Comments on: A GoogleFi Speed Test & More Testers

By: WiFi-SIM Chip for WiFi Phones? : voiceontheweb.biz

WiFi-SIM Chip for WiFi Phones? : voiceontheweb.biz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:24:48 +0000

[...] the past few days, Katie at GigaOm has been trekking down to Mountain View on hot days to try out the new Google-Fi network. Most recently she went with a Mac and Nokia 770 and tried out Skype and GizmoProject respectively [...]

By: paul

paul — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:44:25 +0000

My speed tests (dslreports) outside indicated a little over 900 kbps up and down. Inside at my place I don’t have a signal, but I am considering getting one of the google recommended wifi modems to experiment. Setup was a snap, and I think that it is fantastic that google is rolling out this service. Now that our weather has stabilized, sitting at a park and catching up on email is a wonderful thing.

By: Jesse Kopelman

Jesse Kopelman — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:56:38 +0000

Roger, a WiFi bridge is certainly a modem. Information transmitted wirelessly is indeed modulated differently than information transmitted via ethernet or USB. Thus, there is MOdulation/DEModulation taking place and a modem is being used. By the same measure, your DSL/cable modem is also a modem. For that matter, your PC is probably littered with modems servicing the various differing internal interfaces. Just like the sphincter in your ass is just one of the many sphincters in your body, a dialup modem is just one of many possible modems.

By: dave

dave — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:48:23 +0000

isn't it great that elgoog is giving away wireless access in an affluent community setting where people can already afford to browse online on the way to and from whole paycheck food stores? it would be absurd to test this idea out in a low income community, right? good thing elgoog's foundation was not set up as a standard 501, otherwise they'd be prevented from pursuing such worthwhile endeavors…

if i'm not mistaken, this is mostly a "young whites only" network, as mountain view is only 2.5 percent african american, and over 55% caucasian (18 hispanic, 20 asian too)…median age 34…

this is the kind of progress that really wants to make me vomit, sorry.

By: Roger Weeks

Roger Weeks — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:05:05 +0000

wireless226: then why are there millions of customers of WISPs using 802.11-based technologies? Non-commercial my ass. And are you talking about QoS? QA is quality assurance. Not an acronym usually associated with networks.

Also, could everyone, including Google, please stop calling any 802.11-based equipment a "modem"? This is just so far beyond wrong it's insulting. There is no MOdulator/DEModulator in any 802.11-based equipment. It's either an access point or a client. Sheesh.

By: wireless226

wireless226 — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:21:24 +0000

WiFi is not a commercial-caliber technology. It’s public spectrum, and intrinsically has no QA. It’s fine for the confines of your home or office. Bad as a public service “offering.” This will fail miserably.

By: Sahim

Sahim — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:19:46 +0000

Google is treating Internet access as a broadly available public utility. In the coming years we may see google networks at selected cities nationwide. Im confident they will be able to pull it off.

By: Nick Gavronsky

Nick Gavronsky — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:00:11 +0000

I think they could slowly expand their wifi network accross the US and eventually personalize their ads. Would be a really great service if the whole US was wifi. Doubt that would happen though, but you never know with google.

By: Phil Zugelder

Phil Zugelder — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:48:18 +0000

So excited to have this up and running! The throughput seems solid. It would have a lot to do with the strength of the radio on your laptop though as you move away from the access point. Any idea how strong your client radio is?

As for the privacy stuff, I am willing to bet that the commenter who wrote that uses a frequent buyer card at Albertsons or Safeway without pause. :)

By: WiFi Addict

WiFi Addict — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:42:02 +0000

Because of the sheer amount of data that Google has the means to collect on users, is this something that a 3rd party VPN service like Witopia’s ( http://www.witopia.net )personalvpn or publicvpn (www.publicvpn.com) can help overcome? I use witopia’s personalvpn as it’s based on openVPN (which is awesomely secure and high-performing) and has a better annual price. publicvpn uses PPTP which is easier to setup, has a monthly plan, but the service tends to be slower for some reason and i’ve read that it’s more prone to attacks. Still..anything has to be better than nothing. personalvpn also gives you a different IP address when it’s on so maybe that may help mask your position?? Be a shame to miss out on that GAP sale though..they’re so rare. :)

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:24:52 +0000

Nothing is free with Google. It may be free of $$, but not free of privacy. I would like your thoughts on how a company such as Google whose real source of revenue is context based advertising will sell ads that can now pinpoint your location and send you an ad.

Imagine the consumers feeling when they are sitting in front of a local coffee shop that has a Gap next door. As you are surfing the web, Goog sends you an ad for that Gap next door. Dont know about you, but I think that is somewhat spooky. Effective, maybe. But what about the privacy of the user? Do people care?

By: Ron Sege

Ron Sege — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:03:37 +0000

So as far as speed goes, Google’s Mountain View WiFi isn’t exactly a cable/DSL replacer for now. But its free and ubiquitous and that beats cable and DSL on any day.

Not to mention much better than Verizon $60/month EV-DO data services, which doesn't even reach into Verizon's own Palo Alto store on University Ave.