High-Speed Internet

[Ms. A-town]

Hello all. I've enjoyed reading the various forums.

We've recently moved to the SRB/Pt. Washington area and it has become apparent that there is no high speed internet available other than satellite. Satellite isn't an option for us, b/c I need a secure VPN connection for my work, which I've been told you can not get over satellite. I've asked some of the folks who live in our area and they all have satellite. How is possible that you can have high-speed internet access in Mozambique, but not parts of S. Walton County? Does anyone know if any proposals through the county for this to change?

[steele mama]

Hello all. I've enjoyed reading the various forums.

We've recently moved to the SRB/Pt. Washington area and it has become apparent that there is no high speed internet available other than satellite. Satellite isn't an option for us, b/c I need a secure VPN connection for my work, which I've been told you can not get over satellite. I've asked some of the folks who live in our area and they all have satellite. How is possible that you can have high-speed internet access in Mozambique, but not parts of S. Walton County? Does anyone know if any proposals through the county for this to change?

Welcome Ms. A-town.
Concerning your question, I have no idea. Just saying welcome.
I really don't think it could be true, however, what about cable?

[Smiling JOe]

Hello all. I've enjoyed reading the various forums.

We've recently moved to the SRB/Pt. Washington area and it has become apparent that there is no high speed internet available other than satellite. Satellite isn't an option for us, b/c I need a secure VPN connection for my work, which I've been told you can not get over satellite. I've asked some of the folks who live in our area and they all have satellite. How is possible that you can have high-speed internet access in Mozambique, but not parts of S. Walton County? Does anyone know if any proposals through the county for this to change?

MediaCom would be the cable company servicing the area of Pt Washington, and coverage varies from one neighborhood to the next. You would not be the person who recently moved into a house on Georgie St, eh?

[sarahj]

Ms.A-town

[Miss Kitty]

Welcome aboard! I had Mediacom installed when at WC last month and I am very pleased with the service. Hopefully, it will be available for you.

[Jdarg]

Welcome aboard! I had Mediacom installed when at WC last month and I am very pleased with the service. Hopefully, it will be available for you.

Yeah, thanks to Mediacom, Miss Kitty kept us entertained everyday that she was at the beach! They get my vote!

[Miss Kitty]

Yeah, thanks to Mediacom, Miss Kitty kept us entertained everyday that she was at the beach! They get my vote!

And more importantly...Sueshore got soooo many laughs!!! Mediacom, Mediacom, RAH, RAH, RAH!!

[kurt]

Hello all. I've enjoyed reading the various forums.

We've recently moved to the SRB/Pt. Washington area and it has become apparent that there is no high speed internet available other than satellite. Satellite isn't an option for us, b/c I need a secure VPN connection for my work, which I've been told you can not get over satellite. I've asked some of the folks who live in our area and they all have satellite. How is possible that you can have high-speed internet access in Mozambique, but not parts of S. Walton County? Does anyone know if any proposals through the county for this to change?

Call Jim McDonald to see if you can get a signal from him:
http://www.aircombroadband.com

[TreeFrog]

Have you checked with Sprint about adding DSL to your phone service?

[ShallowsNole]

If you're on/near Georgie St, neighbor (well, within a mile or two) and I am in internet hell at my home too. Sprint doesn't have DSL in our 'hood yet.

If you figure out a solution, will you (or anyone else with a clue) pm me?

I will have to try Kurt's suggestion too.

[ecopal]

which is better: Mediacom HSI or Sprint DSL?

[kurt]

which is better: Mediacom HSI or Sprint DSL?

I believe cable is much faster but goes out a lot.

Tell Jim that Kurt at Mooncreek sent you and if you sign up I get a free month.

[Smiling JOe]

I believe cable is much faster but goes out a lot.

I use MediaCom cable, and have had it go out only a few times, maybe three days this year, outside of the storms.

[Ms. A-town]

Wow!
I just read all of the wonderful advice and words of welcome. Thanks to all.
I've actually investigated Medicomm, Sprint DSL, Cox, Comcast, etc. and believe it or not, none of them provide high speed internet to where we are located (north 395). I'll call airbroadband first thing Tuesday morning and keep you posted. It is defintely internet hell.
It just really blows my mind that this service isn't avaiable north of 98.
Thanks to all and stay tuned....

[Rita]

Ms A-town. And GOOD LUCK!

