Comments on: Minneapolis wireless

By: mark

mark — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:10:35 +0000

Hi, I’m new to using the USI network. I know I’m suppose to have their modem, but I have a Dlink DWA 142 modem taped to my window. Most everything works just great and reasonably fast, as their antenna is right on the pole at the alley. However, I’m having problems accessing hotmail and sometimes Yahoo too. There are some other pages that generate errors too. On IE right in the bar at the bottom where it says the page is done loading there is a yellow triangle that says error next to it.

By: BobDole

BobDole — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:31:26 +0000

I just purchased a used Ruckus Metroflex MM2211 and attempted to set it up myself. However, I think I may be locked out because “admin” and “password” do not log me in to the modem. Is it set up for the previous owner’s USI credentials?

Can I unlock it? How?

Please help! Thanks!

By: (dis)

(dis) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:34:58 +0000

this is why i continue to connect to the internet the way i have for years:
- wait for my latte,
- sit comfortably,
- and open my mac.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:59:05 +0000

Macgirl, you can set up your Ruckus modem as to act as a wi-fi router for your house (Dual-Zone setup). It’s not a setup that USI Wireless officially supports, and it may take a little “tinkering.” (i.e. This may not work for you, and if it doesn’t, you may need a computer-saavy friend to re-configure your Ruckus router for you.)

A manual for your device that will have more details about the following process can be found on the Ruckus Support website (USI Wireless seems to be selling the MetroFlex 2211-EXT, which is essentially the same as the 2211-NG).

Basically, you will:
- Connect your computer to the Ruckus wireless modem with an ethernet cable.
- Open FireFox, Safari, or Internet Explorer.
- Enter http://192.168.30.1/ in the address bar.
- Enter your USI Wireless account information to log in to your modem’s settings page.
- Under the “Configuration” section on the left, click “Wireless.”
- Select the tab at the top labeled “Home WLAN.”
- Select “Enabled” for the first two options.
- Enter a name for your home network in the SSID box.
- Set the encryption method to “Disabled.”
- Click Update Settings.

Open the program on your computer that you use to connect to wireless networks (usually a wireless icon by the clock). In a minute or two, you should see a new wireless network appear in the list of available wireless networks (you may have to click refresh, re-scan, etc). Once it does, you can connect to that network instead of the one that you used with the DSL modem. For example, if you entered “RoastBeef” in the SSID box in the directions above, your computer should now be connected to the wireless network called “RoastBeef”.

Hope that helps!

By: Macgirl

Macgirl — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:56:24 +0000

Thank you guys for this informative thread.

I just signed up with USI Wireless despite the discouraging reviews. I hate the alternatives so much that I am giving it a go.

They came and installed yesterday, and left me with the Ruckus modem plus a giant antennae.

What I overlooked was the fact that I need to get Aiport or yet another device to use this connection wirelessly in my home. So here’s my question: Does Ruckus make a device that is both the modem (or whatever it is that they gave me) AND pushes out the wifi in my house? I did go to their website but I don’t even know what such a device may be called.

I’m sorry that my understanding/vocabulary is very limited in this area. I currently have ONE wireless DSL modem that beams out wifi in the house, eliminating the need for a second device to pushes out the connection. It would be great to have one less thing to plug in and daisy chain with the mess of devices on my front window.

Thank you for your help!

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:24:07 +0000

Smithers / anyone else:

What kind of download rates are you pulling down consistently? Any experience with Netflix streaming using USI?

By: Smithers

Smithers — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:56:14 +0000

@J: I do have the Rukus device, but for some reason my wife won’t let me keep the window open all winter and continues to use the microwave and the fridge.

I keep telling her “I’m trying to internet here dammit!” but she does not seem to care. Apparently food and heat are more important to her than You Tube.

I just don’t understand her sometimes.

