Rural IP provider options?

[splitshot]

Quest sucks, I am sick and tired if paying for internet service and not being able to use it... I would love to dump them for better service.

 

[FJRanger]

I'm interested in this as well, we have nothing at our in ranch in western Colorado.

 

[Dimples]

Besides Hughes net satellite service HughesNet® Internet |1-800-794-1830 | Satellite Internet you may have a wireless cable provider. These are rare however.

 

[87warrior]

I hate to make this my first post to the forum, but I have some experience here.

I am in rural Kansas and only have two IP options, dial up or satellite. Even cell phone coverage is nonexistent. With today's electronic demand for high speed internet, satellite is really our only choice.

I have been on Hughes Net gen4 for 3 years. It works well, but is certainly not as speedy as service through a cable provider. I'd say it is equivalent to 3G speed through a cell phone. The install crew was a local family who was friendly and informative. My only gripe was the junk router they insisted we buy since 'it was designed for the modem.' You do have to be conscientious of your data usage, but my wife and I have never had an issue.

Prior to moving to rural Kansas, we were in Kansas City and had Clearwire service. Essentially they provided a 4G modem you plugged in and that was it. The speed was obviously on par with what you would expect from a 4G cell phone. I think most of the wireless service providers now offer something similar that would be worth looking into if you have coverage at your location.

 

[Living in the Past]

Researching this myself. Didn't know Quest was still around in Phoenix area it switched to Century Link a few year ago. Have you checked what speed your getting? We purchased a couple of Firesticks and upgraded our service. Next year we plan on getting internet service at our cabin. Small phone company in the area that is suppose to have DSL. Hughes net is to expensive. No cable in the area so that's not a option. Verizon just raised their unlimited data by twenty dollars a month per phone so looking for other options. Do have 4G and can use the phone as a hot spot. My son is on our plan and uses a unbelievable amount of data which is probably why they raised our rate. Verizon has the best service otherwise we might look into Spirnt.

Think there four options for IP service. Land line phone company, cable, cell phone and Hughes net. For cost reasons won't be getting Hughes net. If cable TV was a option would look in to it. If our local phone company doesn't have descent service Wii probably just keep our current Verizon service.

 

[msahr]

Well, unless you know for SURE that Sprint has a relatively close cell tower, I wouldn't rely on them. They may decide, as they did for us in Fountain Hills, to look at a flat map and decide that those 2 towers are too close together and shut one down. Of course it was the tower closest to us, and the nearest tower is over the hill out of line of sight. I'm lucky to get 2 bars. Plus Sprint has horrendous data speeds. As in SLOW.

 

[Living in the Past]

With Sprint I would check with locals before switching and be sure that they are on the only tower in the area. Nothing flat anywhere in the area. I heard they were on the only tower. AT&T and T Mobile I know are not.

 

[splitshot]

Anyone using DIRECTV?
We are not in it for the 145+ channels, (totally cool with what the antenna brings in, all the local Phoenix channels).
Add touts Internet service.
Century Link/Quest just sent us a notice they are going to raise our rates, go figure...

 

[DSRTRDR]

Well, unless you know for SURE that Sprint has a relatively close cell tower, I wouldn't rely on them. They may decide, as they did for us in Fountain Hills, to look at a flat map and decide that those 2 towers are too close together and shut one down. Of course it was the tower closest to us, and the nearest tower is over the hill out of line of sight. I'm lucky to get 2 bars. Plus Sprint has horrendous data speeds. As in SLOW.

thanks for the heads-up

there's a new tower up on Saguaro close to where we jail the Blazer, although I have no idea for what carrier . . .

 

[Living in the Past]

Anyone using DIRECTV?
We are not in it for the 145+ channels, (totally cool with what the antenna brings in, all the local Phoenix channels).
Add touts Internet service.
Century Link/Quest just sent us a notice they are going to raise our rates, go figure...

Didn't realize DirecTV offered internet anymore. Thought the only satellite option was Hughes Net? I have DirecTV as when we first got the cabin the only station we got was channel two out of Flagstaff which broadcast off Mormon Mountain by Mormon Lake. Plus one station in Spanish and one religious station. I know channel two is gone replaced by twelve out of Phoenix if they still broadcast off Mormon Mountain or moved to Mount Elden like all the other stations in Flagstaff I don't know. All I know is satellite internet = $$$$. Bill is the same no matter what you use with Century Link as the more you use the more you pay with satellite. Keeping our unlimited data with Verizon may end up being our cheapest option. With 4G speed doesn't seem to be a problem. Even with the price increase I think once we give up unlimited data we can't get it back again.

 

[splitshot]

Direct TV wouldn't answer any of my questions, just launched into a sales pitch and wanted my SS# and $19.50 up front just to email me a quote (maybe I got the rookie bimbo, but total turn off).
I did though talk to a friend who is in the Elgin area, he recommended the company who took over Wild Blue;
Exede High Speed Internet
He said the price is reasonable if you don't have a kid in the household laying around playing video games all night...

 

[splitshot]

Follow up. Exede was installed today. Nice to have service that actually works...