Rural High Speed Internet

[RobS]

Well, I'm finally sick of dial up at home. Like many on here I suppose, I have no cable or DSL on my street. What are my options for high speed and what can I expect to pay? Equipment needed and installation costs? DIY? Also, any pitfalls or "watch out fors"? We don't have satelite TV and I'm not particularly interested in it either. Kids are used to the seven channels we get and that's fine.

Thanks!

 

[Podunkadunk]

Hughes.net works, but it's costly... 3 packages if I remember right. Below are monthly charges.
1. 79.99, their fastest
2. 69.99 pretty fast
3. 59.99 still pretty fast

Takes anywhere from 300-500 bucks to get set up. You own the equipment after that.

Like I said, it works and is a lot faster than dial-up, but it's pricey. Also, if you need to use VPN to get into anything work related or what not, don't buy Hughes.net. They don't allow VPN. Note: if you don't know what VPN is, that's a good thing, pay this part no mind. : )

I knew this had been discussed before, so I did a search and found it. All you wanted to know:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/102925-broad-band-options-help.html

Podunk

 

[JESSE1]

You're in the same situation I'm in. I can't get DSL, cable or broadband. My only alternative is www.gethughesnet.com and go with satellite internet service. There's other satellite services but Hughesnet is the only one sold in my area. About twice the cost of AOL dialup and you have to buy the equipment but supposed to be pretty fast.

 

[charlz]

Same boat here.... no cable, no dsl etc. I ended up going with a local wireless company. Had to pay $250 for the antenna but then it is only 39.95 a month for a very fast connection (1.5mbps up and down). Clearwire is a new wireless service available in a lot of areas now, you might want to look into them.

Charles

 

[jimg]

Your options are based on where you are but satellite gets most areas. Be aware that all of the wireless solutions (satellite, via cell phone provider) have usage caps described in the fine print of the contract, none are unlimited. If you can live w/i those youre all good. If not the provider has various actions from charging huge fees to reduction of service. Also if you tunnel into a work place satellite wont work.

I work remotely so a HS link is mandatory. I went thru this drill several months ago and have a choice of the various satellite providers and Verizon wireless. Neither DSL or cable is available where I am. I barely fit into Verizons extended net so I get very good access speed but pass more data than theyre usage cap allows. I could easily run over the cap mid month and wind up w/ well over $1K of usage charges + $60 monthly charge. So I wound up renting a small office in a neighboring town. For home use only I expect the Verizon wireless link would be OK but you really need to watch out if youre given to DLing songs, movies that sort of thing. It can add up in a hurry and youll find a use for the extra bandwidth. The nice side of the Verizon wireless solution is that it can travel w/ you using a laptop. So, as long as youre in their extended net youll get excellent service no matter where you are. All the other solutions are stay at home only.

In my state theres a new initiative (nonprofit) thats trying to get rural communities connected w/ HS. You might have something similar where you live and I expect they could help you out. That said I doubt whether things are going to change in the mid-term for rural addresses. When we want the net at 'home' we either run into town and park in the library lot and use their wireless or wait until my son goes to school and use a local restaurants wireless. Being mobile (having a laptop) is a good thing when youre in a tech poor area.

 

[SnowRidge]

We use 128K dial up dual channel ISDN. ISDN, Integrated Services Digital Network is a tariffed service from the phone company. For $50 a month, including all taxes, we get two phone numbers, both of which can carry voice or data. We also pay $25 a month to a separate ISP to connect to the Internet. They are cheaper than the phone company.

The ISDN line connects to our ISDN Terminal Adapter, which routes data traffic, generates our dial tone, rings our phones, and automatically dials voice and data calls. Our computers think they are connected directly to the Internet. Because they are fully digital, ISDN data calls connect in just a few seconds. The Terminal Adapter automatically dials the ISP's ISDN number when any machine on the network sends a packet to the router. Unlike satellite, there is no delay and no bandwidth sharing.

Our data connection, which defaults to the dual channel 128K mode is the rough equivalent of a 150K asynchronous modem, which doesn't exist. Another way to look at it -- we get roughly 3 to 3 1/2 times the speed of most peoples 56K connections. We can make and receive phone calls while on line. The 128K connection automatically switches to 64K while the phone call takes place. It switches back to 128K automatically at the end of the call.

ISDN is cheaper in Tennessee than anywhere else in the US. In any other state, you will pay more.

 

[AlanB]

We went with Wildblue.net

From my perspective, about midway between dialup and DSL.

Gets slower in the evenings.

Was just discussing it with another guy, and it is really the best option.

Read the fine print on the installation thing (I did not till I was already committed) the Free installation was on the side of the house, etc. etc.

I needed a post, extra wire, and was going to charge me like $150 to bury the wire / conduit in the trench I had to dig for the directTV cable..... (that was $150 on top of some other ridiculous amount like $200 or something for the post etc.

I would do it all again tomorrow, but would be there during install and would have read more carefully the install stuff.

 

[MikePA]

The Cingular (now ATT Mobility) cellular card I use costs $52/month and has no per byte charge. When connected to their High Speed network (not the EDGE network) achieves about 1 meg down and 300K up. In fact, I am using it now.

 

[RobS]

Wow, thanks guys, some great info. I'll do some more checking based on your inputs. Looks like my options are satelite, ISDN, cellular (my Verizon cell phone barely works where we are but I understand Centennial works well) and maybe this Wildblue. Is that a satelite service or what?

I do use VPN for work (spoiled with high end service here and wifi on the laptop). We're supposed to get BPL (Broadband over Power Lines) but I don't want to wait that long.

Thanks again, keep the ideas coming.

