Any tips on how can I get Broadband in a rural location?

**Connie** · 04-20-2007, 05:33 PM

Nothing wrong with the plug IMO Vin. Neat tool. What was interesting to me was the comparison chart for different down load speeds, based on the type of connection (other than dial up).

Any tips on enhancing a dial up connection. I've seen mine as low as 12 kbps and the highest 24 kbps. I really doubt where I live I will ever be able to get DSL, and dish is cost prohibitive Due to installation cost.

**Ron** · 04-20-2007, 06:02 PM

Connie,

Have you talked with the cell phone service providers in your area? They have connections up to about 8 or 10 times the speed of dialup.

Verizon's service is about 80 bucks a month last I heard (a long while ago), there may be a few options for you available from various cell providers.

**Connie** · 04-20-2007, 08:46 PM

I'm on centurytel for my land line. In regard to

cell phone service providers in your area

I wasn't aware that you could connect to the Internet on a home PC through a cell phone provider. I can't use my cell phone in the house. I have to go out side, and sometimes drive to the top of the hill (that I live on) to get a good connection.

I talked to a company who specializes in wireless connections. The have dishes within 5 miles of me to the north, and east. They can't provide me with service because of where I live.

As much as I love living where I live there are some downsides. The main one being poor Internet connection.

To get a dish set up would run between $800.00 to $1000.00 for equipment and installation. Monthly cost would be about $60.00. I can handle the monthly fee, just not the installation fee.

I just downloaded a PDF file. The download rate was 1.1 Kbps.

I'm always looking for a better way, and apreciate any and all suggestions.

**mitx** · 04-20-2007, 09:12 PM

Connie, dialup is your only option? Where do you live. Generally speaking. I can give you some options if you tell me that. Well maybe. Do any of the cell phone providers in your area offer EVDO? Are there any wifi zones in your area?

**Connie** · 04-21-2007, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by mitx

Connie, dialup is your only option? Where do you live. Generally speaking. I can give you some options if you tell me that. Well maybe. Do any of the cell phone providers in your area offer EVDO? Are there any wifi zones in your area?

I live in the sticks. About 15 miles south of Nixa Missouri. I can P*** in my front yard or back yard and never have to worry about a neighbor seeing me. I live in the middle of a 7 acre tract. My closest neighbor is a little less than 1/4 mile away. My house (trailer) is surrounded by trees.

I don't know what EVDO, or wifi are, so I have no idea.

**Gwaihir** · 04-21-2007, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by Connie

I wasn't aware that you could connect to the Internet on a home PC through a cell phone provider. I can't use my cell phone in the house. I have to go out side, and sometimes drive to the top of the hill (that I live on) to get a good connection.

So for that you'd probably need an antanna on top of that hill, with a wire to your house. I also wouldn't get your hopes up. There are a couple of different data services via the cell phone network and the faster ones are rarely available in rural areas, at least here in Europe.

To get a dish set up would run between $800.00 to $1000.00 for equipment and installation. Monthly cost would be about $60.00. I can handle the monthly fee, just not the installation fee.

That's for that wireless company, or for internet via satellite? I'd look into one way internet via satellite if I were you. Should be just $150-$350 to set up, as you need a fairly simple reception dish only. These budget versions use your dial-up line for the upstream and the sattelite connection only for the downstream. It offers good downstream bandwith at an affordable price level, just don't try to play multiplayer fast response games on it (ping time sucks). Also note that they tend to have monthly download limits.

**AlexKall** · 04-21-2007, 04:35 AM

I know it's possible to get 2 mbit through Cell here, but if you have no contact with the masts in your house it might not be an option. Ask the phone company to see if there are any plans to increase the covarage in your area. Because cell is better then the cheaper sat services most of the time but on the other hand, Sat is pretty much always better then dailup alone. Mostly because of the Sat coverage and speed compared to only dailup

**the_ancient** · 04-21-2007, 05:41 AM

Sat Broadband SUCKS.....

Cell Network Broadband is getting better but still $$$$$$$$$$$ unless you can get on a special, Cingular had one awhile back for Unlimited Usage at $60.mo But your only getting about 700kpbs (3G 2mb areas are VERY VERY limited in the US right now, Probably less than 1/2 dozen cities)

WIMAX is emerging more and more, but it will not help Connie

a standard T1 from the phone company could be installed if your bank account is big enough

The Best Technology for Rural areas is the Broadband over Power Lines, but sadly Cable and Phone Companies are make sure they dont have to compete with the Power Companies as well

**Vin DSL** · 04-21-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Connie

Any tips on enhancing a dial up connection. I've seen mine as low as 12 kbps and the highest 24 kbps.

I started on dialup, of course... ran a multi-line dialup BBS in the 80's & 90's, and still use dialup from time-to-time.

The only thing I can tell you is... over the years, I've noticed that modems with certain chipsets work better than others. This has everything to do with the rack modems that your ISP is using! Put another way, some modems will work better than others, when connected to the modems that your ISP is running.

Personally, I've had the best luck with Agere/Lucent chipsets, AKA Lucent Win Modems... and I've used them all.

These are 'soft modems', if you will -- controlled by (software) drivers that are installed on your Windows computer. Thus, they are uber simple to update -- no ROM flashing!

My brand of choice used to be Hayes, followed by USR, but that's ancient history. These days, I prefer Actiontec DeskLinks, but they're getting scarce as hen's teeth...

Other than that, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

Originally Posted by Connie

I really doubt where I live I will ever be able to get DSL, and dish is cost prohibitive Due to installation cost.

Yeppers!

As with most things... it all comes down to money, e.g. how much you're willing to spend.

http://go.gethughesnet.com/HUGHES/Ro...66B5B589%5D%5D

This is probably the way to go!

BTW, as a basis of comparison, I run 1.5M/896K xDSL here at the house, and I pay about $45/mo by the time everything is said and done, so...

**Lazy_B** · 04-21-2007, 09:25 PM

I think you need to recheck your satellite providers. IN case in point is a quote from a ag forum. Trust me you live in a crowded place. I have heard pros and cons about wild blue

/www.wildblue.com $50 a month and $300 for equipment

[U]I've had wild blue since last spring. It sure beats dial-up. I have the slowest speed which costs $49.95 a month plus initial equipment cost. It's fast enough for what I do and probably 20 times faster. The only negative is if a big storm cloud comes it can hinder the signal much like direct tv. That's fairly rare though.[/U]

**Vin DSL** · 04-21-2007, 11:44 PM

Speaking of WildBlue...

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/o...ed/index.shtml

**Vin DSL** · 04-21-2007, 11:55 PM

Here's another one...

http://www.starband.com/index.html

**the_ancient** · 04-22-2007, 06:51 AM

hmm I was just looking over the Wildblue Web site, it is looks like there have been some great improvements in Sat Broadband since I last looked in to it...