[CLUE-Tech] Ricochet is in Denver

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

On Wed, 4 Sep 2002, Jed S. Baer wrote:

> On Tue, 03 Sep 2002 22:55:23 -0600
> Robert Davis <rob-iod at attbi.com> wrote:
> 
> > You guys got me all excited, I would like to use their service I can't 
> > get cable or real DSL at my office.  Ricochet's web site says they 
> > support 98, ME, XP, but no mention of Linux.  Why all the excitement 
> > about a product/service we can't use? If we can, how?
> 
> Have you looked at Mile High Online (MHO), or Sprint? Both have
> line-of-sight radio service (I assume microwave). Sprint, at least, will
> let you check your address for service at their website. I haven't look at
> MHO. I don't know if there any Linux issues with either.

	Last I checked (a few days ago) Sprint was no longer taking any
customers for their wireless service. They haven't for a year or two now,
mainly since they have saturated their current infrastructure, and can't
afford to expand it at this time. But I did get it installed at my
parent's house before they stopped taking customers. It is essentially a
cable modem with a wireless microwave bridge, and has all the pluses
(bandwidth) and minus (overloaded at peak hours) of cable modems. Also,
the wireless adds a factor of latency on the order of 250 to 750 ms! It is
a good service if you just want bandwidth and can't get it any other
way. But is bad for SSH sessions!
	By the time I moved into my new house, they had stopped taking
customers, so I am stuck on IDSL. But it does have very low latency
(<50ms), so there is that benefit.

> The other question I'd have with any wireless service is security. Is it
> encrypted? How do you keep someone with the appropriate radio from tapping
> your transmissions?

	Remember this is the Internet you are connecting to. Even with a
hardwired Internet connection (i.e. DSL), you have no guarantee of
security. Therefore, I would just treat it as you would any other
untrusted connection, encrypt everything you don't want the world to see.
	TTYL.

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|   "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."                    |
|                                            --- Philippians 1:21 (KJV)   |
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|   Ryan Kirkpatrick  |  Boulder, Colorado  |  http://www.rkirkpat.net/   |
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