The Frustrations Of Rural Internet AND Netflix

[hawkeye08]

Netflix has been great once we switched to new provider. We used to have microwave and having one SD netflix stream was iffy, lots of buffering. Now we can run two (daughter and grand daughter and I all like some Netflix) with seldom any buffering...

 

[Looking4new]

Here's a good Netflix resource for bandwidth settings

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87

Adjust your data usage settings

Access your Account page from a web browser and select Playback Settings.

Select your desired data usage setting (please note that each estimate below is per stream, and that restricting data usage may affect video quality):

Low (0.3 GB per hour)

Medium (SD: 0.7 GB per hour)

High (Best video quality, up to 3 GB per hour for HD and 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD)

Auto (Adjusts automatically to deliver the highest possible quality, based on your current Internet connection speed)

Select Save

Note:
It may take up to 8 hours for these changes to take effect.

Data usage settings only apply to the Netflix profile you set them from, meaning you can have different data usage settings for each profile. If you are concerned about the total amount of data that Netflix uses, make sure to change this setting for each profile.

Using the Auto setting is a definite bad idea.

Thank you very much, sir.

 

[forgeblast]

We have frontier dsl, and a verizon home network extender. We were looking at bundling a few things into sat, but found out the home network extender will not work with satellite. With out the extender we get 1x and one bar.

 

[dmccarty]

Netflix has been great once we switched to new provider. We used to have microwave and having one SD netflix stream was iffy, lots of buffering. Now we can run two (daughter and grand daughter and I all like some Netflix) with seldom any buffering...

Updating the streaming device can also help with buffering. Our first Internet enabled DVD player would often pause while the buffer caught up. Our second Internet enabled DVD/BD player was much better than the first. I am guess it had more memory and a faster processor. Now we have a Fire TV and it is even better. :cool2:

We are on DSL and we were able to get a second DSL line into the house. We only have 1.5 mbps on each line, and in theory, we could bind both lines to get 3 mbps which we did not do. Instead of binding, we are running two networks in the house, one on each DSL line. We, the parents, get one line and the kids get a second. Everyone is much happier and we get almost no buffering. :thumbsup::cool2:

Later,
Dan

 

[sd455dan]

Be wary of satellite plans. The word "unlimited" which has different meanings to different companies. IMO satellite should only be considered when nothing else or dial up is available. Had Hughesnet for 2 years and they suck. Switched to Verizon 4G LTE and recommend it. They cover 99% of Indiana.

TRUE THAT...

hughes was super slow and so bad we couldn't even get through ordering something on amazon without being dropped or timed out

$70 a month for 5 or 10 gigs. and hard throttled to 50 kbs. per second or less most times. ping times between .7- 5 full seconds
30 minutes to download a 2 minute vid in min resolution PUT UP with it for 7 years NEVER AGAIN

ATT 4GLTE is not even in the same GALAXY No problems with vids.

3 devices connected just ran Ookla speed test

82 ms. ping
17.56 mbs. down
4.08 mbs. up

no complaints

 

[DrRod]

We have Verizon and they couldn't care less about us. Last summer a truck knocked our line down. I called for service and they said it was a systemic problem. I could see the wire coiled around a fence post but they insisted that the problem was at their end and it would take weeks to fix -- they were backed up due to storm damage. The eventually made an appointment to come out and fix it but didn't show up. No amount of begging or screaming could get them to move.

Aside from hurting my business interests, its a safety issue. Cell phones don't work here so if the land line is out you have no way to reach out for help. Its also a mental health issue because we don't get much radio out here [one local AM channel loaded with political ranting] so without internet there is no entertainment.

Wish we had an alternative but we don't.

 

[k0ua]

We have Verizon and they couldn't care less about us. Last summer a truck knocked our line down. I called for service and they said it was a systemic problem. I could see the wire coiled around a fence post but they insisted that the problem was at their end and it would take weeks to fix -- they were backed up due to storm damage. The eventually made an appointment to come out and fix it but didn't show up. No amount of begging or screaming could get them to move.

Aside from hurting my business interests, its a safety issue. Cell phones don't work here so if the land line is out you have no way to reach out for help. Its also a mental health issue because we don't get much radio out here [one local AM channel loaded with political ranting] so without internet there is no entertainment.

Wish we had an alternative but we don't.

Let me introduce you the the wide wide world of Shortwave listening and AM band Dxing with proper receivers and antennas. Or if you would like to participate as well as passive listen you can easily get your Amateur radio license and you can "fight back" You can talk and communicate as well as passively receive.

You have alternatives, you just need to explore them. With thousands of stations to listen to in the electromagnetic spectrum, surely you can find something that interests you.

Getting Licensed

 

[dadster4]

We would be jumping up and down happy if we could get 8 mbps down and 1 mbps down. What is sooooo frustrating is that the new subdivision behind us gets that speed but we are stuck with 1.5 service. More frustrating is that the house with faster service is only 500-600 feet away. Farther from town where our service comes from but closer to the faster box. CenturyLink will not upgrade the line and there is no cable so we are stuck. Satellite won't work due to time lag.

So YOU do have good internet. Be thankful! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

When we lived in the city we did have cable and we would see the network slow down at certain times of day but especially if we had snow/ice storms which caused people to work from home.

Later,
Dan

I have Centurylink also, and it sucks big time, 1.5 on a good day. Of course it doesn't help that I have 5 splices in the line between my home and the street 1/2 mile away.

 

[kcflhrc]

Of course it doesn't help that I have 5 splices in the line between my home and the street 1/2 mile away.

Why is that? Is the cable buried or aerial? Typically splices have no real impact on service unless it is a bad splice.

 

[kcflhrc]

Cell phones don't work here so if the land line is out you have no way to reach out for help.

Land lines are regulated by the FCC. Broadband is not regulated in anyway. You have every right to file a formal complaint with your states PUC for the land line issue and the carrier may and probably will be fined.