Internet service?

[Ironheadziggy76]

Living in an area that only offers sloooooow dial up, I am looking into alternatives for service.

Has anyone used or know someone who has used the satellite type services such as Hughesnet or Sky Blue? If so, how do you like it? Any issues with running out of usage? I have read the FAQ's but wanted to hear from someone who actually uses it. Thanks.

[Jetfixer]

I use hughesnet. It runs $70/mo, for my plan. The basic plan is a little cheaper, but the bandwidth is slower and the fair access policy (FAP) is more restrictive. This is the absolut last choice, if anything else was available I would use it. FAP really sucks, if you download more than your maximum allowable limit, they slow your bandwidth down to a crawl. I NEVER get the advertized speeds either.
On the bright side, I'm reading that when the local TV stations go digital, the current frequencies will be used for internet and other wireless services. When that happens we should be able to get broadband in most rural areas without depending on satellite.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Thanks Jetfixer, I'm hoping to get DSL someday out this way, maybe in a year or two. To give you an idea of how slow I'm running, I uploaded 14 pictures to Photobucket and it only took 6 hours and 45 minutes.

[Jetfixer]

Holy crap! I've been there before. I couldn't take it any more, especially with the kids in school and needing internet so I starting usingthe satellite. It's not too bad, just too expensive and not fast enough, but much faster than dialup.

[Ironheadziggy76]

My nephew just got WildBlue or whatever it's called. I think I will go over and check it out and see how he likes his. I think I would rather go with Hughesnet, they seem to have been around the longest.

[ImRubicon]

At work and a few people I know use the mobile cell cards for their laptops.
The speeds are pretty good and you can get signal in a lot more places than you think.
If you have good cell service then you may have a good data service also .
From what I have seen its as good or better than the eye in the sky

[Landon]

I use internet through Verizon. They have a card that goes in a USB port and that carries the signal. As long as you have a verizon cell signal, you can get internet. It not quite as fast as DSL but a heck of alot better than dial up.

[Ironheadziggy76]

What's a Laptop? :p I still have the original computer I bought from Gateway back in 1998. I think it actually has the first edition of Windows 98. :( The wife keeps stabbing me with a double edged sword. She tells me that I can't get good internet without a newer computer, and she says I don't need a newer computer because I can't get good internet without a satellite. :mad: Sometimes I really want to punch her in the nose. :p

Living where I do, my cell phone is basically useless unless I hike up to the highest part of our property. On the plus side, I have deer and wild turkey that graze in my yard like pets. I should never go hungry. :D I have looked out the door and they will just be standing in the driveway like they are waiting on the mailman or something. My closest neighbor is about a mile away, and if more than a half dozen cars goes by including the mail and school bus we've had a busy day. :)

[Landon]

On the plus side, I have deer and wild turkey that graze in my yard like pets. I should never go hungry. :D I have looked out the door and they will just be standing in the driveway like they are waiting on the mailman or something. My closest neighbor is about a mile away, and if more than a half dozen cars goes by including the mail and school bus we've had a busy day. :)

Sounds like a great place to hold a camping event!:tent8:

[Ironheadziggy76]

Sounds like a great place to hold a camping event!:tent8:


I've got 44 acres of woods and thickets, come on down.

[Mellow]

I've got 44 acres of woods and thickets, come on down.

ah... can we have a :fire2: ???

motomac, you watching this?:chop1:

[Ironheadziggy76]

ah... can we have a :fire2: ???

motomac, you watching this?:chop1:

If you're very, very careful. :D My timber is part of my retirement fund!:p

[Mellow]

Well, I'm sure you have a lot of deadfall we can help ya clean up.

[Mr. Guy]

Hey, If anyone is passing through central Ok. and is looking for a place for an overnight stop or if you want a get together, I've got a 1/4 section worth of camping space if anyones interested. Plenty of deadfall after last winters ice storm too.

Guy

[Jetfixer]

I've got 44 acres of woods and thickets, come on down.


I'm guessing that's because you don't throw your money away on computers and internet service! :D

Want to sell off a section? I think I'll open up an RV park!

[Ironheadziggy76]

I'm guessing that's because you don't throw your money away on computers and internet service! :D

Want to sell off a section? I think I'll open up an RV park!


Funny you should say that Jetfixer, someone is opening an RV park near the town I grew up in about 8 miles from here.

I guess I had better hang on to it. We tried to build right in the middle of it so nobody could build close to us. The wife is a little anti-social. :p

[braindead0]

Funny you should say that Jetfixer, someone is opening an RV park near the town I grew up in about 8 miles from here.

I guess I had better hang on to it. We tried to build right in the middle of it so nobody could build close to us. The wife is a little anti-social. :pNaw, privacy concerned... The wife and I are looking for some property up here, and plan to do the same thing.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Naw, privacy concerned... The wife and I are looking for some property up here, and plan to do the same thing.


Go for it, you wont regret it. If for some reason you decide you don't like living in the country you can always sell. A lot of folks are trying to get out of town so to speak now days. The way my property is divided by the small blacktop county road, I have 30 acres on one side and 14 acres across the road. I have owned the land about 10 years now and I have been offered $10,000 more than I paid for all the property, for just the 14 acres that sets across the road from my house. It's tempting but then I would have neighbors, and they may not appreciate me going to the mailbox in my boxer briefs . :p

[motomac]

Now this started out as an iternet service thread and now it is a "let's move out into the country on a big lot with a lot of privacy" thread. And yeah, Joe I am sorta watchin' this. We have never had a campfire get out of control that I've been associated with. Including this one in Kerrville!!!

[Mr. Guy]

Here's a Goggle Earth image of my "little" lot. That's the house and shop in the north central part of the image. Ya, I love it out here. And no close neighbors, the nearest is 1/2 mile away. Plenty of camping room if anyone is passing by.

Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Guy, I'm glad you mentioned that. I am going to download it if my old puter will let me.

[Mr. Guy]

Ya really need broadband or dsl, I'm not sure it will work with dial-up.

Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Story of my life.......

[Mr. Guy]

Our broadband is off a radio link to a tower in the nearest town (+- 9 miles). It's about $45 a month. You might check around with some local computer shops and see if they know of a similar service in your area.

Guy

[Jetfixer]

Guy, we have a service like that here, but you have to have line of sight to the tower. I'm about 8 miles out but there's a ridge between me and the tower so I'm stuck with this friggin satellite dish until something else comes around. I can use my cell phone hooked up to the laptop, but we only have edge technology here and it's no faster than dialup. They're suppose to go to 3G next year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can reach it from home.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Guy, I'm in the same situation as Jetfixer due to where I live. And I can only barely get cell phone service if I hike up the hill on one part of my property. My nearest 3G service is about 50 miles away.

[Mr. Guy]

Our's is line of sight too. The ant. is on a 45 ft. tower behind the house. We were able to find the tower for free and set the bottom section in about 1.5 yards of concrete. Hasn't given us any trouble. Maybe if the ridge isn't to tall this would work.

Guy