I'm in need of education about securing internet access without a land line or cable

[HereSince1628]

would someone, please, point me toward a good place to read and learn about options?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Can you give us a little more info - why is there no phone or cable ? Where are you located ?

The wireless options are:
Wifi to a nearby WiFi access point.
Internet via Cell Phone.
Internet via Satellite.

[HereSince1628]

2. Its rural in SE WI

There is no cable service option.

Cell service is weak enough to be not completely reliable at the location although there are 2 towers, one north ~2 miles one south ~2 1/2 miles away.

I need to read about whatever options exist.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Well..

Without dial-up wired telephone or cable-TV options you need one of 3 wireless options.

Wifi access provided by a normal Internet provider (only usually available in more densely populated areas).

Cell Phone Internet access (the towers you indicate you have are reasonably close you might get by with
an installed external or even internal directional antenna - http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/improving-cell-phone-reception/antennaadvice.html )

Finding broadband options in your area:
http://www.broadbandmap.gov/

For really isolated areas there is satellite Internet:
www.hughesnet.com
http://www.exede.com

[Fumesucker]

4. I barter for my wifi access from a neighbor

Take care of all their computer problems among other things, I have about a 3/4 mile private link at the moment.

If you are streaming a bunch of movies and using a lot of bandwidth it's going to be more difficult but wifi from a mile away or more is not impossible.

I can tell you more if you're interested.

[Misskittycat]

5. Try Cricket - they have mobile broadband. I use it. n/t

[Mnpaul]

6. I have been using one of these

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?class=prepaid&cell-phone=T-Mobile-Rocket-4G-USB-Laptop-Stick

If you buy it from Walmart(yuk)$60.00, your prepaid cards last 60 days instead of 30. I get 3.5qb of data for $35.00. It is super easy to set up. You just plug it in. The software is contained on the device. Set up an account and get a #,add time from a prepaid card and you are set. The have a map to check coverage in your area.

[krispos42]

7. I had Sprint wireless internet for 2 years

A gizmo that plugged into the USB port on your computer and gives you internet via the nearest cel tower.

I had it 2007-2009, so I assume it was 3G, but I don't know for sure.


I recall it working reasonably fast. I had no complaints about it. I think it was about 15x as fast as dial-up... in the region of 70 kB/second. IIRC... take it with a sizable grain of salt.


I had the unlimited data plan, and just left it on 24/7. Even did file-sharing with it.



My aunt has Hughes satellite internet. It's more expensive than the Sprint, and a hell of a lot slower. The latency is horrible, the speeds are slow, and it doesn't work too well in a high wind.

[Kali]

8. I am using a cell phone modem - verizon, it costs way too much but beats the hell out of dial-up

5G for $50 and I think they have a plan that gives 10G for $80, I wish I could swing that extra 30 bucks because I do seem to be going over a fair amount (especially with things like political conventions and debates LOL)

I am really hoping unlimited data plans come back. 2 of my kids have them for their phones but I was a luddite cheapskate on dial up for so long and waited a year too long to finally make the move.

Verizon has a superfast network in the big city but where I live I am lucky to get over 3 Mbps. However after 10 years at 24 Kbps I am cool with that.
and for that between the land-line and the service I was already paying $35-40. Gave up the land line entirely. Use an OLD regualar dumb cell phone for a phone.

[PowerToThePeople]

9. cell phone tether

If you have a data plan on your phone, use a usb cord to plug it into your computer. should be able to tether it easily.

Some phones offer a wifi hotspot setting. Same idea, just wireless.

edit- I did not see the post on spotty cell coverage. Best bet is probably to pay for a dsl line if available.

[smithJames]

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