(?) Sprint Broadband Direct (?)

[Storino03]

I found this online when I was searching for Wireless Broadband...Also, is this new technology?

About Sprint Broadband Direct
Sprint Broadband DirectSM is the future of high-speed Internet access.

This new Internet access solution from Sprint is based on an innovative technology called "fixed wireless" - it's not DSL or cable-modem technology. With Sprint Broadband Direct, you can count on Internet access that's:

Fast. Sprint Broadband Direct connects you to the Internet at speeds faster than today's dial-up modems.
Affordable. Sprint Broadband Direct is affordably priced.
Always on. The Sprint Broadband Direct connection is active the moment your computer is turned on. This means you won't have to wait for a modem to connect to the Internet each time you log on.
Highly secure/Highly reliable. Sprint Broadband Direct 's exclusive microwave frequency band, digital transceiver equipment and high-security modems can make connecting to the Internet secure. Explore different firewall protection packages for even more security.

Apparently, the service is not being offered anymore to new customers. Existing customers still get the service.

http://www.sprintbbd.com/about.html

[IAmTheEvilest]

I am using it right now... DSL and cable internet is not available in my area.

Overall, the service is pretty speedy, but the latency is high. Except right now, they blocked ICMP so it isn't possible to ping and tell what the latency is now!

When the service launched, it was very fast. Then they had plagued with growth problems, at times I didn't even get ISDN speeds if I didn't time out first. After the upgrades came, the service returned somewhat to normal. I think in the end, Sprint decided that the costs were too high to warrant continuing the service.

To get it installed, they first had to come for a site survey to tell if you can get the service. Since the service is LOS (line of sight), you have to be able to see the tower with no obstructions. For some homes, that meant installing a 30 ft tall mast on top of the roof so that there was LOS. Then they had to run coaxial cable (RG-6) to the location where your computers were. Then they connected up the modem to your computer. The entire installation process just have took at least 4 hours at my home. I think you can probably see why it wasn't profitable.

Speeds on the downstream exceed 4 mbps but the uploads are an anemic 100 kbps. The service was not designed to be deployed on the large-scale Sprint BBD tried. Eventually, Sprint BBD discontinued new installations and consequently the company that made the equipment (Hybrid) went out of business. Sprint actually bought a company in Arizona which had started deploying the service (Speedchoice).

I have probably had my service for about 4 years, but I had tech visits at least two times when the antenna they installed malfunctioned. Each time, the repairs took at least 2 hours. As you can see, the installations and repairs in themselves must have took years for Sprint to earn back. And that is probably why they don't deploy the service any longer.

On a brigher note, the service is almost exceptionally good right now, since so few people are using it. And the uptime has been better than my landline phone service, power service, and water service. Not bad from $55 a month.