How about some internet provider advise?

[jimainiac]

Denwa, that's another wrinkle in the mix. I think we might get caught in that roaming to Canadian towers, if we're even lucky enough to get a signal at our place in northern N.H. We're pretty close to the border up there.

WVBILL - That latency probably wouldn't bother too much. Even on cable, with our antivirus and antispyware programs running it slows the loading of web pages a bit. Being offline for days at a time while they re-jigger the satellite would be a drag, though. That's interesting that you haven't found it to be a problem going over the allotted limit. I would say I use the internet in a similar fashion to your use, basically. I do enjoy listening to radio programs over the internet sometimes, though, and wonder how that would work on either satellite or wireless. I have learned that you can't use satellite for VOIP internet phone calling. I think the major limitation is the upload speed.

 

[Denwa]

Denwa, that's another wrinkle in the mix. I think we might get caught in that roaming to Canadian towers, if we're even lucky enough to get a signal at our place in northern N.H. We're pretty close to the border up there.

Jim,
The roaming will not be a problem if you use a directional (yagi) antenna and aim it at the strongest signal/tower on the correct side of the border. You could mount it on anything, even a tree. The higher the better. We were using a car type omnidirectional antenna that just went to the strongest signal with no geopolitical preferences. ;' >

Dennis

 

[jimainiac]

Dennis- Thanks for explaining about the directional antenna.

To anyone out there who has used both satellite internet and wireless. With all the pros and cons, which would you rather use? It sounds like people would prefer the Verizon wireless if it's available.

 

[SpringHollow]

For the past 20 years, there has been cable within 1 mile in every direction. Since DSL came out, that is also true. Can't get satellite because of the hills. Dialup - was lucky to get a 14kbps connection, most times nothing. By law, they are only required to provide a connection good enough for voice. I pay dsl rates for crappier than normal dialup. Every 6 months to a year, they call and ask if i want dsl because it would be cheaper and faster. Then they come out and say no, we would have to do a day's work to give it to you (I have offered to pay for it). I even considered investing $4K into my own WiMAX tower connected at a location that does have dsl and the 30 homes on my street could share it. But the isp would file lawsuits etc like they did to the towns that wanted to provide the service. In their case, they said unfair competition. The towns had to basically give them the hardware which the isp immediately turned off and no one has service. Pseudo monopolies do not work so well. Deregulation meant that they did not have to provide service and they don't. The town has repeatedly tried to get them to provide it but they do not. I am so glad that the town gave them right of way for fiber cable 3/4 of a mile from my house as well (major feed to some small cities an hour away from me).

There are lots of taxes and fees on my phone bill for services that are not for me. I also pay school taxes and do not have kids. However, i realize that there is a benefit to the wider community and indirectly to me (a rising tide raises all ships) when i pay for these general services that i personally do not use.

Fortunately, with a cell antenna/booster, i can finally get slow cell access. Three times as expensive as DSL and significantly slower but much better than dialup.

The booster/antenna that broadcasts throughout my house is :

zBoost YX510-PCS/CEL Dual Band Cell Phone Extender

Ken

 

[jimainiac]

Ken - That's a shame, being so close but no cigar. You're really getting your nose rubbed in it. Why is your cell access so slow? Is it because of the weak signal? I thought that with the cell internet service you either got it or you didn't. And three times as expensive as DSL? Yikes!

I sure hope that somewhere there are technicians and scientists working overtime on the "Next Big Thing" that will bring high speed internet to everyone. Once upon a time I remember hearing about an experiment that some company was doing in a test town, using the electrical wiring to conduct the internet. I wonder what became of that. (I'm pretty sure I didn't dream that.)

 

[SpringHollow]

They do not have the fast 3G type of service out here. A friend of mine works in the telecom industry and were discussing getting the internet via one's electrical service. It is done in some places in Europe.

Ken

 

[hawkhart]

Consider yourself fortunate.

There is cable less than 1/2 mile from our house in OR. They would not run it to us for any amount of money.

I offered $10k and they still said no.

I offered to put in my own line to their ROW and they said no.

CurlyDave

I find that amazing, I also live in Oregon, and about 7 years ago the local cable company pulled wire to my property, maybe close to a mile, for $3000. My neighbors were then able to get it, too, some offered to help pay, but I picked it up since it was my idea and my need. The cable provider was very cooperative, and in fact the original cost quote was $10k, but I talked them down somehow.

Do you have a local cable company, or are you on a bigger national one that ate yours up? Still, seems unfortunate that they deny a customer who wants to pay the cost. High Speed Net should perhaps be considered critical infrastructure, and better regulated, so rural folk have a decent shot at getting it where it isn't.

Do you know what kind of beer the lead constructor drinks? Maybe asking him/her over wouldn't hurt.:thumbsup:

 

[DieselnHooters]

I like my dialup... I can click on something and go upstairs, have lunch, refill my coffee and go back to the basement just as the link opens!

mark

:laughing:

Some small outfit with 5 or 6 employees has put up some kind of a relay on top of a grain elevator a couple miles away, they installed a small box on my roof and now I have hi-speed....well most times anyway.

Dont even know what its called...wireless?? or wi-fi???.... it works great most of the time.

Its out maybe 2 days a month, and almost as slow as dial-up 10% of the time , other than that you can watch streaming videos or download a song in 10 seconds...and no limit.

They tell me you have to be no further than 5 miles from such relays, they have 30 or 40 of them across a few counties...oh and its only $45 a month.

 

[SpringHollow]

Sounds like WiMAX.

Ken

 

[sellercreek]

:laughing:

Some small outfit with 5 or 6 employees has put up some kind of a relay on top of a grain elevator a couple miles away, they installed a small box on my roof and now I have hi-speed....well most times anyway.

Dont even know what its called...wireless?? or wi-fi???.... it works great most of the time.

Its out maybe 2 days a month, and almost as slow as dial-up 10% of the time , other than that you can watch streaming videos or download a song in 10 seconds...and no limit.

They tell me you have to be no further than 5 miles from such relays, they have 30 or 40 of them across a few counties...oh and its only $45 a month.

Fixed wireless broadband is what it is called by most providers.

 

[Gator6x4]

The fundamental cause of the current DSL, Broadband problem impacting on us as consumers is, the broadband market is currently controlled by giant phone companies and cable TV-companies.

The New American Foundation reports a 100 megabit broadband connection costs as little as $16.00 dollars a month in Sweden and $24.00 dollars a month in Korea. Broadband services less than half that fast of connection speed costs American consumers where such is available $145.00 per month. Does anyone else smell pure unmitigated greed here? Federal Regulators recently delivered to Congress proposed changes. Experts with knowledge in the field of telecommunications are advising the recommended changes are not nearly ambitious enough to address current problems and bring the US abreast or even with other countries with broadband service. The Television Industry, Phone, Public Service and Cable are all lobbying for and against increased bandwidth. What one gains another loses. The current proposal put to Congress aims for providing 100 megabit service to 100 million Americans by 2020. Did you get the year, 2020??? Given what current broadband cost in the US I wonder what the projected cost of the 100 megabit service will be where and if it is available?

 

[luscsmith]

I think with analog television gone that within the next decade and completion most of us all should some type of high speed service.
Scott