[kurt]

Wow!
I just read all of the wonderful advice and words of welcome. Thanks to all.
I've actually investigated Medicomm, Sprint DSL, Cox, Comcast, etc. and believe it or not, none of them provide high speed internet to where we are located (north 395). I'll call airbroadband first thing Tuesday morning and keep you posted. It is defintely internet hell.
It just really blows my mind that this service isn't avaiable north of 98.
Thanks to all and stay tuned....

Exactly.

I've tried to bring in DSL and cable. And so have others. I had to use direcway satellite until Aircom came along. One of their towers is at the tower on 98 at Peach Creek so depending on your clearance you may be able to get a signal.

[aquaticbiology]

Hello all. I've enjoyed reading the various forums.

We've recently moved to the SRB/Pt. Washington area and it has become apparent that there is no high speed internet available other than satellite. Satellite isn't an option for us, b/c I need a secure VPN connection for my work, which I've been told you can not get over satellite. I've asked some of the folks who live in our area and they all have satellite. How is possible that you can have high-speed internet access in Mozambique, but not parts of S. Walton County? Does anyone know if any proposals through the county for this to change?

you can get a real static vpn address for directway - it's 60-80$++ per month and 600$ for the equipment - you have to call tech support (in India - yep, "my name is Raj-Hindi but you can call me Scott") to get it. at least you have an option

mine worked for years then we got dsl for half the price

satellite does not work well in rainstorms (dropouts)

satellite is fast download but bone slow upload

be sure the installer mounts it 'heartily'

[Beach Runner]

Woo-hoo! High-speed Internet and wireless installed at our beach house today. Goodbye, dialup; hello, 21st century!

Now I've gotta get my new webcam set up to show major changes on the beach since Thanksgiving.

[TooFarTampa]

Woo-hoo! High-speed Internet and wireless installed at our beach house today. Goodbye, dialup; hello, 21st century!

Now I've gotta get my new webcam set up to show major changes on the beach since Thanksgiving.

Good changes?

Also, what will you be paying per month? And exactly how would it help your renters, if at all? It would seem to me they would need to have the Mediacom software already, but I'm not quite up on these things. Still learning. Hubby is the techie in our family. But I am in charge of our Seacrest house, and I have had several renters ask for a high speed connection. Wondering if it's worth it.

[Beach Runner]

Good changes?

Also, what will you be paying per month? And exactly how would it help your renters, if at all? It would seem to me they would need to have the Mediacom software already, but I'm not quite up on these things. Still learning. Hubby is the techie in our family. But I am in charge of our Seacrest house, and I have had several renters ask for a high speed connection. Wondering if it's worth it.

The changes are not all good. The dunes have built up, yet tonight I was walking my dog, and we were trapped because the water went right up to the steep incline of the new artificial dunes. I had to climb up the dunes (a no-no) to escape the surf. Déjà vu Fripp Island.

Trust me, our renters will flip out over this (if they have a brain and do anything on the 'Net). Even if they don't care, it makes our lives easier - computers 'r us.

[SGB]

Also, what will you be paying per month? And exactly how would it help your renters, if at all? It would seem to me they would need to have the Mediacom software already, but I'm not quite up on these things. Still learning. Hubby is the techie in our family. But I am in charge of our Seacrest house, and I have had several renters ask for a high speed connection. Wondering if it's worth it.

We just subscribed to Mediacom's internet for our rental house. We added a wireless router. Renters can either just turn on their wireless enabled laptop and be on our network, or connect via a wire that is connected to the router if they have an ethernet card for a hardwire connection. No Mediacom sofware is required. Just open up IE or your favorite browser and you're on the internet. I don't know if it's worth it yet, but anything to make SoWal visitors able to get on sowal.com!

[yippie]

No software is required for Sprint DSL either.

Don't go to Cox whatever you do. They have SEVERE e-mail problems. I dropped them after a year and a half, SEVERE e-mail problems.

I had Sprint DSL installed in both my home and office and am pleased so far. But, call Sprint directly, the resellers service, even though they claime it is Sprint, doesn't compare to Sprint Direct. I used Network Tallahassee, and have absolutely nothing good to say about them. Down more than up and a lot of the resellers use Network Tallahassee in this are.

Many of my clients have complained about Mediacom being down a lot.

