i want to start my own ISP, need help

[zaxxophilez]

hi there,
i saw a message here earlier, by webtek asking how to set up his own isp.
the replays took for granted that he wasn't serious and that actually he wants to set up a webserver....

well, i want to set up my own broadband ISP.
i want to be able to hand out ADSL modems and subscriptions to people in my area and have them use me as their ISP.
i can get a big fat symetrical connection (8mbit/sec) via sattelaite, but i cant afford the monthly payments for too long.
so i thought i might as well get a few sattalite dishes up and share the costs via subscriptions.
my area is adsl enabled, so people would be ble to connect . and the way i envision it, i would provide a valueable community service as well as get a mean connection.
my questions are :
1.how do i set up connections from new users to my computer(later on my massive operation)?
-is it thru regular ip routing ?
-how does that work ?
2. where do my satalite be installed ?
- on the roof of my home/buisness? or do i need to be near the actual physical phone exchange ?
3. any diagram ,lists of equipment, suggestions (or inquieris about how to subscribe ;) ) are welcomed and urgently needed.

i think i can come up with a lump some of money for hiring or buying 2nd hand equipment needed. or at least be able to get invewstors to join up with me, so please no discouragements only suggestions for good or bad.

thanx

[Shalome]

Perhaps reading the Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.rric.net/faq/) on the website of the Ruby Ranch Internet Cooperative (http://www.rric.net/) (a successful small community ISP in Colorado) will give you some good starting points. They detail how they set up their infrastructure, what it costs, how they set up their DSLAM and rented subloops from Qwest... all things you'll have to do as an ISP.

One legal point you may have issues with: Check the legal restrictions on your satellite subscription contract. Just about every broadband satellite service provider forbids reselling a residential satellite connection to others.

[fibbi]

Well, there are a few things you need to take into consideration:

1-First of all, you'll have a hell of a time setting up the infrastructure. Most ADSL is set up by the company that owns the phone lines, so i'm not sure how easily it would be for you to just start up your own little company on the phone company's lines.

2-Also, You need to realize that your satelite connection just isn't going to cut it. 8mbit/s is almost nothing in the overall scope of bandwidth, and the upload on satelite blows. Most ISPs use fiber-optic, but thats damn expensive.

Overall, i think you need to realize that starting up and ISP isn't just as easy as 123. You need the infrastructure, a whopping load of funds, etc.

If you still decide to do this, feel free to ask us any other questions though. ;)

[zaxxophilez]

thanx for the reply,
2 comments first about the answer:
*i am using a 2 way digital sattalite connection and the speeds are SYMETRICAL(ie. 8 mbit/sec upload and 8bit/sec downloand).
* the service is scalable so i can add more and more bandwidth and/or sattalite dishes as the need arise(and hopefully it will).

these are the reasons i think 2-way-digital satalite is the way to go,its way,way cheaper the fiberoptics and if the subscription is there i can always migrate the opreation to an office where a fiber optic line is already installed.
now,
here in northern ireland people will pay thru the nose to get a 512/128 adsl connection and a 50/1 contention ratio is widespread and accepted.
i can fit easily 20 accounts on a single dish and that would be a nice profit right there, not to mention that its easily upgradable(the only restrictions are roof space and roof stability).
the actual modem issue was my main concern. i dont know how that work. obviously, not each adsl provider has its own network, most(if not all) ride on the existing network placed by the original phone company.
what i am wondering, and maybe if you guys dont know you could refer me to a website that has some info about that, is do the modems connect to the isp server thru some kind of unique-identifiable network tag. this would explain how as many as 15 isps can provide you service on the same existing phone network, or coaxial cable for that matter.

any thoughts ?
i would greatly appriciate any idea, insight or know how(not yet taking applications,.......sorry)
thanx

[Kdr Kane]

I don't know that anything stated here would apply for you in Ireland.

So, take any suggestions with a grain of salt. You will probably have to check locally to make sure you get good information.

[jet66]

I don't know anything about CATV/DOCSIS modems, but with Telco gear I might be able to offer some insight. Going by your 43Mb/s post, I'd say 'no,' you won't be able to use DSL modems for each subscriber unless you install some kind of DSLAM, such as ones made by Lucent (Stinger,) Adtran, Marconi, etc. To get any real distance, you will not be able to use straight-up ethernet, as you know. Everything will have to be converted from your 'office' to a transport medium to get to the customer, where the DSL modem will basically make a bridge from the transport to the end-user's ethernet network.

That River Ranch link is a really good read on DIY-DSL

[Ocean]

i would kinda guess the best (and cheapest) way for you to set up your isp would just be to limit your customers to line of sight ( or maybe a repeater tower atop somone's land in exchange for giving them free net access) and go with wireless using directional intennas. just set up your neighborhood and have them pay for your bill.


eventually you will be able to get enough money to start running some land line connections to other valleys and set up other wireless clusters.


check with how legal it is for you to sell your internet bandwidth.

[Maverick]

lol. yea, that would always work :)