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The node knows

Original post made on Jun 3, 2009

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

Comments (20)

Posted by moorpark mobilehome
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Jun 3, 2009 at 12:20 am

Please stick another node near the entrance of our mobile home park, Google. thanx


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 Common Cents
a resident of another community
on Jun 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm

You get what you pay for ... it's free, how can you "complain" about something that is being given away


Posted by Where to go
a resident of another community
on Jun 3, 2009 at 3:35 pm

I've parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot with my laptop to use it.


Posted by Laura
a resident of another community
on Jun 3, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Google wi-fi is available inside Mountain View Public Library. Check it out.


Posted by Robert
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 3, 2009 at 5:41 pm

We love it! We have had dial-up for years. This new Google wifi is like getting a present every day. Thank you for making this possible.


Posted by kanan krishnan
a resident of Shoreline West
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 Pat
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 3, 2009 at 11:20 pm

I have a Ruckus which is placed in my garage. I have had more than 90% success indoors and appreciate the WIFI service so much.


Posted by Neil
a resident of Rex Manor
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 Cuesta Park
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 Shoreline West
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 JB
a resident of Martens-Carmelita
on Jun 4, 2009 at 2:22 pm

I live near Grant/Martens (on Carmelita) and cannot get any signal, inside or out. You get what you pay for.


Posted by Mr. Big
a resident of North Whisman
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 Cuesta Park
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 kabrook
a resident of Rex Manor
on Jun 13, 2009 at 12:23 pm

I just love it! Don't have a laptop, I use it inside and its been very very good to me! Thank you GOOGLE.


Posted by hannah
a resident of another community
on Jul 15, 2009 at 9:49 pm

I live at corner of Rengstorrf and Latham. Was discouraged from purchasing a Ruckus by one of the suppliers based on very weak connection.

Would love to switch from AT& T if I could get even 60% connection. Will not give up hope...
Thanks, Google...


Posted by M Benezra
a resident of Castro City
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 google enthusiast
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Jan 16, 2010 at 3:11 am

Google should be allowed to add amplifiers closer to the base of the poles so that the largest mass aspect of a tree does not impede the signal.


Posted by Bo
a resident of Whisman Station
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.


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