Dial up internet

[microage97]

You can always get satellite I believe. I am not sure of the cost but it is certainly faster. Are you guys with dialup just checking email?

[Steve Bohlert]

I'll check out FlexNet. I'm in Black Sand Beach Community. Some people get wireless internet or satellite, I have too many trees to get a signal, plus Opihikao ridge blocks signals. I manage two websites and other business online with dialup and the library or other wifi spot. It is a serious drawback. It's like working with my hands tied limiting what I can do. I never thought there would be this problem when I bought since I have telephone and was used to getting DSL through the phone line on the mainland.

HAWAII The Big Island
Steve Bohlert Photographer
<http://www.stevebohlert.com/?page_id=7>

[Steve Bohlert]

I tried Netzero, and it didn't work with my Mac OS 10.8. Then I got FlexNet, and it works fine for dialup. I'm at the library now using high speed.

HAWAII The Big Island
Steve Bohlert Photographer
<http://www.stevebohlert.com/?page_id=7>

[sputnut]

You should be able to get dsl anywhere you have a phone line, unless your phone co sucks, of course.

comin' your way soon!

[TomK]

Thank you for the feedback, Steve, FlexNet is a fine local company and actually felt guilty when I cancelled my account with them! Hope you can find something a bit faster in the future though. I enjoyed looking at your photos on your website and being a somewhat amateur photographer myself I know what a pain dial-up can be.

[seekir]

quote:

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You should be able to get dsl anywhere you have a phone line...

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Wish this were true, Hawaiian Tel has phone lines here in Fern Forest, but no DSL for us. Apparently the infrastructure that handles DSL signals is more expensive to install, or at least different from the ordinary phone lines installed here. I suppose that if there aren't enough potential subscribers, installing the hardware must not be profitable. I'm out in the forest, but last time I checked (a few years ago) DSL was not even available out on the highway near Akatsuka's. It is available in Volcano Village from what I hear.

[Aaron S]

The phone company has to install a DSL Access multiplexor in the serving central office or remote terminal before DSL service is available. This device is like a router that seperates plain old telephone calls from data.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_sub...ultiplexer

[kalakoa]

There are even suitcase-sized mini-DSLAMs which can be installed on a remote poletop.

It doesn't matter: Telcom doesn't believe in adding capacity to support more customers.

Ironically, they also blame "reduced subscriber base" for their lower profits.

[KeaauRich]

And another factor at play here is that the DSL subscriber has to be located within about 3000 feet of the central office or the remote terminal. The DSL speed degrades the further the user is from the central office or remote terminal. I'm guessing Hawaiian Tel would argue that a business case for infrastructure investment isn't justified by our population density and the cost of maintaining remote equipment in our wet environment. I would argue that as the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission should require additional investment in our under-served areas since Hawaiian Tel is investing big bucks on Oahu for Hawaiian Telecom TV.

It really burns my bacon to be barraged by ads from Hawaiian Tel and Oceanic Time Warner for services that don't provide in our area. I intend to write to the PUC and The Cable Television Commission of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs encouraging them to require our regulated providers to bring additional investment to under-served areas.

[sputnut]

I live 5 miles from any small town (nearest Transfer box) and 18 miles from the nearest town of 15,000 and have 15 Mb/s dsl and cable thru my phone lines, so don't let them lie to you about being able to do it. It's sad how the powers that be treat Puna residents.
Wanna see? here is my latitude / longitude. 40.626005, -90.249213 Put it in google maps and see how "middle of nowhere" I am. Here is my phone company: www.midcentury.com They can call there to see how it's done.
I know it won't help, but you can still have a little ammo to throw at em when you call and they give you their line o bull'

comin' your way soon!