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Rural internet access?

Kid PresentableKid Presentable Registered User regular
edited June 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
My girlfriend is moving to a great little house, except its in rural south-east Ohio. I'm not positive yet, but I am pretty confident that she isn't going to have Cable or DSL options for internet access. I know nothing about satellite providers, other than that they exist. Does anybody have any experience or recommendations? Pricing info? Horror stories? Is she going to lose access anytime there's a stiff breeze, or a dirigible of some kind passes overhead?

Kid Presentable on

Posts

  • ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    $$$ and comparably slow. Any chance there is some hot 3G action out there?

    Improvolone on
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  • Kid PresentableKid Presentable Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Maybe, actually... would that be better?

    Kid Presentable on
  • SmokeStacksSmokeStacks Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Speed wise, more than likely. Price wise, it'll be a crapshoot based on how much data she plans on using.

    Most cellular providers offer a 3G modem service, but the largest data allotment is usually 5GB/mo and it usually runs around $60. Overages are usually charged by the megabyte and they are always insanely expensive.

    You might be able to find a secondary provider like Cricket who will give you unlimited 3G service for around $40 a month, but she'll be shaped after the first five gigs (it will still likely be faster than dial-up, though).

    Alternately, certain older smartphones can tether without the provider knowing using the proper software, so you could grab an old Palm Treo and have "unlimited" data access for whatever Sprint is charging now.

    I'd recommend asking the neighbors what they use. I'd also recommend avoiding satellite unless it's your only option. It's faster than dial-up, but it's definitely pricey.

    SmokeStacks on
  • Kid PresentableKid Presentable Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Looks like no 3G actually. I guess Satellite is the only option. Or dial-up! God, at least dial-up doesn't have data limits, that sounds like the most annoying thing in the world to me.

    Kid Presentable on
  • nukanuka What are circles? Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I have a friend that has Hughs Net, and he says that it cuts off on him randomly. It's still faster than dial-up, but the connection isn't stable. Especially during stormy weather.

    nuka on
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  • cabsycabsy the fattest rainbow unicorn Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Just be prepared to lose satellite signal any time it storms, is extremely cloudy, or snows.

    cabsy on
  • FatsFats Corvallis, ORRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Are you positive there's no DSL service? My parents live in an ultra-rural area, and even they can get DSL, though it's pretty damn slow.

    Fats on
  • ArrathArrath Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    cabsy wrote: »
    Just be prepared to lose satellite signal any time it storms, is extremely cloudy, or snows.

    And be prepared for some crazy restrictions. I don't remember the provider, but a few years ago my parents had satellite. During 'peak' hours (any time between 6am and midnight) you were limited to 200mbs during some indeterminate period, after that you'd be shaped to hell and back for several hours. I know I was able to hit it with routine browsing, and then it went to about 3 or 4kb/s down. IE, worse than dialup D:

    Arrath on
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