I just turned on my laptop and was able to pick up an excellent wireless signal to "WirelessPhiladelphia." I didn't know they were expanded to the Roxborough area. I live by Domino Lane and Ridge.

I checked the coverage map on their website and they currently have service along the Ridge corridor in Upper Roxborough, and it says Coming Soon for the entire Roxborough/Manayunk area.

Unfortunately, it's not free. But it's still alot cheaper than Comcast or Verizon (and without the aggrevation or horrible customer service). Unlimited Monthly access is $21.95. They also have 1-hour, 1-day, and 3-day passes.

The connection is kind of like when you go to a hotel... it's an unsecured wireless connection, but when you try to go to a website, it redirects you to their homepage (http://home.feather.net/philadelphia/main), where you have to sign in to access any other websites.

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Go Phillies!

I heard on NPR that earthlink is abandoning their wireless project in Philly. Google earhlink philadelphia, there are many stories on it.

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"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people".

I actually just checked last night, and I no longer can pick up their server. We could get it months ago, but now it's gone.

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"I been a prisoner to a white Mr. Coffee
Down here on Christian Street" - Marah

Yeah, I have read that too. But now I can pick up the signal, so I'm not so sure.

I've also noticed on the sign in page, that there is a drop down list to select your service provider. One of them is PeoplePC. So I am wondering if you can sign up for PeoplePC for $10.95/month ($5.47/month for the first 3 months) and use that account to sign into the Wireless Philadelphia network.

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Go Phillies!

wow, thats neat, i would certainly be intereseted in dumping my comcast bill $45 for wireless philly, although, I wonder how reliable the service is

I'm gonna check the threads

if anyone knows, please post

The overwhelming opinion about this system is that it is useless. And this has been covered in this forum before.

Also, don't assume that because it isn't comcast or verizon, the customer service will be better. It could be the worst I've ever heard of. I had a negative experience with the municipal wireless that resonates with the general opinion.

Don't do it.

Like the original post, I could pick up an excellent signal without the modem that they sell. I signed up, and when I tried to use the network, it was slower than dialup in 1992.

A friend of mine who also subscribes to the service and uses a modem (and who has "nice" signal strength) often can be found walking around the house with his whole computer trying to find the sweet spot.

I doubt that magic is happening in your neighborhood that will make this any different. I don't know the details about what it means now that Earthlink is weaseling out of the business, but it can't be an improvement.

I would strongly discourage going with PeoplePC over Earthlink. I did it about a year ago (in Fairmount) and it took me several months to quit (the signal wasn't reliable enough for me). You can sign up online, but when you want to quit, they pass you around, and eventually try to take your number so someone can call you back later, since the phone reps apparently don't have the authority to cancel the wifi. They never did call me back. I ended up blocking them on my credit card.

I can't speak for Earthlink, but don't go with PeoplePC unless you are sure you want to keep the service forever and pass it along to your kids and your kids' kids.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm not planning on buying from Earthlink or PeoplePC. It would have been awesome if it was free though. I am currently using tethering from my Blackberry as my only internet connection and it's been working fine for the past 9 months or so.

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Go Phillies!

These gizmos have been going up all over EF, but they don't seem to be activated yet. Stand directly under with your laptop or other wifi device and you detect nothing. I have gotten the signal in other sections of the City.

I, like some of you, have heard that the system is trash. The signal won't penetrate most houses, so you need additional hardware. I would also like an alternative to the big 2. Get some true competition going and get the prices to drop.

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What? Me worry?