The node knows Around Town, posted by Editor, Mountain View Voice Online, on Jun 3, 2009 at 12:20 am
It's been almost three years since Google installed free WiFi Internet access in Mountain View, and some local Web surfers say they're happy being able to use the network in their homes and offices, while others have complained about spotty service.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 8:09 PM
Posted by Ada Park resident, a resident of another community, on Jun 3, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Can't get service inside, even after I spent $120 for a Ruckus signal amplifier. Service outside and in the neighborhood when I'm walking around is very, very spotty. Anyone wanna buy my useless Ruckus signal amplifier? It makes a poor bookend.
Posted by kanan krishnan, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Jun 3, 2009 at 5:50 pm
i live near sierra and rengstorff. i have never been successful in ever connecting to this so called free service. it is apparent that they set all these things up but never tested inside people's homes. its really not free if no one benefits from it. its a useless.
Posted by RTFM, a resident of another community, on Jun 3, 2009 at 9:29 pm
If you read the Google WiFi Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Google says it was designed as an outdoor network. While some people may be able to receive a signal indoors (either with their normal equipment or with signal boosters like the Ruckus as mentioned in the FAQ), the network was not intended to principally be an indoor network.
Posted by Neil, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2009 at 9:50 am
I love the Google connection. It works about 99+ percent of the time, which is no worse than what I used to get from the Comcast cable connection, for a lot more money. It's true that sometimes the transmission rate drops way down; but the Comcast wire often became overloaded and very slow as well. It probably helps that in the winter, when there are no leaves on the trees, I can see the Google antenna from my window.
Posted by Kevin, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2009 at 10:02 am
It's a great service. At home I can connect from inside my house without a booster. I use it as a backup at home and often at the library or coffee shops. I have a ruckus MM211DX that I use at the YMCA to get connected while working out. Occasionally I have problems and it's not quite as fast as my DSL, but a very nice service.
Posted by scott, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I've climbed to the top of my roof with an extension cord and a peplink signal booster and couldn't get anything. There is a node just down the street but the tall trees completely block any hope of getting a signal. $169 down the drain ... that's what I get for being an early adopter I guess.
Posted by Mr. Big, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Jun 10, 2009 at 8:38 am
I'm glad Google has been generous enough to provide Mtn. View with WIFI.
It may not be the most robust service, but I am hoping that they will improve it over time.
It has replaced my $48/month Comcast service and I have finally obtained a very good connection by using a 200 mW Expressnets USB WIFI dongle ($60) with an Airlink directional antenna ($10). Don't forget to update/upgrade your Realtek WLAN client software when using the Expressnets USB WIFI device (current version has some wake from sleep issues, but it's fast).
I'm getting about 98-99% up time in my area, not bad for a free service.
Posted by Luca, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jun 10, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I live near El Monte, and with my Pep Wave wireless retransmitter (see the help page on the Google wifi site), using GoogleWifi is a pleasure. The service is down a couple of days every month, so I don't use it as my main internet connection, but as a fall-back for the days when ADSL misbehaves, it is great.
Posted by M Benezra, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Jan 14, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I live in the Castro Park neighborhood of Mountain View, and I finally broke down and bought a booster. I still get hopelessly slow screens changes, so from that perspective I've wasted about $130. Also, I have not had any better luck in the Mountain View Library. Funnily enough, I don't recall anything about "outdoor-only service" when the PR hoopla was going on, and Google was basking in the glow of positive publicity.
Posted by Bo, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I wish they added more access points in Whisman Station.
There is only 1 access point at Whisman Park and it works when you sit in the park, but I live on a street 1 block next to the park and it does not work.