Sun
City Computer Club meeting with GTE
August 9, 1999 On August 9, 1999 the
Sun City Computer Club held it's monthly Internet SIG meeting. At this
meeting Gayland Ingram from GTE discussed why it is that Sun City
residents only get 26.4 or 28.8 on their internet connections. Below
is an excerpt from a meeting that was held with GTE prior to the
Computer Club meeting. In attendance were Peter Roll, Ed Husband, Ray
Marshall, and a few other computer club gurus from Sun City. From GTE
was Jimmy Shields and Gayland Ingram along with some other GTE
business associates. These excerpts come from notes taken by Peter
Roll and Keith Stolle.
SUMMARY:
MEETING BETWEEN
SUN CITY COMPUTER CLUB AND GTE REPRESENTATIVES
July 15, 1999
(1) The modem speed problem
Sun City
homes to local Georgetown ISP: 26.4, 28.8 Kb/s, 33.6 Kb/s
Sun City homes to Austin
ISP:26.4 Kb/s consistently (every time!)
Other homes in Georgetown: 40Kb/s
and higher regularly
Community Association buildings through PBX: 40-50 Kb/s
How
is the GTE telephone system in Sun City is constructed and how does it
work for modem communications?
See attached diagram.
What
component(s) lie between Sun City homes and the ISP that slow us down?
Two analog-to-digital converters (purple in attached
diagram).
What's
the real problem?
Telephone service for Sun City uses a Digital Loop Carrier
system that connects with the downtown Georgetown GTD-5 switch on an
analog basis; it was chosen several years ago, when 33.6 Kb/s
V.34modems were state-of-the-art -- before the current 56 Kb/s V.90
standard was envisioned. This
arrangement will pass modem data adequately at 28.8 Kb/s and sometimes
at 33.6 Kb/s, but it prevents today's V.90, 56 Kb/s modems from
working as they were designed.
What can be done about this? Will
GTE work on it? When? GTE
is committed to resolving this issue and are working within GTE to
include in the latest budget the equipment necessary to resolve this
issue. What
can be expected in the way of high speed Internet access for Sun City
in the near future? GTE is involved in looking at the
implementation of ADSL in the Georgetown area within the next 12-16
months. There are limitations to ADSL that will have to be resolved in
order to provide it to Sun City. The cable company has said
some type of cable modem access would be available by the end of the
year. We have not been able to gather any further details on this. Keith
Stolle, of Computer & Internet Resources, Inc. (Internet Gateway)
has stated that they are looking into the use of wireless for
providing high speed access. We implore you to work through the Sun
City Computer Club to let GTE and others know how important Internet
Access is to you. You can contact Peter Roll or
Ray Marshall or any of
the Computer Club leaders for more information. You can also
contact Keith by Email or by
calling him at 930-1022. |
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