What Are the Best Internet Access Options for Rural Areas?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the various internet access options available for rural areas, focusing on personal experiences and suggestions for improving connectivity. Participants share their challenges with different types of internet services, including dial-up, satellite, and mobile hotspots, while exploring potential alternatives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant details their experience with dial-up, satellite, and Verizon mifi, highlighting limitations such as low speeds and data caps.
  • Another participant suggests DSL as a potential option, but a subsequent reply indicates that DSL is not feasible due to installation choices that inhibit its use.
  • A participant mentions the proximity of military base cables to their property, implying possible access to those lines.
  • One participant calculates potential data limits for dial-up and suggests using a second phone line for increased data access.
  • Another participant proposes finding a nearby person with internet access to share costs and suggests using high-gain Wi-Fi antennas for connectivity.
  • A suggestion is made to explore cable internet options and utilize resources like DSL Reports to find local providers.
  • One participant advocates for continuing with Verizon mifi until better options like DSL or cable become available, while also recommending checking for other wireless services.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the best internet options, with no consensus reached on a single solution. Multiple competing views remain regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of different internet services.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific limitations related to their geographic locations and the infrastructure available, which may affect the viability of suggested solutions. Some assumptions about the availability of services and technical setups are not fully explored.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals living in rural areas seeking internet access solutions, as well as those interested in exploring alternative connectivity options and sharing experiences related to internet service challenges.

ƒ(x)
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I was just wondering what my options are for internet access.

Things I've tried:
Dial-up (unlimited monthly data WOOHOO! but at the max speed of 56kb/s it's only 14MB...)
Satellite (sucked tremendously, 200MB daily download limit)
Verizon mifi (currently using, still pretty bad, 5GB download limit)

My house is close to town but on a hill, so the companies don't want to lay cables. As far as I know the only other option is a T1 line (the line to my house already exists), but that costs upwards of $450 a month.

Anything ideas for better internet?
 
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Dsl?
 
fss said:
Dsl?

Nope. When the company installed the lines they used something to boost the voice quality, but that something also prevents dsl.
 
The route a military base uses for it's cables goes right alongside the border of my property.
 
ƒ(x) said:
Dial-up (unlimited monthly data WOOHOO! but at the max speed of 56kb/s it's only 14MB...)

5000 Bytes/Second*3600 Seconds/Hour*24 Hours/Day*30+ Days/Month=13 gigabytes.
A second phone line is often inexpensive and you get 26 gigabytes.

Or find a friendly person in town who is line of sight from you, you split the cost of unlimited internet access, you put a high gain wifi antenna at each end carefully aimed at each other and see if it works. Some people get surprising distances with fairly simple equipment.
 
Cable internet?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cable_Internet_providers#United_States

If you punch in your zip code at DSL Reports, you can get a list of providers in your area. Then hop on over to the forums and figure out what service / saturation is like in your area with the particular providers.
http://www.dslreports.com/
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Verizon mifi is your best option until dsl or cable becomes available. It might be worth checking to see if any other wireless services are available. Dialup is just too slow.
 

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