Evaluating Decatur Wi-Fi
Decatur Metro | August 20, 2009 | 6:00 pmOK, so I feel like there are still a lot of open questions out there about Decatur Wi-Fi, not least of which is “why do so many people think I’m Decatur Wi-Fi tech support?” So using the power of the internets, let’s answer some of the questions I’ve been hearing as of late.
First, I’m curious to know how many people have even tried the service.
Secondly, how many people have tried one of Get the Speed’s wireless modems to improve their signal? (like InDecatur recently did with marked improvement)
Thirdly,
Thank you for your participation in this landmark study.
I actually use Clear’s WiMax and I get great signal, a secure network (unlike unencrypted Wifi), and it works anywhere in Atlanta should I decide to move. Oh, and you can lease the modem rather than buy it.
Not to derail the conversation, but I’ve been debating WiMax vs. Decatur Wifi over the last month — Stan, the Clear website says it doesn’t cover 30030. Are you using it successfully in Decatur?
Yup, full-strength!
Seconding this. I’ve gotten full signal strength in two different 30030 locations (one on W. Howard Ave, one on Trinity).
Decatur wifi has been pretty spotty over on S. Candler. It goes out for hour long stretches nearly every day. Frustrating would be an understatement.
I’ve often attempted to use Decatur WiFi a few feet from the router/transmitters without luck. Sometimes the signal is there, sometimes not, sometimes it connects, sometimes not. I once tried streaming a popular Internet radio station at the lowest possible quality (~ 33k) while outdoors on the ASC campus (allegedly covered entirely by Decatur WiFi…in reality not so much). It would sputter and give up, so I’d keep trying continuously; and then the connection would just drop entirely even though I hadn’t moved. The last time I was indoors at ASC, we couldn’t use Decatur WiFi on laptops in multiple buildings. Thankfully the library has their own WiFi that actually works.
My internet was down for a few days during a transition of providers and I tried to subscribe to Decatur WiFi using one of the pay as you go options. It was a mess. Gave me headaches. No signal, couldn’t get it load so I could actually PAY.
Any idea how many subscribers there are?
We still can’t get a signal on McKoy St, which is very disappointing since we’re helping to pay for the service. I’ve been hearing good things about Clear as well, but haven’t tried to see if a signal gets through the trees.
Problem with Clear is that the mobile part doesn’t currently work with Macs.
DM, it could be worth checking with Clear again. I was looking into their service a couple of weeks ago, and the salesman mentioned that the Mac driver was scheduled for release the following week – so that should have been last week, if it happened!
On Decatur WiFi, I live fairly centrally, but don’t get a signal at all.
Ouch, that rules Clear out then…thanks DM and Stan for the info.
I received an email from the Clear reps and as of the 17th they have drivers for Macs.
Yes, they initiated Mac service last weekend (thought you would’ve learned that while visiting the Clear booth for an extended period last week!).
I have a mac too, but I use only the home base station anyway with a AirPort Express wireless router. Works great. The main cool thing is that you can put the modem pretty much anywhere in your house. They say you need to put it near a window, but the signal is so strong I get 5 bars in the middle of my (stone) house. It’s much more convenient than needing a phone jack or cable outlet nearby.
I pretty much use my iPhone for my mobile computing, so I didn’t opt for the mobile plan.
I looked into using it for my primary internet service.
The price point is very good, but the service doesn’t seem to something I can live with.
But, it appears that the up/down speeds are limited. Not good for the kinds of surfing that we would use it for.
I purchased the monthly subscription for $15.00, and have access to the full bandwidth (unlike the reduced bandwidth that is provided for the “2 free hours a day” access). It has been very fast (even when downloading large files or with multiple internet windows in play), as long as I am outside in certain spots, or in my bathroom upstairs. Not optimal, but it has been a lifesaver for me for work…
I would like to know more about the leasing of the modem (certainly do not want to purchase it outright), the costs involved, how long it takes to receive it, and how effective it is indoors.
Coventry Resident, check out the link to Dave’s site above…he bought the wireless modem for $75 and it seems to be working quite well for him. Again it’s going to depend on your location in relation to a wifi station on the street, but it does seem to do quite a bit to improve the signal quality indoors.
I switched out Comcast for clear after ditching cable tv and not wanting to pay the $20 penalty per month to keep the cable modem I have found their WiMax service very fast and reliable once you find a spot in your home that gets 4-5 bars. I live in Decatur near Adair.
I bought the getthespeed modem for $75. It is in the window closest to a repeater (maybe 5 houses away). I am pretty disappointed. I wanted to use it to get rid of our terrible AT&T DSL that drops every day but Decatur WiFi seems to be very slow. I have the middle tier of DSL and the specs on Decatur WiFi are better than the DSL I am paying for but it is much slower. It also looses it’s signal when it rains. I am going to try to return the modem when my month trial is over.
Could barely get a Decatur WiFi signal on Columbia, so haven’t used it much.