Anyone in the Muskoka area also look into Vianet <g00gle it
They advertise 3 meg down and 1 meg up much faster than portable internet.

From $49.99 /month
Equipment rental included
Speeds: Up to 3 Mbps burstable downstream, up to 1 Mbps upstream
5 Email Accounts
Free Junk mail filtering
Webmail Access
100 MB of personal web space
No Charge Dialup connection if wireless access fails
One time Install charge of $180.00
Optional Hardware Coverage Package - will cover the cost of hardware replacement if the hardware fails due to power surge or storm damage - additional charge of $10.00/mth
No charge dial-up will be provided if a wireless connection fails. Dial-up access will remain activated at no charge until the wireless connection is repaired.

Not a bad Deal

I'd guess that the activation relates to tying that particular modem into your account at Rogers;)

I've found an outdoor modem, and will be testing it mid-February.

For those that are considering u used modem;

Rogers recommends that you call them and check the S/N to see if there is an outstanding bill attached to that particular modem.

If you buy a used modem with an outstanding balance, they will not activate it until that balance is paid.

Cheers.

Here's a problem that I haven't seen in this thread.

I've had this unit up and running for about 5 days or so and I'm seeing a pattern.

During the day I have a hard time getting 1 bar. At night I have 3 bars nice and solid with no fluctuation.

What conditions would be different during the day versus at night?

I'm watching to see if it happens the same time every day and night. If it does then the only thing that I can think of is that they are turning the power up and down.

Cheers.

Hey GexGeko. Thanx for the tip on Vianet. I still have 3 weeks to play with this thing. I'm gonna call Vianet tomorrow to find out what towers they use and if the modems are the same or not.

70 feet of LMR-400 Cable will burn up all your modems transmit power. You have to place the modem at the antenna and keep the LMR-400 no more then 3 feet long.

Does anyone have a copy of the link monitor software that would mind emailing it to me. I'm trying to perfect my signal a bit and read this is fairly accurate.

Thanks!

Hello all,

I have seen requests for this software and I would also like to make one. If anyone knows where I might be able to download a copy, please do email me the link or perhaps post it for everyone. It does seem to be something that is becoming a regular request.

Thanks, and take care.

70 feet of LMR-400 Cable will burn up all your modems transmit power. You have to place the modem at the antenna and keep the LMR-400 no more then 3 feet long.
Hello HDTV101

75 feet of LMR400 @ 2.4/2.6 Mhz will incure a loss of 4.961Dbi.
in reallity when all added up counting the insertion loss from two connectors on either end 5.5DBi total loss.

Coupled to a 23Dbi gain Antenna this is not to much of a concern.
The best signal by looking at the led's on the modem prior to adding the Grid Antenna was a flakey 2 bars on and off and I tried it in every concievable place.
With a 4 foot pigtail of lmr 195 as seen in the pictures here http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/album.php?albumid=84 It was a full 5 bars.
we obtained a solid 4 in this trial setup.

You are correct in saying keep the cable length as short as possable that is the case with all RF transmissions.
However it will not burn up All your power as you implied.

Here's a problem that I haven't seen in this thread.

I've had this unit up and running for about 5 days or so and I'm seeing a pattern.

During the day I have a hard time getting 1 bar. At night I have 3 bars nice and solid with no fluctuation.

What conditions would be different during the day versus at night?

I'm watching to see if it happens the same time every day and night. If it does then the only thing that I can think of is that they are turning the power up and down.

Cheers.

Hey GexGeko. Thanx for the tip on Vianet. I still have 3 weeks to play with this thing. I'm gonna call Vianet tomorrow to find out what towers they use and if the modems are the same or not.
Hey Spud...
What did you end up doing?

Hmmm.. just noticed my Iphone now has 3G in my area as of this weekend.

I wonder if that means thier portable internet is also available?? It wasn't last time I borrowed a modem to check.

I'm north of Alliston, Ont.


Cheers

How far N of Alliston are you? It's shown on the coverage map Spotty Green / Outdoor Modem.
I was able to obtain 4 bars from the test site I setup and they said I was way out of the coverage area,
I did a little hacking though http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/album.php?albumid=84

Gexgeko,

Yes I remember following your project - very interesting.

I'm located north of Alliston, just south of Lisle. Lot's of trees :)

Cheers

I get 3 bars pointing at a cell tower in Peterborough from Rice Lake (17km) with a clear line of sight. The problem is that I don’t get any bars from by cottage which is 19km away on the shore. Its 200 m lower than the location where I get 3 bars. I have no line of sight from my cottage but does anyone think that if I make a BiQuad antenna attached to a satellite dish I would receive anything?

Gexgeko,

Yes I remember following your project - very interesting.

I'm located north of Alliston, just south of Lisle. Lot's of trees :)

Cheers
Ya Rob ...that's always a problem them pesky Tree's. The Signal is spotty but all around you. For both you and cezarym the only hope would be to get the Modem as high as possable and test for signal as adding a large antenna won't help if there is no signal to begin with.
I would want to see a glimmer of hope before going through allot of trouble rigging a large array only to amplify noise.

I have read else where persons enclosing the modem in a tupperware container and litterally Duct Tapping it to a Tree.
Now I'm not saying go out a climb a 60 foot Evergreen getting all covered in Sap or much worse, but it could be benificial.
Saftey First!

Gexgeko,

Well I borrowed our "test" Rogers portable modem and still no signal at ground level.

Just because they are testing with 3G in my area (which is now off again :() it does not mean they have the 2.4 Ghz portable modem operating off the same towers.

I like the idea of the plastic Tupperware but I don't like the idea of height and sap :) Some of my pines are over 80 Ft.

Here's my house location from the Roger's "service" map:

http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/ii327/rob11_1/RPI.jpg

SO close yet so far away :)

Oh well...it looks like I'm stuck with wireless internet 3G from Rogers. It's a bit cheaper them my current Bell Evdo solution.

Maybe one day Canada will have better DSL service then Mexico - we just opened a new plant just north of Mexico city....out in the middle of nowhere - full DSL / Fiber - Gotta love the CRTC!!


Cheers

Would you say that there is absolutely no signal in the white spots. So a bigger antenna won't do anything?

I live in a Rogers White Spot and get 3 to 4 lights on my Modem.

No signal at all...the modem just cycles through the lights. I even took the modem outside and plugged it into the outlet on the deck.......nada :(

Your very lucky to get 4 bars being in a "white zone".

Cheers

Maybe I should just point out that I use the External Modem.....

Would you say that there is absolutely no signal in the white spots. So a bigger antenna won't do anything?
I would say the coverage Map is a pretty close....but not pinpoint accurate. The signal is shooting right over you're head Rob. Get up on the roof and try it LOL. 2.5Ghz does not travel through Pines as they have a very high moisture content. Just because you're not in the coverage area doesn't mean you can't get it,,The map is a referance only.

Height will be the determining factor here. If there is no signal from ground level but the map shows signal all around you, then it is shooting directly overhead.
Have you ever been driving in a car listening to the radio with the signal being on the Fringe? as you head down that hill into the hollow the signal degrades.....heading back up the hill it's now heard again./

Remember.......when testing for signal to rotate the modem as the internal antenna is on the side OPPOSITE of the Rogers logo.
In a weak signal area move around...testing in various locations throughout the house and or yard may prove to be benificial but hieght will be the determining factor in a weak signal situtaion.

I'll try height....but even if I get a signal on the roof or near the roof some of the trees around me are close to 80 ft high.

I don't think I get that type of height.... :o

Cheers