Probably going to make the jump to Clear

**Cybs** · 01-06-10, 01:11 AM

Wish me luck guys. My GF sells Clear so I'm thinking there is no sense in having 2 internet connections. I was using it a while ago while I was waiting for my DSL to get moved. It was pretty decent until the local tower took a crap. Well, it's finally fixed so I might give it another shot.

Question is, do you guys think that a 2Mb down pipe can handle streaming TV in the living room, my GF playing around on the net on her laptop AND me gaming at the same time with VoIP?

**CivilWars** · 01-06-10, 01:13 AM

When their service works, it works well. The question is what % of the time is it down.

**HeavyG** · 01-06-10, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Cybs

Wish me luck guys. My GF sells Clear so I'm thinking there is no sense in having 2 internet connections. I was using it a while ago while I was waiting for my DSL to get moved. It was pretty decent until the local tower took a crap. Well, it's finally fixed so I might give it another shot.

Question is, do you guys think that a 2Mb down pipe can handle streaming TV in the living room, my GF playing around on the net on her laptop AND me gaming at the same time with VoIP?

No, I don't think so. It really depends on both the download and upload bandwith. I have 15 down 5 up, and when I work from home on VOIP, have several applications with 3 second refresh up, sharing my screen for presentations, etc, something usually has to give and most of the time it is my VOIP. When this happens, I typically just sign in with my home phone.

I couldn't imagine trying to stream TV and game while using other apps. It would work... but you wouldn't see the best performance on the video streaming.

**Guyver** · 01-06-10, 02:26 AM

http://www.clear.com/

That?

If it was like the wireless that I had ..NO. The weather affected it ALL the time. Rain? You won't have service. If the wind knocks your antenna out of alignment, you won't have service. Snow? Same thing. If a tree ends up blocking the antenna, no service. The company that I had blamed me (or my PC) for EVERYTHING. It was never their fault or anything on their end.

http://www.erfwireless.net/?zipcode=...ricing&x=0&y=0

They've even raised their prices. I paid $49.95 for 2Mb up/down. Now, they're charging equipment rental fee...lol. Civil is right. When it works, it's fine.....but mine was down A LOT. When you're actually downloading content, it's fine...but gaming with it is horrible. Ask Heavy, he remembers how laggy I was on the DoD:S server. Now, I have DSL and it's MUCH better.
I get 3Mb down and 768kbps and it's like $3/month. (bundle)

http://www.windstream.com/Product.aspx

A wired connection is always more stable.

Will Clear be better than the wireless that I had? I don't know...but be cautious.

Ask them if you can try it for 30 days or something.

If I were you though, I'd stick with DSL.

**CivilWars** · 01-06-10, 02:28 AM

I know bad news always travels faster than good, but enjoy. Some of these are actually funny.

http://clearwiresucks.com/blog/

**Guyver** · 01-06-10, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by CivilWars

I know bad news always travels faster than good, but enjoy. Some of these are actually funny.

http://clearwiresucks.com/blog/

Yeah, but I'm not sure if Cybs is talking about Clearwire or Clear:

http://www.clearwire.com/

http://www.clear.com/

EDIT:
Hmm...I think it's the same thing.

**CivilWars** · 01-06-10, 02:38 AM

It is the same company. They use the same technology that Sprint uses for their broadband wireless that you get on cell phones, but it is supposed to be faster because they have no voice traffic on their network. Only problem is the way they route their shiite is all fubar. With most/all cell/wireless providers you go from your device to the tower, from the tower to wire, then wire to destination, which could obviously be another tower and then another wireless device. With Clear you could be as many as 5 wireless hops before you get to a wired line. Thus many more opportunities for problems.

**WileECyte** · 01-06-10, 06:51 AM

I wouldn't want to have to rely on any wireless network technology for gaming. They don't care about latency or packet loss. They just worry about your packet eventually getting from point A to point B.

**Guyver** · 01-06-10, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by WileECyte

I wouldn't want to have to rely on any wireless network technology for gaming. They don't care about latency or packet loss. They just worry about your packet eventually getting from point A to point B.

Yep, I lost packets all the time on wireless.