[oclug] ISP woes & question...

[Rod Giffin]

On Mon, April 4, 2005 15:18, Hillier, Peter said:
> RipNet IS expensive, especially since I thought the wireless service was
> subsidized by the government for providing high speed access to rural
> areas. That said, any information that would help me make a better
> decision would be appreciated. Same goes for Storm. Excellent performance
> and customer service might actually make the prices seem more affordable
> in my book.

I received an update from someone at Digital Networks.  I reached them
using a Prescott number given to me by the owner of Ontarioweb.ca, who
used to work with Digital Networks.  I don't know why the number isn't
advertised.

The company is "not out of business" according to the person on the phone.
 They're having problems with some router equipment owned by Bell.  It
appeared to me that he said it was supposed to be a hardware upgrade that
has gone wrong.

Still, the emperical evidence is that they're in trouble at least. 
They're still down.

RipNet I am talking with today.  I want to find out why they're so
expensive.  It may be the technology they're using.  But I can't say I'm
all that surprised that a government subsidized service is more expensive
than privately funded ones.  ;)

I'm also talking with Storm but they aren't hopeful.  There've been issues
with people from my area because of geography.  Their tower is uphill from
my house, and the trees in the way mean sometimes towers need to be 50' -
75' high.  I can probably manage the 50 foot tower.

I'm also going to talk with the folks Jon told me about.

Rod.