Broadband Shuffle

[kentborg at borg.org (Kent Borg)]

On Fri, Dec 21, 2001 at 08:06:53AM -0500, Numberwhun ***** wrote:
>            http://www.wildblue.com/flash.htm

I looked at the site, and after being frustrated by stupid drawings
that explained nothing, I was pleased that the FAQ really did seem to
have some frequent questions at the end.

Key points I got:

 - DSL-like pricing, clearly targeted at consumers.

 - No bits/month limits, but bandwidth might be limited for hogs.

 - VPN explicitly allowed (but not supported by their help folks).

 - Basic service is a single dynamic IP address, a single static IP
   address is extra.  (They didn't clearly say "single" but they did
   you non-plural language.)

 - Can't install hardware yourself.

 - Specific mention of up to 8 computers or appliances--they might be
   trying to limit NATing, or maybe their router only NATs for 8 and
   customers can cascade their own additional NATs.

 - No mention of Linux, they do mention Mac (though they use all
   uppercase, which is so common), PCs, and hypothetical
   internet-ready-toasters, internet "radios", etc., so Linux should
   be no problem.

 - No mention of upload speeds, but servers are OK (at least with
   static IP option).

 - They say they try to reduce latencies, presumably by caching
   content, but they also talk about arbitrary turn-key internet
   appliances, so it is not required to have any software of theirs
   installed on client devices.

 - They are one of those annoying companies that don't admit to having
   an e-mail address, but if you want to contact them (via a web form)
   *you* must supply your e-mail address.


If the uplink speeds will be a significant fraction of the 3 mbps
download speed, if reliability will be good, if they won't act like an
annoying cable TV company, and if the service with the static IP
option will be well under $100 a month, I think it looks very nice.


-kb, the Kent who is typing this on an ssh session from work that goes
out over a terrestrial wireless link, down the east coast to DC, back
up again and over a DSL link to his home basement--and the latency is
no problem, and that is a nice feature Wildblue wouldn't be able to
match.