Any Northeasters signed up for the Wi-Fi network?

[Mark Snyder]

After my old Internet provider went away, I'm thinking of signing up for the Wi-Fi network through USI and I'm wondering if any of my Northeast neighbors have experiences they can share?

[Andy "Silky" Johnson]

According to media reports I have way too much stucco and too many trees to even try. I looked and got one bar on the USI network. Way to waste my tax dollars Ryback. Imagine that, people in Minneapolis with trees and stucco houses?

[Liz Martin]

We tried it both inside and outside our house - very weak signal. We also live in a stucco house, but I hadn't hear that would affect the signal. I'd be interested to know who does get a strong signal. Also, we only live 1 block from a hub/broadcaster (those things attached to the light poles), so I'm pretty disappointed in how this whole thing is working out too. Great idea, poor execution.

[Mark Snyder]

I also live in a stucco house and I know the wire mesh used for stucco interferes with the signal.

I'm told that if you get the modem or whatever, it "boosts" the signal to overcome that, but given the reports I'm getting, I'm not even sure if it's worth trying...

[phaedrus]

If I were going to go with the USI Wi-Fi, I'd probably set up an external antenna on the house to bring it in to a decent wireless router inside the house.

[Liz Martin]

Anyone see this article in today's STrib? Apparently the foliage is to blame . . .

[JB Becker]

I could not wait to cancel Comcast and go with the municipal city wireless. My household has been with the USI /city wireless plan since it became available, and we have had great service since it started, with only one outage that lasted about a day, while they fixed it. They credited our account for the missing time when we called in to inquire about what was wrong.

I have used it in various places around town with my laptop and have not had any trouble with connecting.

On top of the great connectivity, it is much cheaper than Comcast.

Overall, I give it an "A" and I applaud Rybek and the City council for making Minneapolis one of the most tech friendly cities in the USA.

[TwoWheeler]

Has anyone tried the USI wifi on the east side of johnson (audobon, waite, etc)...Definitely want to dump comcast for this, but don't want to have crappy connections and slow speeds. I'm hoping that since these neighborhoods were some of the last to be completed that USI would have worked out as many of the kinks as possible by now

[Matthew Johnson]

My cousin in south minneapolis gets a good signal by his window. For the reasonable price for the speed, I believe he is happy. The right antenna in the right place can make a huge difference. By the way, the mesh in the stucco dissipates all all electromagnetic radiation signals, including cell phone and TV. The mesh creates what is know as a faraday cage. Aiming out the window and using new technology of an electronically rotatable antenna should help. Contact me if you want a few references.

[Jill]

I have the Ruckus modem and the special antenna is in the window of my stucco house, the hub/broadcaster (or whatever) is a block away (through the big thick minnesota trees)(and the big thick swarm of mosquitos)... I do not get very good reception.. Sometimes it's okay, but when it rains, I can't even sign on.. I would like to try phaedrus' idea with the external antenna but have to wait for my technophile roommate to get back from London.. I will report back..

[Shawn Bates]

I've had a good experience with USI/Minneapolis Wireless. I live mid-block in a stucco house (hardly optimal). The Ruckus modem is necessary for signal, but once up and positioned works fine. I've also been pleased with the speed, especially for less than $20 a month.

I'm a big supporter of municipal wi-fi, so I might be more willing than others to handle the occasional network outage, but my needs are still well served!

Also -- its nice to talk to tech support in Minnetonka vs. the across an ocean...

[Matthew Johnson]

Jill, Did you technophile roommate get back from London to hook you up yet? Assuming the window is on the same side of the house as the access point, I would think being a block away would work well.

[Liz]

I live in Sheridan, near the old Grain Belt building. No stucco on our home, but the only usable signal we could get was placing the antenna in our bathroom window (not very practical) facing toward the east. It was also very complicated to get set up and USI didn't provide very friendly advice or tech-support. With anything new, maybe it will improve with time and we'll try it again later.