Wireless on Chestnut Ridge

Wireless is not easy, at least not compared to DSL, which now covers most of Grayson County Virginia. There are still a few locations which are not served by DSL.  There exist an even smaller number of locations which can be served by The Wired Road. I successfully installed wireless for one such location on Chestnut Ridge yesterday.

Wireless surveys are modestly expensive. I can map locations topographically and get some idea of feasibililty in about two hours. Ultimately, there is no substitute for onsite testing. It takes me the same couple of hours round trip to take my laptop to the mountains and see what I can find. I have lots or irons in the fire and though a road trip down Old Bridle Creek Road has its charm on my schedule, motivation usually requires financial compensation. Fortunately, a potential client can mitigate these circumstances by doing their own survey. Our Chestnut Ridge client did precisely that. In addition he had a clear view of the WVTR tower from eye level and had calculated the distance at a little under 5 miles.

Any wireless enabled laptop will scan for signals in its area. You may have to wander about your location. Any access point is of interest. If it includes the letters "TWR" we can probably get you connected to The Wired Road. Other access points may indicate the presence of wireless at a neighbors. Occasionally these access points are open and you can "hop on" and surf. More often they are secured and you will need the active complicity of your neighbor (not a bad idea even it it is open). In these cases, we can install small outdoor receivers. Both TWR and autonomous installations take half a day and cost minimally $200. Heroics such as towers, rooftop installations, etc. will run more.

Admittedly a mixed bag. I am sufficiently desperate for broadband that I make the effort periodically to find some connection to my place. Let us know what you "see" with your laptop.