[aquaticbiology]

We just subscribed to Mediacom's internet for our rental house. We added a wireless router. Renters can either just turn on their wireless enabled laptop and be on our network, or connect via a wire that is connected to the router if they have an ethernet card for a hardwire connection. No Mediacom sofware is required. Just open up IE or your favorite browser and you're on the internet. I don't know if it's worth it yet, but anything to make SoWal visitors able to get on sowal.com!

oooh! - unsecured wireless internet - the cops (and anybody else with a laptop in their car) will be parked outside your house half the time and the porno kid in the house next door can use it for free too and you'll be registered as going to those sites! yay! thanks! wireless routers rule!

[Smiling JOe]

ab, are you trying to scare people? It is pretty simple to create a password to access the wi-fi, and even easier to post that password in the beach house with simple instructions. You can even hide the network, so that it is invisible to those not in the know.

[katie blue]

Now I've gotta get my new webcam set up to show major changes on the beach since Thanksgiving.

There used to be a webcam here that we all enjoyed until it bit the dust, many moons ago pre-Ivan. Ivan took it out I guess. BR, are you really thinking of setting up a cam? And if so, would it be left up much of the time? It would be incredible to see SoWal beach in real time once again.

[hutch]

We have tried both Sprint DSL and Medicom. Online testing shows Medicom cable is much faster. If you are not uploading large files using Sprint DSL should be okay. Sprint has not upgrade their phone lines in our area and does cause some problems. Medicom has been down some, but usually fixed within a few hours.

[Beach Runner]

There used to be a webcam here that we all enjoyed until it bit the dust, many moons ago pre-Ivan. Ivan took it out I guess. BR, are you really thinking of setting up a cam? And if so, would it be left up much of the time? It would be incredible to see SoWal beach in real time once again.

Actually the old webcam was at the SoWal beach home of one of my neighbors and friends in GA. Great people BTW.

The thing is, I disconnect my electronics when we're not here. Even if I left them on, if there were a power surge, I'd have to be here to log on again. Also, I wouldn't want to leave it out if we had renters here - they'd steal it or break it (assuming history repeats itself and our rental management company does jack sh** whenever something here is missing or damaged).

I also can't get the gosh-darned new webcam (that my husband chose for me) to work. It's an Aiptek MiniPencam. Their tech support says you use NetMeeting to set up the website, but I see nothing in NetMeeting that lets you enter an ftp site to upload the webcam video to. Without that, I can see the video, but no one else can. I've re-emailed their tech support. If I can't get it working soon, I'm gonna go buy a different one.

SJ - exactly (wrt the wireless)!

[Beach Runner]

Yay! I got 10 MB for a website on Earthlink after signing up for Sprint DSL. Gotta get my new website designed! OKAY, MY ARTIST DAUGHTER, MAKE ME A LAYOUT!

I just ftp'ed this image because it was a birthday card sent to me by my sister - love the card (and my sister): http://home.earthlink.net/~beachrunner/

[aquaticbiology]

never saw any leftovers around here either!

sj and br - please make sure the folks passord protect their internet access, once most folks get that hi-speed running wirelessly, they just don't take the extra step to secure it. I wouldnt know if its easy to password protect as I dont support wireless internet since I usually end up needing to use the power plug anyhow so what's one more wire - I heard that it is sooooo easy to find unsecured wireless that if you're looking to check your e-mail just plug up the laptop in the car, turn on the computer and drive slow down any street

[Beach Runner]

never saw any leftovers around here either!

sj and br - please make sure the folks passord protect their internet access, once most folks get that hi-speed running wirelessly, they just don't take the extra step to secure it. I wouldnt know if its easy to password protect as I dont support wireless internet since I usually end up needing to use the power plug anyhow so what's one more wire - I heard that it is sooooo easy to find unsecured wireless that if you're looking to check your e-mail just plug up the laptop in the car, turn on the computer and drive slow down any street

Oh, yeah, I know about encryption and not broadcasting the SSID. Occasionally I go wardriving for grins (I live in a really boring town and my husband travels a lot). I talked about wardriving on another thread. What amazes me is whose wireless networks are not protected, such as GTPres - duh, let's guess who that is (I found this on wifimaps.com).

[Jdarg]

Oh, yeah, I know about encryption and not broadcasting the SSID. Occasionally I go wardriving for grins (I live in a really boring town and my husband travels a lot). I talked about wardriving on another thread. What amazes me is whose wireless networks are not protected, such as GTPres - duh, let's guess who that is (I found this on wifimaps.com).

What is wardriving??

