Unreliable internet

[1stDeuce]

Let us know how it goes!

As for running routers off 12v, you skip the inverter altogether. Most of them use a 12v DC wall wart, so you cut off the 110v plug part wire the cord straight to the battery, then add a $4 HF trickle charger and you have a UPS that'll run your router for quite a while if the power goes down. I have our router programmed to shut off the wireless at night. Cuts down on draw, and many say it helps them sleep better.

 

[Retiredguy2]

Being in the semi-rural area I am, I get ONE choice for Internet service...crappy Frontier DSL that usually peaks out at 1.45 mbps maximum. WOW has a pole 550' away from me but there is only one pole between that and mine...I was quoted a price of $5700 to extend cable service underground (that is not a misprint) or much more because new poles have to be installed. I am reluctant to hook up to satellite internet because so long of a contract is required. BTW, I expect that in the near future no landline telephone service will be available in this area which leaves me no choice but to switch.

 

[hawkeye08]

Being in the semi-rural area I am, I get ONE choice for Internet service...crappy Frontier DSL that usually peaks out at 1.45 mbps maximum. WOW has a pole 550' away from me but there is only one pole between that and mine...I was quoted a price of $5700 to extend cable service underground (that is not a misprint) or much more because new poles have to be installed. I am reluctant to hook up to satellite internet because so long of a contract is required. BTW, I expect that in the near future no landline telephone service will be available in this area which leaves me no choice but to switch.

Don't give up on local WISP (wireless internet service provider). They popup without alot of fanfare and if you can get line of site to one of their access points, you can get service. I have seen them 7-10 miles from access point that work fine. They are adding relays and access points all the time... If your location is suitable for that service (has to have line of site to access point), you have a chance.

 

[Retiredguy2]

Don't give up on local WISP (wireless internet service provider). They popup without alot of fanfare and if you can get line of site to one of their access points, you can get service. I have seen them 7-10 miles from access point that work fine. They are adding relays and access points all the time... If your location is suitable for that service (has to have line of site to access point), you have a chance.

Thank you for your feedback and the information you provided. I never thought of doing that because I never saw the term WISP until this thread. BTW....wife and I both have cell service here (Verizon and Sprint) and although there are towers for both less than 2 and 3 miles away, we do not get cell coverage here. Meaning we both depend on slow DSL router for cell coverage at home. It S**KS BIG TIME.

 

[Xfaxman]

Do a search with your home town. looks like a lot if WISPs in Michigan: Google

 

[TnAndy]

Thank you for your feedback and the information you provided. I never thought of doing that because I never saw the term WISP until this thread. BTW....wife and I both have cell service here (Verizon and Sprint) and although there are towers for both less than 2 and 3 miles away, we do not get cell coverage here. Meaning we both depend on slow DSL router for cell coverage at home. It S**KS BIG TIME.

Yep...this is basically what I've done with a small tower of my own....and they use it as a repeater point to extend service in my area, so they pay me + kick in my 40mb connection in the deal. They have a dozen customers off my tower, and potential to add a lot more.


Since you weren't familiar with WISP, maybe you also are not aware you can buy a cell phone booster that will take crappy signal to max bars. Best Buy, Amazon, etc sell them....not real cheap, but if you're gonna use a cell, you might as well get top signal.

 

[RNeumann]

Well don't hold your breath but quality satellite internet is getting closer! The existing satellite service uses "high level" satellites. The satellites are so far from earth the delay or latency is so high it can be frustrating for many. The newer approach is to use "low level" satellites that significantly improve these problems. The company below just launched 10 satellites and have a commitment to launch 60 more! Major players are involved in this technology like Google. I don't think this is going to be an option next week but hopefully in the not to distant future this will cover many parts of the world.

Iridium | Network | Iridium NEXT

 

[moriboy]

Here in rural western Oregon, our choices were only dialup and satellite. We went with Hughes about 8 years ago and although not great, it was still better than dialup. A few years back, we were able to get DSL. How, I don't know because there aren't very many houses on our road which is about 15 miles long. We now enjoy 13-14 mbs!

 

[downsizingnow48]

Thank you for your feedback and the information you provided. I never thought of doing that because I never saw the term WISP until this thread. BTW....wife and I both have cell service here (Verizon and Sprint) and although there are towers for both less than 2 and 3 miles away, we do not get cell coverage here. Meaning we both depend on slow DSL router for cell coverage at home. It S**KS BIG TIME.

We had a similar situation. No cell coverage here, although there is a tower 3km away down a thickly forested slope. I put a cell phone booster antenna on an aluminum flagpole. That boosted the cell signal at ground level from nothing to a reliable 3G service. Then I used a wireless router with a USB727 modem to provide wireless. It provides decent coverage everywhere in the house. We only use internet for email, news, keeping in touch with family, etc, it is not good enough for Netflix for instance.

Looking ahead, we are about 6 miles from a town with 4G cellular and might get that in future. Also, there are two local outfits trying to see if they can make a WISP network work. But there do not seem to be enough potential customers within any line of sight location -- lots of hills and trees here.

Our neighbors either do without or use a miserable dial up service.

 

[brokenknee]

Update, I was so fed up with the bad internet I called and scheduled an install for exede internet. It would have been twice the price at $80.00 a month plus tax and "fees". They said I would get 12 mbs down load and 3 mbs upload; that also included 150 gb of data a month. I scheduled it for a few days out since Frontier was to come out one more time.

I didn't think the price was to bad as that is about what I was paying at my last place for half the speed; although I did not have a data cap.

The Frontier tech decided to run a new line from the road to my house, he said he didn't think that was the problem but didn't know what else to try. Well low and behold I finally have good 11.5 mbs down load and .75 mbs upload speeds (average). When I called him the next day he was surprised as he really didn't think that was the problem as his meteor was showing a good signal at the house.

Nothing was said about cost for running the line, I am hoping I will not be charged, I was not charged for the other "service" calls. I will have to wait and see on next months bill. I would guess it was about a 300 foot run from the road to were it ties into my house. The line is also laying on top of the snow and nothing was said about them coming back in the spring to bury it.

So for now I am satisfied. I also feel the tech did a good job by not giving up on the problem and kept trying different things. I know there have been some negative comments about Frontier on this thread and else were on the net. I do not blame them for my issue, the people I purchased the house from were the original owners and never had the internet.