OT: Anyone live in a remote area using satellite of Homefusion for internet?

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:52 pm

Moving to a very remote area (Walland,TN) where there's no cable for high-speed internet. So, I'll need satellite internet (HughesNet) or wireless broadband (HomeFusion?). Anyone using these? Any advice on what route to go?

Thanks!

Fred

dickg1 · Post by **dickg1** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:22 pm

I was forced to use satellite (Hughes Net) for many years because of my area which is devoid of cable and just within the last few years has had DSL available.

During the time I was with Hughes they would cut me back to land line speed for 24 hours if I exceeded the allotted download limit. Just before I dropped satellite for the newly available DSL in my area you could buy back your allotment. At this point I don't remember the details.

Satellite was (is?) expensive. I have no experience with the other service you mentioned. I would carefully study the system capabilities and cost of both ignoring as much as possible the inevitable hyperbole.

Dick

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:05 pm

Dick,

I think they still cut you back to dial-up speeds if you exceed the GB-limit.Do you remember what limit you had?
Otherwise, is the service fast and dependable?

Thanks!
Fred

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:42 pm

We used satellite for a while. We researched and decided Starband had the best FAP (Fair Access Policy). Be aware that satellite Internet sucks, regardless of the provider, and there is nothing you can do about it .

When we finally got decent 3G cell phone coverage here, we dropped satellite and just started using that 3G. For a while we would just tether our phones, turning them into Wifi hot spots, and sharing that with other devices in the house. Now, we use a 3G/4G USB modem and a Cradlepoint router. The USB modem plugs directly into the Cradlepoint router and that provides both wireless and wired Internet.

We don't have 4G here yet (although we're surrounded by it) but even 3G cell coverage is MUCH faster and reliable than satellite.

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 6:40 pm

Heath,

I know verizon has a good signal in the area. I'll check with them on 3G and 4G.

Thanks!

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 8:52 pm

fgrule wrote:Heath,

I know verizon has a good signal in the area. I'll check with them on 3G and 4G.

Thanks!

Go that route if you can! The only thing worse than satellite is dial-up.

The Cradlepoint router we have is model MBR95. The USB modem is the Pantec UML290.

I know several people who use the "Mi-Fi" devices, but we didn't have any luck with those. We tried one from AT&T, and from Verizon and neither had a strong signal and were really slow. That was why we chose to use the tethering on our phones instead.

We also have a cell signal booster. It has an antenna that mounts outside the house, coaxial cable runs from that to the booster inside that repeats the signal.

reddog5362 · Post by **reddog5362** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:03 pm

Was on satellite. Expensive and slow with a low daily limit, Not GB but MB. I switched to cellular it's not real fast but even 3G is faster than the old satellite. There is a new service "expeed" I think? Supposed to be a lot faster. I believe it's offered by the same company that did wild blue.