By: J

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:18:34 +0000

Hey folks, lemme give you a heads up on how this works. If you are using a Rukus device (which is basically a 2.4 Ghz directional receiver for wireless broadcasts, ANYTHING between the device and the access point is going to cause interference. This also applies to ANYTHING that gives off an EM field. I have been part of a city wide wireless implementation of this type of wireless device, and we use the Ruckus devices as well. So if you have a screen on your window, it’s going to interfere, since the signal is line of sight based. Your microwave, the fridge turning on, anything creating a EM field will cause issues with the connection. If you are attempting to connect without a Ruckus device, the you have to remember that it’s not the broadcast from the access point that is the issue. The issue is that your TINY LITTLE WIRELESS CARD can’t communicate back to the device, and that causes the issue connecting. Internet is based on both a reliable protocol and a non-reliable protocol to work, and requires end-to-end communication in order to establish a signal. If you can’t get the signal with the Ruckus in the window, try opening the window and looking at the signal strength with as little as possible between your device and the broadcast node. If you don’t have a Ruckus device, that’s too bad, chances are that you will never be able to connect without some kind of bi-directional wi-fi antenna. Good luck to all of you!!!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:21:18 +0000

I’ve read a number of negative posts about USI Wireless. I live in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood and got their ‘buy 1 year-get the second for free’ offer with their Ruckus modem. I became a subscriber in February 2008 when the service went live in my neighborhood. My old Qwest DSL used to sit in the rafters of my basement, right next to my Telco demark. I have a window which looks down the alley and can ’see’ one of the USI units about a block away. I put my USI pre configured Ruckus unit right on the same shelf, plugged it in and did some slight movements of the unit to get me the best signal. I get between 2-3 Mb/S download and get 700 Kb/s to 1 Mb/S upload all the time. I have had three service outages since I got my service, two lasting about an hour and one lasting 6 hours — when I called customer support they were understanding and were able to troublshoot the issues but not able to restore my service any faster. When I had my DSL, I don’t recall any time I had an outage of any note. When I weigh out the cost vs the performance, I’m very happy with their service and have recommended it to other Minneapolis residents. Twice the speed as my Qwest DSL at half the cost. But reading other posts also leads me to say ‘buyer beware.’

By: Smithers

Smithers — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:15:05 +0000

Can i get this wireless service with a desktop? they say I need a ruckus wireless modem…what other hardward do i need for my standard desktop to make this work? You need nothing else. Just plug your desktop computer into the Ethernet plug on the Ruckus modem and you are ready to squeeze the rock on! E-mail me if you have any additional quextions.

By: sk

sk — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:15:13 +0000

I know next to nothing about wireless – even any internet connection for that matter. Can i get this wireless service with a desktop? they say I need a ruckus wireless modem…what other hardward do i need for my standard desktop to make this work?

thanks anyone who can help!

By: Smithers

Smithers — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:04:41 +0000

are using the router exactly as you did before, except that it connects to a USI modem instead of cable modem?

Correct. I simply unplugged the Netgear router from the Comcast modem and plugged it into the USI modem. I changed nothing else and connected up just fine.

By: E Fresh

E Fresh — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:20:45 +0000

Just to confirm – are using the router exactly as you did before, except that it connects to a USI modem instead of cable modem? I use both a desktop and a laptop here, so I would want to keep a Wifi/wired router to distribute it. I actually don’t have any problems with Comcast connection, but if it’s cheaper I’d try USI.

By: jim r

jim r — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:01:20 +0000

How many computers can you have logged into the system on your account at any given time? Maybe we could pool a single high-speed service between eight of us and each pay $5 or so.

By: Smithers

Smithers — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:40:30 +0000

if i get the USI modem will it totally suck if it is in my basement? also is it fast enough to watch video without issue?

The location of the USI modem does not matter, the location of your wireless router does matter. I have had my NETGEAR wireless router in the basement for years now and it’s worked fine 2 floors away and in the backyard.

Fast enough for video without issue? If you are plugged in yes, if you are wireless no, but that might just be my crappy laptop.