Creek, a flyer just went out to everyone stating that an independent
broadband provider is being brought in to provide high speed connections to
us.  They apparently specialize in multi-dwelling buildings (since we're
apartments).  Their service will be 256K to 1Mb.  The prices are comparable
to USWest's combo deals (physical line + ISP with options of static IPs and
multiple mail boxes.)  In a couple of the high end deals, the prices are
really impressive looking.  Included in the monthly rental cost will be the
external modem.  They said they'll do their best to support Linux (stating
that it's not guranteed, but their geeks will try.)  All in all, they seemed
pretty friendly and helpful over the phone.  (They immediately and willingly
transfered me to a tech-support geek to answer my gross questions.)  :)

You may want to contact the provider (Reflex Net) and find out what the
scope of their area offerings will be.  The provider can be found at
http://www.reflexcomm.com.  After speaking to them on the phone, it sounds
like they cooperate with the existing phone service to attach to the line.
Since the Horizon's wiring is owned and maintained by Simcom, it may only be
available to us, but I'd sure look into it.

I am still trying to get more detailed information on when it's happening,
but it sounds like it'll be available soon, which may open some doors and
competition in that area... (we can only hope.)  WAHFrickinHOOO!  (Sorry,
I'm sure you understand the frustration this relieves.)

-Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Rasch [mailto:pjr at ucar.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 10:36 AM
To: lug at lug.boulder.co.us
Subject: [lug] broadband internet to Superior


I am interested in hearing about success stories for getting a good
internet connection into Rock Creek in Superior. There was a long
exchange of postings recently about DSL, and the relative good and bad
points of different ISPs, that was triggered by a query about
broadband into Superior. But I dont think anything really definitive
came out of the exchange. I have been looking into it, and so far, here are
my
conclusions:

1) You cant get DSL into Superior. It requires copperwire all the way
   from the switching station into the house, and USWest has
   fiberoptic in between these points. Since Sprint ION also requires
   DSL (this is not obvious from their web page), you cant get it
   either.

2) You cant get cable internet into Superior. Comcast does business
   with @home in some regions, but not in our area.

For alternate technology, this leaves:

1) Wantweb. A microwave/cablemodem technology. I called and left a
   message on the answering machine a week ago, and still havent heard
   anything. (fast download, slow upload, extra phone line required I
   think). Somebody speculated that you need line of sight to Lookout
   mountain. Others suggesed that it wasnt necessary. Does anybody
   know if it actually works to Superior?

2) Satellite. No info yet. Fast download, slow upload, extra phone
   line required.

3) ISDN. This seems pretty expensive so far to me. I cant figure a way
   to get a dedicated line (which is what I want) at better than or
   equal to 128Kb/s for less than $100/month, and it is probably
   substantially more than that.

I am willing to go with any of the three above options. 

I am willing to get persistent with alternate (1) if somebody knows it
works. It seems cheaper than ISDN, and faster oneway, and faster than
Satellite. I can live with asymmetric transfer rates if it actually
works, and works well.

Thanks for any help you can give me. 

Phil
-- 
----------------------------------------
Phil Rasch, Climate Modeling Section, National Center for Atmospheric
Research
P.O. Box 3000, Boulder CO 80307
internet: pjr at ucar.edu, http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cms/pjr
Phone: 303-497-1368, FAX: 303-497-1324 


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