Decatur Wi-Fi Is “Complete”
Decatur Metro | February 27, 2009 | 11:26 am
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According to an update to the city’s Wi-Fi page in January, our extensive wi-fi network is finally finished!
After two years of network design and construction, the City’s wireless network is complete. The network consists of 190 wireless mesh radios over approximately 4 square miles within the City limits. The radios are attached to a variety of structures including Georgia Power utility poles, traffic signal poles, city-owned poles, and government and commercial buildings.
The network provides outdoor, high-speed Internet access to devices with wireless networking capabilities. For indoor access, most users will need a device called a CPE (consumer premise equipment) or wireless modem to strengthen the signal.
There’s also a new map (above) that shows more specific signal strength along our streets. From the looks of it, I seem to have some of the worst signal strength on our street. Oh well, all’s fair in love and wi-fi distribution.
If most indoor users will need an extra “CPE” to have a chance of accessing the wi-fi network, I still think it would be a good idea for “Get the Speed” to have neighborhood “fairs” or something so interested residents can test it out in their homes without having to order one, find out it doesn’t work for them, and then have to return it in the mail. That’s just too much effort for most people.
In terms of comparison shopping, if you signed up for the 12-month high-speed access plan and needed a CPE, your total monthly cost would be somewhere around $30. That’s about 12 bucks cheaper than my current Comcast.
Strangely, the other wifi homepage has a different message “The Decatur Wi-Fi network is back in BETA until further notice.” and doesn’t seem to offer the year long subscription. Maybe they just haven’t updated it yet.
There’s one “-80” spot on my street – right on top of my house. That’s consistent with my experience.
Considering this maps shows zero signal on my street, it doesn’t seem very complete to me. However, I can’t really see myself using the city’s wi-fi. So, no big deal.
I’m guessing if I see a big dark grey -90 or -100 space over my house I shouldn’t count on using this wireless service when I move back to Decatur? Sure seems to be a lot of dark grey and clear (i.e., no service?) for an installation that is “complete.”
There’s been a real issue with trees getting in the way of the signal ckwill. That’s a big reason for the delay in completion and why some areas don’t get coverage.
Its an interesting issue actually…having a utility that doesn’t provide equal access to all residents.
If you look at s. Candler below Kirk road, it doesn’t seem as though there’s been an attempt at providing access. I find that kind of curious. It’s still within city limits.
writerchad is so right. Looks like those of us who live south of Kirk Rd are pretty much left out. Even those in the Decatur Cemetery get better coverage than we do. Bummer.
There appears to be zero coverage at my house too. I always thought they would get around to it, but apparently that is not the plan.
With so many places in the city still with limited or no coverage, I would say this project was a failure. I hope not too much of my city taxes subsidize it.
Harpua, you may just need a CPE, but who knows. Also, providing access to in home residents was always a secondary part of this plan. The main, initial goal was to provide wifi cheap wifi for our schools/students, mobile city workers and those outdoors in public areas.
So I’m not sure I’d be so quick to classify the project as an outright failure.
That’s pretty impressive, especially considering so many cities abandoned their wi-fi plan. It’d be nicer if they had a more reasonable price for a day-use plan though.
I have a 1st generation I-phone and I find Decatur wifi to be a pain. I expect a seemless hook-up and not a cumbersome, slow log on. I was exicted with the idea but not happy with the result.
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The server stinks. It takes forever to log on.