Computer company filling demand for improved connection
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Feb 28/01) - Internet users in Rankin Inlet are starting to see some promised improvements.
Sakku Computers & Electronics technician Ken Haines says the company is reacting to consumer demand with the upgrades. He says the first step was the addition of 24 digital telephone lines capable of running at 56 K access.
However, not all local Internet users will be able to access the higher speed.
"Factors affecting whether the user can connect at that speed are the user's location in town, type of modem, software, that type of thing," says Haines.
"But, even if some people are having trouble connecting at 56 K speed, it's still 24 more lines to dial into, so it helps us get past the busy signal problem we were experiencing."
Haines says the location problems depend on NorthwesTel's exchange switches in Rankin.
Areas with older style switches won't be able to get the high-speed connection, including about half of Area 6.
Haines says bugging local technicians won't do much good because they're not in control of the decision.
"The exchange switches are slated for upgrading in the future, but I don't know exactly when.
"We're hoping to see an upgrade by July when we receive our second T1 digital phone line and we do away with the 645-2050 access number all together."
Haines says more improvements are coming soon to the Internet service.
He says the satellite has been installed to increase system speed and is in the process of being tested.
"As soon as that's done and the paperwork is completed we're online, but it's out of my hands right now.
"We've targeted between today and the middle of March to have it up and running."
Once the satellite is functional, the present 128 K of space will increase to 768 K, giving Sakku users five times the kilohertz room.
The increase should result in a noticeable improvement to the smoothness and speed of the local Internet.
Haines says dedicated lines for those who request them will also be available in the future, but it's going to take longer than he expected.
"The cost of the hardware has skyrocketed because the demand for them was a lot higher than what was originally anticipated.
"This resulted in an extreme shortage of equipment, so the hardware prices have almost tripled in cost to what they were in November.
"It is anticipated those prices will drop when more hardware is manufactured and makes its way to the market, but it will take time for that to happen in Canada."
