Rural Internet

[TheMan419]

Unless SWMBO changes her mind we are ordering Ubifi tonight when I get home. I'll start a new thread to document the process. In the house on my iphone I usually get 2 bars. So with the increased power of a non-mobile unit I should get better reception. Outside with the phone I have seen 10MBPS or even up to 60. So if I can get 10 out of the unit that will be way better than my current 2 from the DSL..... it would mean I could actually stream TV/Movies.

 

[oosik]

Interesting - - My HugheNet plan is $60/mo - theirs lists at $90 per month. My HughesNet is definitely restricted but has always been sufficient for my needs. I think my location would be a limiting factor. There are those times when I get ZERO bars on my cell phone both inside the house and outside. My phone service it thru AT&T.

There have been times - like the last two weeks - when I could not contact HughesNet due to smoke, ash and crud in the air - PNW wildfires.

I have sent Ubifi an email. Interesting to see what they say.

 

[tractorshopper]

They don't send a tech to do the install, they just send hardware. Since you know the direction of the antenna, I would put one of these on a pole as high as you can get it pointed in that direction - Wilson Outside Yagi Directional Antenna (5 Ohm) | 314411

I don't really see a signal booster helping much with the Mofi because they've already got the cell modem power maxed out, an antenna is going to give you the best bang.

This is good to know. They sent an email back recommending a Surecall $300 unit. That would $600 just to get started. I researched some stuff on the Internet and downloaded an app to see what strength and what towers hook up. On my phone, even though there is a tower a mile or so South of me, the phone connects to one several miles North of me. I had to drive around with the phone on to see that my hill is blocking me from the closest tower. I also saw someone on YouTube with the Wilson you recommended. I may just give this a try first.

 

[BigBlue1]

This is good to know. They sent an email back recommending a Surecall $300 unit. That would $600 just to get started. I researched some stuff on the Internet and downloaded an app to see what strength and what towers hook up. On my phone, even though there is a tower a mile or so South of me, the phone connects to one several miles North of me. I had to drive around with the phone on to see that my hill is blocking me from the closest tower. I also saw someone on YouTube with the Wilson you recommended. I may just give this a try first.

What app did you use that shows you tower locations and which you are connected to?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[TractorGuy]

Unless SWMBO changes her mind we are ordering Ubifi tonight when I get home. I'll start a new thread to document the process. In the house on my iphone I usually get 2 bars. So with the increased power of a non-mobile unit I should get better reception. Outside with the phone I have seen 10MBPS or even up to 60. So if I can get 10 out of the unit that will be way better than my current 2 from the DSL..... it would mean I could actually stream TV/Movies.

I never had a problem streaming movies at 1.5 Mbps on my DSL.

90 bucks a month is not making me want a change.

 

[ning]

I see people have mentioned 5g as the savior for rural internets... 5g is very high frequency, won't bounce off of much of anything or go through anything - I can see it working great in the flats, but I'm in the hills and pretty doubtful. At best I'm hoping 5g will provide the transport for other wireless systems that handle hills and trees better.

 

[tractorshopper]

What app did you use that shows you tower locations and which you are connected to?

Thanks,
Rob

Network Cell Info Lite. I am on AT&T with this phone, but the rest of my family is on Verizon. I don't think it matters which carrier you use, the app shows you which towers you are connecting to on your phone. It will show multiple towers at a time some times and the dba of them and which is primary, etc. Has a lot of info with graphs and stuff and a map that you can zoom in our out. If you drive it tracks your signal strength along your route and which tower you're on at a time. It's pretty cool. My best signal anywhere is like -97 at home and usually like -111.

 

[BigBlue1]

Thanks

 

[buickanddeere]

If there are any copper providers available they should be offering at least 25MB via DSL for $40/ month...That's what we get out in the sticks as long as there is enough wires available...takes 2 sets of 2 pair to get 25mb over DSL/copper...

Still limited by distance from the central office . Our wire pair meggers 9 million ohm to ground and wire to wire so no problems there . We are well past the recommended distance at 2-1/2 miles but we manage 4-6Mb on a continuous download . A ping of course runs 15+ Mb but that test is just a quick reference .

 

[buickanddeere]

A few rural folk along the new natural gas pipeline will have fiber. The local medical weed grow operation is getting NG . The village one block over and the cottages along the lake will also have NG service finally. I hope they run a NG and fiber spur line the 1-1/4 mile up my road .
Ticks me off there are 12 fiber lines currently running under my driveway but they are leased to only the power plant down the road .