[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Since its beginnings as a for-sale service in June, Madison's citywide wireless network has seen a significant uptake, but not without technical problems.

Installed by CellNet Technology, the network spans 10 square miles of the city, including areas west to the University of Wisconsin hospital, east to the Yahara River and south to the Beltline.

And despite the monopoly Charter Communications has over cable Internet in Madison, Bryan Schenker, the director of ResTech Services — one of two Internet service providers offering access to Wi-Fi — said the network has seen "quite a large uptake."

"It's very cost effective," Schenker said. "Charter's internet usually runs on the order of 40 or 50 bucks. Our discounted price for students [of $15 per month] is more affordable."

Even the non-student monthly price of $24.99, he said, is much cheaper than other services available in Madison.

Not only is the service cheaper, he added, but it is also mobile.

And according to Eve Galanter, spokesperson for Mad City Broadband, the city's eagerness to have wireless at its disposal explains the ease with which Madison residents have picked up the new service.

"The positive reception has been no surprise," she said. "[Madison] is a very savvy town in terms of technology. I think the combination of the state capital and the large student population and many technology-based businesses make this a very attractive place [for Wi-Fi]."

Despite the network's reported success, Schenker admitted there still are "areas where coverage needs to be improved."

A common cause of signal problems is simply that "access points" — signal distribution boxes located on light poles — are blocked by building materials or other objects.

Dani Wosick, a University of Wisconsin junior living in an apartment building with ResTech as its Internet provider, does not know what is causing the problem, but she does know one thing: Her connection is "horrible."

Wosick said she and her roommates have already decided to foot the bill for an upgrade to faster service in hopes of getting a better connection but have seen little improvement.

While she said ResTech has been in communication with her in trying to fix the problem, Wosick said she is not likely to choose Wi-Fi in the future.

"Based on this year, I would not use it again," she said. "I would definitely rather have something that works."

When problems like Wosick's arise, Galanter said, the best thing for that person to do is to contact Mad City Broadband so a company representative can determine how to resolve the issue.

Schenker also noted that type of feedback is valuable to Wi-Fi's expansion because the addition of more access points is based on the receipt of feedback dictating where they are needed.

"There's always some nook and cranny or back corner that doesn't get signal," he said, adding that more access points are one way to solve the problem, but purchasing a "booster" might also be the answer.

The booster is a piece of equipment available through Mad City Broadband that has a Wi-Fi adapter built into it and has a "much stronger" antenna that works to boost signal from the access point.

"If you have a wireless adapter and you can see a single bar, that's enough to know the signal is strong enough to use one of those wireless bridges," Schenker said.

The boosters currently cost about $115, he added.

Any lags in coverage will likely be addressed in the future, Galanter said, considering the goal of Mad City Broadband is to provide seamless citywide coverage by the end of 2007.

"It is another 'first' for the city of Madison," she said. "We are well known for the quality of life here, and to be the first city of this size to employ citywide Wi-Fi, that just adds to the list of firsts."