[Smiling JOe]

What is wardriving??

the practice of people driving around cities looking for insecure wireless networks

[Cil]

Beach Runner
Great beginning to the website.
BTW
What's leftover wine?
We just switched to MediaCom (from GTcom) for our new rental on Cape San Blas. I hope it is an improvement, we should be here through March.

[Beach Runner]

Beach Runner
Great beginning to the website.
BTW
What's leftover wine?
We just switched to MediaCom (from GTcom) for our new rental on Cape San Blas. I hope it is an improvement, we should be here through March.

Yeah, I love that wine card.

BTW I started wardriving at my daughter's apartment. I did it out of curiosity - she had cable modem and wireless of her own. I was surprised how many unsecured wireless networks there were in the apartment building and how many were named linksys. One of her neighbor's wireless networks was named "Yo' mamma." I got a better signal from that one than hers.

[Beach Runner]

We signed up for Sprint 1.5 Mbs high-speed Internet for $34.99 a month. We already had Sprint local service (we use cell phones for long distance) that was costing us just under $20 per month. My first bill after adding this service was $178.45. Let's see, $20+$34.99=$178.45? Yes, I realize that there's some tax and maybe a first month installation charge, but I wasn't planning on that much. I've tried calling Sprint to get an explanation, but I get too frustrated trying to find someone there who knows what they're talking about.

Anyone out there have Sprint local plus 1.5 Mbs Internet? Just curious what your monthly bill shakes out to be after the initial charges.

[scrltbegonya]

What about broadband/wireless - excuse the lack of correct terminology - to take a laptop to the beach? More exactly to Grayton. Is that feasible? Or am I dreaming?

[Beach Runner]

Are you looking for a wireless lounge, or wireless at a rental? At our house (which we rent out), we've just set up wireless Internet at 1.5 Mbs. We enjoy it, our guests will enjoy it.

[scrltbegonya]

Live here. Want to use my laptop while sitting in the truck on the beach...

[Beach Runner]

Live here. Want to use my laptop while sitting in the truck on the beach...

Naw, I'll just wardrive and illegally use your wireless network. Just like the cops do in our town. JUST KIDDING (about me, but not about the cops - they really do that - they park near the local college and use students' unprotected wireless networks).

[Jolive]

I'm on Georgie Street in Point Washington and we have a bundled package with Mediacom (something like $106/month) which gives us Digital Cable (with HBO and Starz Channels) and a Cable Modem/High Speed Digital Internet. I LOVE the service...it's so fast. I use Sprint DSL at my office on Hwy 331 South (south of the bridge) and it is so slow compared to my high speed cable access at home. It crawls so we must be located on the periphery from the DSL station or whatever (isn't it that you must be within a certain radius to get DSL and the closer you are, the better the service?) What is frustrating is that we can't get the Cable Internet Service at the office because Mediacom doesn't service that area, even though it is only about 3 miles from where I live.

[aquaticbiology]

put a password in your wireless router!

the generic version - if it dont work check your modems website - and dont forget what name and password you give the thing

First, make sure the router is on and you're connected to it - the software you are about to run in actually inside the router, so the computer just needs a web browser (like internet explorer)

Open a web browser (like internet explorer) and go to this address:

http://192.168.0.1

if you don't see anything your router is probably a different address - check your manual or the makers website

if it asked you to login, type in the following username and leave the password blank (if you set up an administrator account then log in with the administrator username and password instead)

User Name: admin
Password: [leave blank]

The next screen you see should be the router's config screen.

Run the wizard to configure the router; make sure to give it a name and password you can remember.

Click the "Wireless" button on the left side of the screen. Activate WEP and generate encryption keys. Pick 64bit keys if you are given a choice (longer keys (128 or 256 bit) will slow your wireless network down a tiny bit more more than shorter (64 bit) keys)

don't forget what you set it to.

[ShallowsNole]

I'm on Georgie Street in Point Washington and we have a bundled package with Mediacom (something like $106/month) which gives us Digital Cable (with HBO and Starz Channels) and a Cable Modem/High Speed Digital Internet. I LOVE the service...it's so fast. I use Sprint DSL at my office on Hwy 331 South (south of the bridge) and it is so slow compared to my high speed cable access at home. It crawls so we must be located on the periphery from the DSL station or whatever (isn't it that you must be within a certain radius to get DSL and the closer you are, the better the service?) What is frustrating is that we can't get the Cable Internet Service at the office because Mediacom doesn't service that area, even though it is only about 3 miles from where I live.