Oh yeah, someone mentioned that satelite is fast one way (downloading?) but slow the other way. This person said the slow way is actually over the phone line so it still ties that up. True?

 

[MikePA]

Oh yeah, someone mentioned that satelite is fast one way (downloading?) but slow the other way. This person said the slow way is actually over the phone line so it still ties that up. True?

It was true the last time I looked into satellite Internet.

Satellite Internet also used to have, maybe they still do, Fair Access Policy. This means they watch how much people download and if someone is a bandwidth hog, they throttle them back for a certain period of time. (They get FAPped) For the typical web surfer, this isn't a big deal, but if someone wants to download lots of music or especially videos, satellite internet isn't for them.

Wildblue is satellite based.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I do use VPN for work (spoiled with high end service here and wifi on the laptop). We're supposed to get BPL (Broadband over Power Lines) but I don't want to wait that long.


Oh yeah, someone mentioned that satelite is fast one way (downloading?) but slow the other way. This person said the slow way is actually over the phone line so it still ties that up. True?

VPN- if you ever plan on working from home, don't go HughesNet.

One way fast downloading- With Satellite there is what they call "latency". In a nutshell, it's the time it takes to bounce back and forth to the satellite. Sometimes it hangs up a little, but even on a bad, miserable day it will seem to blaze compared to 56k dialup. Also and this is very important...there are extremely slow times downloading and uploading. This is because there are but so many satellites up there orbiting, but there are thousands of users...and more signing on every day. I don't think they are launching satellites daily, or weekly, heck even monthly! So, you see where I'm going.

Phone line...NO! Phone line attachment is there for a backup only (satellite service goes down). I had HughesNet in late 2006 and early 2007. I never even had a phone line plugged into the unit!
Podunk

 

[Podunkadunk]

Satellite Internet also used to have, maybe they still do, Fair Access Policy. This means they watch how much people download and if someone is a bandwidth hog, they throttle them back for a certain period of time. (They get FAPped) For the typical web surfer, this isn't a big deal, but if someone wants to download lots of music or especially videos, satellite internet isn't for them.

This is true (well this was true as of March of 2007 when I ended my contract with them)! Hughes.net will cut you off if you try to download anything over 100mb. You will be disconnected for just long enough that you'll lose your download. But, like MikePA said, most people don't worry about that problem. I work from home and move large files on a regular basis.

Podunk

 

[DANOCHEESE]

""" It is my responsibility to keep my kids safe from it.
When a internet company does it though it's going too far.""""

Can you come talk to my customers for me. I just had my butt chewed by a lady cause she got the latest male organ enhancer email. We stop about 100,000 junk emails a day now. a few slip by and she got the wrong one.

I know her husband I will have to tell him she thinks he does'nt need any enhancmenets. My butt does now after she chewed on it.

 

[jimg]

When we looked at Hughes their contract stated after a certain amt of data had been passed (forget the #) they throttle you back to a slower speed for the remainder of the month. As for Cingular, if you can get their signal, I bet they also have a monthly data cap. So, while they dont charge / byte they will start charging once youve reached the monthly limit. Verizon charges by the minute (.45 I think) after youve exceeded their cap. W/ them the charges sky rocket whether youve passing data or not.

 

[Jimbrown]

You need to look into EVDO it is far better than satellite if you can get it.
Look here Coverage & Speed

Most of the info you are getting on Hughes net is also not correct.
HughesNet Customer Care - Fair Access Policy FAQs

HughesNet UPGRADES & OFFERS

Wild blue has stopped taking new customers in many areas you would have to contact them to find out if it is available.

Wifi is another option if available Look here.
Broadband Wireless Exchange Magazine

You can read much about hughes here and if you lookat the top of the page for 'Other satelite" and "wildblue" you can read about them also. I would advise against one way satelite but some seem to like it. Hughes and wildblue are 2 way, no telephone required.

HughesNet Satellite forum - dslreports.com broadband community

 

[MossRoad]

Rob,
I'll be in the same boat if we ever build. There just isn't anything out there but regular phone service so I will be looking into satellite, cell and wireless.

I have a friend that lives outside of Cassopolis. I believe they have wild blue. I will ask and let you know. It is satellite. The service has to set it up for you because it is a transmitter.

As for celular service, someone sells a device that you stick your mobile card into and it becomes a wireless access point for your house. Then you wouldn't have to wire anything, just buy wireless adapters for any PCs on your house. It is worth checking into. I think the one service I saw was from Sprint, but I haven't check in years.

 

[MossRoad]

This is true (well this was true as of March of 2007 when I ended my contract with them)! Hughes.net will cut you off if you try to download anything over 100mb. You will be disconnected for just long enough that you'll lose your download. But, like MikePA said, most people don't worry about that problem. I work from home and move large files on a regular basis.

Podunk

You could use a download manager that would pick back up where it left off. I had that back when I was using dial-up and had to disconnect to answer the phone. Worked well.

 

[dooleysm]

Even broadband ISPs will throttle your usage. Transferring lots of videos around will do it, according to a buddy of mine. We just have dialup and satellite available at our house. I've looked into satellite, but am not willing to pay the high monthly rates, much less the initial equipment/installation costs.

Verizon is supposed to be bringing ISDN to most of rural Indiana by the end of the year. I've read some articles on it throughout the year and I've recently seen signs up around our county advertising ISDN. I called the number and it was just a recording saying that it was on the way and to call back later.

 

[Podunkadunk]

You could use a download manager that would pick back up where it left off. I had that back when I was using dial-up and had to disconnect to answer the phone. Worked well.

Yeah, I was considering that option when they sent me a letter saying DSL was now available to my part of the boonies and I swapped over.