Rural Internet

[mddorange]

A couple of the Electric CoOps in Texas have started building powerline data networks for their members. I wish ours would do that but, I think as the LTE networks are further built out, it will end up being a bad investment for the long term. The standard for 4G LTE maxes it out at 1GB, which will rival even fiber.

Yes, and 4G LTE is what AT&T Mobley runs on. I get it all the time, even when my cell phone won't connect.

 

[mrmikey]

You guys are lucky. all my daughter can get is Explorenet with their 'blazing fast' 5mbps for $100 with a 50GB download limit which is constantly dropping out. No cable, no fibre option where she lives, I'd go crazy with that, you could watch the pixels forming...........Mike

 

[Industrial Toys]

Explornet is a garbage company. Nice friendly English Speaking people out east (Canada I mean, not Bangalor) when you finally do reach them. But, every call starts with "High Call Volumes" blah, blah blah. They are always outselling their resources and you can't get a straight answer about anything.

So fortunately I cancelled them in November to go with a GREAT little company, GB Tel. Explornet never came to get their radio off my tower and never called. In May, I get billed almost $600.00 on my credit card for the radio.

They claimed their dealer rejected the service call. That is an even bigger pile of garbage, local dealer! They NEVER return calls. Maybe only for new customers.

Many, Many phone calls and hours later, I got a credit! Oh, by then, I had hired GB Tel to climb my tower and retrieve the rather expensive looking Explornet Radio. I now offered to drop it off at a dealer, and she told me just to recycle it!

 

[rekees4300]

That's what happens when dealing with those Mom/Pop outfits, here today gone tomorrow. Been there done that, now have Verizon Wireless. No more Mom/Pop for us!

 

[Einthewoods]

I use Viasat/Excede. I actually have two systems: one dedicated for work and one for the house. No other land based options at my place.

For my work, I am pure VPN and do audio, video and Web sharing along with all the other computer tasks. No problems.

Our home system we stream movies occasionally but usually just normal Internet usage.

At this point, having other options would mean I am too close to civilization for my taste. I moved here to be away from others, and with that comes adapting. :laughing:

 

[TheMan419]

I use Viasat/Excede. I actually have two systems: one dedicated for work and one for the house. No other land based options at my place.

For my work, I am pure VPN and do audio, video and Web sharing along with all the other computer tasks. No problems.

Our home system we stream movies occasionally but usually just normal Internet usage.

At this point, having other options would mean I am too close to civilization for my taste. I moved here to be away from others, and with that comes adapting. :laughing:

I am looking at them along with a 4g/LTE options. My worry with Viasat is we want to stream movies and the like. Also their statement that your speeds are "up to" x but depend on network congestion.

Any trouble with speeds during the evening?

 

[hawkeye08]

Many of the local internet providers can only afford to build infrastructure for the averages, not able to handle peak times. Evening here my 10/4 plan gives me 2-4 down, 1-2 up. Too many folks watching HD Netflix and Amazon prime video, especially when the OTA is all reruns. I am looking forward to 5G, perhaps we will have a decent signal at home.

I read the OP first post and went and checked it out, did a speed test with my phone, 3M down 1M up. We had AT&T wireless home phone with internet for awhile and it was slightly better with that device, but not as fast as our provider is most of the time.. interesting when I checked the speed test on phone, I did it on computer with current provider also. For that moment, I got 14 down 8 up.. back to 10/4 a few minutes later..

My brother lived a few counties west of me and the county decided to deploy fiber county wide and operate as part of electric utility. They already had poles and ROWs. They got part of the county done and ran out of money perhaps 10 years ago, now they are raising electric rates on everyone to pay to finish deploying fiber.

He had satellite with 10G data limit, wanted to get something else, but nothing available.

 

[Einthewoods]

I am looking at them along with a 4g/LTE options. My worry with Viasat is we want to stream movies and the like. Also their statement that your speeds are "up to" x but depend on network congestion.

Any trouble with speeds during the evening?

I have had infrequent issues where things will buffer from time to time, but nothing I'm not willing to live with. They have some new unlimited plan with newer gear than mine which is supposed to be even better than my speeds. I might upgrade to that at some point.

I should in full openness state though that I suspect my tolerance is very high compared to most for things like this. I live in the woods, love the lifestyle of being away from most things and don't let technology get me down. If it doesn't work, I'll go out to the barn to have a beer and listen to the radio.

Everyday though I use it for work. Do full on video conference calls and sharing, exchange multi-MB files all the time and never have trouble. All of that through a VPN which Viasat/Excede claim no support for.

 

[TheMan419]

I have had infrequent issues where things will buffer from time to time, but nothing I'm not willing to live with. They have some new unlimited plan with newer gear than mine which is supposed to be even better than my speeds. I might upgrade to that at some point.

I should in full openness state though that I suspect my tolerance is very high compared to most for things like this. I live in the woods, love the lifestyle of being away from most things and don't let technology get me down. If it doesn't work, I'll go out to the barn to have a beer and listen to the radio.

Everyday though I use it for work. Do full on video conference calls and sharing, exchange multi-MB files all the time and never have trouble. All of that through a VPN which Viasat/Excede claim no support for.

Given the crappy dsl we have now I am willing to live w problems.

I have been running speed test on my phone off and on today. I was getting 30 mbps down load at one point. That was outside. Inside I get like 4. But that is with my phone. If I have to get an external antenna so be it.

 

[Einthewoods]

Given the crappy dsl we have now I am willing to live w problems.

I have been running speed test on my phone off and on today. I was getting 30 mbps down load at one point. That was outside. Inside I get like 4. But that is with my phone. If I have to get an external antenna so be it.

Exede had no contracts when I got them two or so years ago. I think with their new unlimited fancy-shmancy plan there is a 2 yr commitment. No sure about the other normal plans. If you can get a plan with no commitment from them, give it a try for a month or two and have them come pick it up if you don't like it.