MCHSI is available on Georgie Street?

I'm just down the road from where you live, and Mediacom isn't available down here. Methinks that since there currently isn't anything being built in my neighborhood and we all have satellite since Mediacom wasn't already here, we are toast.

Anyway, to the 'hoods on the Bay!

[John R]

scarltbegonia you could always get a verizon wireless card for the beach, or anywhere, for that matter. +-$79/mo

aquaticbiology, not a fan of the open network? i understand not wanting some kid to to take down one's bandwith by hosting a torrent, but it's great to be able to open one's lappy and find a network to check on something when the client or rental home doesn't have something set up yet.

[Smiling JOe]

Yes, MediaCom is in the Cabbage Rose area of Magnolia Beach. Here is another twist -- MediaCom has cable ran in Grayton Bayou, but not in the adjacent neighborhood of Magnolia Beach (Magnolia Beach s/d is separated by Bay Magnolia). MediaCom says if the homeowners in that part of Mag. Bch. want it, they will have to pay to run it, and it ain't cheap. I am uncertain of how far down E Pt Washington MediaCom runs, but I have seen a MediaCom sign posted in Phase II of The Woods s/d announcing MediaCom cable was available at that location.

[scrltbegonya]

scarltbegonia you could always get a verizon wireless card for the beach, or anywhere, for that matter. +-$79/mo

Thanks!

[ShallowsNole]

Yes, MediaCom is in the Cabbage Rose area of Magnolia Beach. Here is another twist -- MediaCom has cable ran in Grayton Bayou, but not in the adjacent neighborhood of Magnolia Beach (Magnolia Beach s/d is separated by Bay Magnolia). MediaCom says if the homeowners in that part of Mag. Bch. want it, they will have to pay to run it, and it ain't cheap. I am uncertain of how far down E Pt Washington MediaCom runs, but I have seen a MediaCom sign posted in Phase II of The Woods s/d announcing MediaCom cable was available at that location.

I saw that sign too, and called them. Last week. Got a Mediacom employee's voice mail. Twice. No call back yet.

We should be able to go with the fellow Kurt recommends soon (Aircomm Broadband) - just waiting on his new Freeport tower to be up and running. If that doesn't work, I guess we'll end up forking it over for the web via satellite.

[sweet]

Does anybody know who can install and set my high speed internet in my home form. Is there someone local

[Smiling JOe]

Does anybody know who can install and set my high speed internet in my home form. Is there someone local

Sounds like you need to pm John R. That is one thing for which he gets paid.

[aquaticbiology]

scarltbegonia you could always get a verizon wireless card for the beach, or anywhere, for that matter. +-$79/mo

aquaticbiology, not a fan of the open network? i understand not wanting some kid to to take down one's bandwith by hosting a torrent, but it's great to be able to open one's lappy and find a network to check on something when the client or rental home doesn't have something set up yet.

I've been reading about this and if it isn't illegal (and probably is) then it ought to be - just one access by someone other than you to a kiddie porno site or 'terrorist' site and the owners of the network (you!) are in danger of being carted off to jail )without a trial or even a phone call) by the new homeland security police, and with the new reporting sitelogger built into windows xp its now a sure thing. "well my machine will prove my innocence" is a fine argument, but if it happened over 20 days ago and you used the default settings it can be said it had been erased, and the best yet, it may take them a week to get a round tuit to check your computer!

[John R]

I've been reading about this and if it isn't illegal (and probably is) then it ought to be - just one access by someone other than you to a kiddie porno site or 'terrorist' site and the owners of the network (you!) are in danger of being carted off to jail )without a trial or even a phone call) by the new homeland security police, and with the new reporting sitelogger built into windows xp its now a sure thing. "well my machine will prove my innocence" is a fine argument, but if it happened over 20 days ago and you used the default settings it can be said it had been erased, and the best yet, it may take them a week to get a round tuit to check your computer!

it is currently illegal, but it brings into play the open public networks in NYC. i'll question the scenario you put forth. if i'm a terrorist in NYC walking around trying to find questionable materials on the net, who's holding the bag, the administrator? the suspected terrorist would be long gone by the time anyone in govt. had the gumption to act. by the same token, what would happen to the operator of this board if the same thing was happening via pm's?

not trying to start an argument, just wondering aloud. only because my personal belief is that if everyone had open access their AP's, we'd have a mesh network available. it would be great to be able to log on anywhere along 30a

jr