Wired Voice and Data to Cellular Options? 33
otterboy asks: "I am involved with a remote scuba diving operation in Northern British Columbia. The lodge has a regular wired handset, with a wire running up to the top of a nearby mountain. At the top of the mountain sits a little shack, which contains a cell phone, a big antenna, and a black box from Motorola. That box provides an RJ11 jack into which we can plug the 'regular' phone, which allows us to use the cell link from the regular wired phone in the lodge, since the only cell signal we can get is at the top of this mountain. We also use a GSM modem (over the 'regular' phone line, which gets converted to a cell signal up on the mountain), but the best rate we can get is about 4.8kbs. According to Motorola, this is a limitation of their converter. I've looked at Cellsocket, but it deals only with voice. Does anyone know of a converter with better data performance, or are we stuck with Motorola?"
You're stuck. (Score:2)
I know, it's not nice.
802.11 from the shack (Score:2)
I've seen GSM modems, plug one into a dirt cheap laptop (ebay), then use 802.11 and a good antenna to get the signal down. Means you have two phone lines, but it is an option.
The other thing that comes to mind is starband is two-way satalite, which might fit your needs better.
There are other converters, or have been from time to time. I suspect all have a similear limit. Each time you do a digital-analog conversion you lose something, and if you think about it, you are adding anouther digital-analog s
Re:802.11 from the shack (Score:2)
Besides, you don't want to be victimized by remote North British
Re:802.11 from the shack (Score:2)
Every hear of ground loops? Ever hear of other EE terms? Twisted pair wires are not for use between buildings. You deserve to fry your comptuers if you are stupid enough to try this. Odds are you will one day too. (Note, old 10base5 systems are the only copper based system I know of designed to run between buildings).
I'll bet that their phone line to the shack isn't properly protected from ground problems and lightening strikes.
Re:802.11 from the shack (Score:1)
Okay, so maybe not cat5 (although they do make group loop isolators for them). Fiber would work too, and would span longer distances.
Fixed Subscriber Unit (Score:3, Informative)
Your only other alternative would be to build your own network out there (either by a microwave or 802.11 longshot, or by running some of your own copper over the distance from the nearest telephone CO.) Sattelite Internet service may also be an option, although possibly expensive. At least with a FSU your only initial cost is in the capital expense, the recurring expense is just as if you had a regular cellular telephone (i.e. inexpensive.)
Speeds can't get much better over a cellular network because of all the latency involved. Just be thankful that you've got a CDMA FSU as opposed to one that uses the old-school analog AMPS. The signal's gotta go up to the shack, over the air (a great distance by the sound of it), into the cell tower, then trunk it all the way back to your ISP, where the signal gets converted. That's a lot of delay, not withstanding the sound quality factors, you're not going to get much better.
Naturally, I'm speaking of carrying an actual modem carrier over CDMA (as opposed to something like 1x, which is raw data.) Personally, I'd try to get some 802.11 longshot going, perhaps with the co-operation of your local amateur radio group, especially since you have the facilities atop the mountain already.
Re:Fixed Subscriber Unit (Score:1)
Slightly off-topic, but a question about satellite internet...
Imagine you were in a not-so-rich country within, say, 1500 miles of the continental US, in which high speed internet access outside of the capital city is VERY expensive.
Among the few options available there is Hughes Direcway [direcway.com], except at about 15 times the going price in the USA.
Assuming the availability of expert personnel to mount the dish, is there anythin
Re:Fixed Subscriber Unit (Score:1)
Assuming you could still see the same satellite, there's probably no technical reason (although I'm sure it's prohibited both by contract and maybe even encryption export laws). If you can't see the same satellites, then it wouldn't work.
Re:Fixed Subscriber Unit (Score:1)
Does anyone know the footprint of the satellite you'd be assigned to if you were to subscribe in, for instance, Brownsville, TX? On the web site they say you need a view of the southern sky. Would that same satellite be visible from Nicaragua? That's less far south fro
What about this? (Score:2)
I know AT&T has similar plans and verizon (but verizon sucks)
What sucks about Verizon? (Score:1)
And, no, I'm not switching from Verizion, because they have been the most reliable carrier I've ever used for the locations I travel, and I've never had a billing problem with them.
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:2)
As for verizon (in the minneapolis area), they are by far the worst of the large providors. Everyone that I know with service from them is dissatisfied with almost every aspect (except the billing, never messed up billing). Even the phones they provide have problems on their network here, resulting in bad battery life...and wtf is with their new phones from LG, I have never heard of th
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:1)
I dunno... I have the Motorola T720, and I get a signal everywhere.
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:2)
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:1)
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:2)
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:1)
Re:What sucks about Verizon? (Score:2)
Been there, done that. (Score:2)
ericsson f221m (Score:1)
Telular (Score:1)
Re:Telular (Score:1)
Long distance serial link? (Score:1)
By the way, what's the closest city? Are you north of Prince Rupert?
Run some tests first. (Score:2)
The phone should have a data connection available as well - you might try hooking that up and running an rs-232 cable using the phone's internal modem.
But a cell phone is typically only going to give you 14.4kbps max, unless you have high speed access through one of many providers. It's a 3x speed increase, but read on...
Beyond that, I'd g
I have no answers... (Score:2)
Re:I have no answers... (Score:1)
Maybe they needed to run it anyway to get power up there, so people didn't have to climb the mountain in the snow to change batteries all the time.
Re:I have no answers... (Score:1)
Re:I have no answers... (Score:2)
Re:I have no answers... (Score:1)
I don't know much about this since I consider snow to be the worst sort of poison (i.e., the cold kind) but it seems as if in heavy-snow mountainous areas there might be a problem with buildup on the solar panel in the winter months.
GPRS? (Score:2)
2 problems (Score:1)
It sounds like you have 2 problems -
1. the cellular network... the 4800 limitter thing usually is for an analog phone. Since you're talking about being in a remote area, I wouldn't be surprised if the only signal you're able to get is analog. If that's the case, then 4800 is about the best you can hope to get out of it, and you don't need to worry about problem #2. ( here [canyonriver.com] is the black box I suspect you're