How can I get Internet without a cable bill?

lmrose · #1 04/26/10, 07:25 AM

Please understand, I am not stupid just technically challenged! We live mostly in the 19th century much like the Amish. Anything modern has proved a real challenge for me especially. So I may ask what appears to be stupid questions about technology. My present problem is Internet service.

I pay $54.18 a month for high speed internet through Eastlink which is the only local cable provider in my area. That is $650.16 a year which is more than our property tax for the year!! For someone who is frugal to an extreme this bill is hard to pay.

My computer is a 10" Acer laptop because that is what I could afford. It fits neatly in my purse so I can use it at the library when I can get to town. The rest of the time it is connected to the internet cord provided by Eastlink. When I first signed up the bill was $30 a month. Then they slowed the internet down so much it was painful trying to have the patience to use it. So I was told to have high speed I had to pay more. Problem is now Eastlink has come out with even a higher speed internet so my "highspeed" is working slower now. What alternative is there that won't cost so much?

Nevada · #2 04/26/10, 07:57 AM

What is the area that you live in like? Do you live in a place with lots of neighbors, or do you live in the country with no neighbors nearby? We're talking in the hundreds of feet here.

Saffron · #3 04/26/10, 08:03 AM

When you say "they slowed down the internet"

are you certain that they did? Or is it possible you have something on your computer eating your speed? I ask because that happened to me. Something loading onto my computer and even though my internet speed was great and no "static" I could barely maneuver on the internet until I cleaned my computer.

MN Gardener · #4 04/26/10, 08:12 AM

I get my internet through the phone company, you might want to try giving your phone company a call. Another option is a wireless card from your cell phone provider that maybe less expensive and you can use it pretty much anywhere you get cell coverage. I would also run scan disc and defrag your computer, which might make your computer run faster. Is it only slow with your internet? Is it faster at the library?

Welshmom · #5 04/26/10, 08:17 AM

If your laptop is "wireless ready", you don't need the cable at all. You can get a wireless modem device from Verizon or Sprint, maybe others. It's just a little doo-dad that plugs into the usb slot on the side of your computer, it has an antenna, and you can get the internet anywhere you can get a cell phone signal. It is fast, and mostly problem free. Costs may vary depending on your location, service provider, etc, but I would check into it.
Before we knew about this type of service, we had a satellite installed for internet, and I wish we hadn't. The cellular device is much better and it is more versatile - it means I can literally get the internet just about anywhere at any time now. Even in the car rolling down the highway! No need for cords.

Windy in Kansas · #6 04/26/10, 09:00 AM

I would suggest doing a connection speed test to determine if it is your computer that is slow or the connection.

http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-speed-test/

ronbre · #7 04/26/10, 09:28 AM

well my internet access is to use my htc smartphone as a modem by attaching it to my laptop with a usb cable..it works perfectly for me...my cellphone service is alltel...other smartphones may not have free internet but the htc smartphones do

kendall j · #8 04/26/10, 09:44 AM

I have Millenicom. It uses the same Verizon network I had with my old service through Verizon, but the bill is slightly lower and the connection is faster and more reliable. You may want to give them a look if you go the wireless card route and Verizon has service in your area.

Nevermind, your bill wouldn't be any lower if you go the wireless card route. It is in that price range already. What ronbre suggests can work. Even if you can't get tethering added free, it is still only $30 a month extra on your cellphone bill in a lot of cases.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 04/26/10, 10:37 AM

I don't think you are going to find anything less than $50 per month, no matter which way you go, if speed is an issue.

MN Gardener · #10 04/26/10, 10:48 AM

Actually, we have DSL through the phone co and it is $25 per month, so check with them.

Nevada · #11 04/26/10, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I don't think you are going to find anything less than $50 per month, no matter which way you go, if speed is an issue.

I think the poster will have to do something a little more underhanded to get it free.

edcopp · #12 04/26/10, 10:57 AM

Check out EarthLink. They may be able to provide service

lmrose · #13 04/26/10, 11:28 AM

Thanks everybody for your suggestions! So I will address them one at a time. - I do have neighbors and once tried paying half of the neighbors internet bill to use her computer.It didn't work as others were always using it when I had time available or no one was home. The other neighbors are the kind that talk to us when they need help!

When I take the lap top to the library and use it there is no problem. It runs fine and access is free. The down point of this is the library is 9 miles away and I don't drive. Good weather I could ride my bicycle. Sometimes I get a ride to town but get stuck there up to ten hours before I can get home again.I am almost 64 yr. so biking round trip 18 miles isn't something I will be doing as often as I used to.

I never heard of wireless cards here but Rogers cell phone provider does have an internet stick that is susposed to work anywhere but it doesn't. Nova Scotia has a lot of coast line and I look out my window at the ocean and lakes. We are in a "dead" zone. Wirless internet and cell phones don't work here at home. Two miles up the road or two miles the opposite direction they work but not here.

The other internet providers people mentioned aren't available here either. There is only Eastlink cable, Aliant through the telephone Co which is not available down here by the shore, and Rogers wireless which doesn't work here either.

The idea of attatching a smart phone to a lap top as someone mentioned might work except I really don't know what a smart phone is?

Talking to people helps me to sort things out and I can see from this that my options seem to be to keep paying a high cable bill ,use the internet at the library which wouldn't be very often because of distance or go to Rogers stick internet and have to find somewhere to use the computer two miles from home. Stick internet is about $23 a month here if and when it works.Canada is a big country but really does not have as much tecnology available as the US except in the cities.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone and have a nice day.

texican · #14 04/26/10, 11:47 AM

If your close to town, dsl might be an option. Outside of town, more than ~3 miles, your probably out of luck.

You're either stuck with dial up or high speed... and most high speed out of town is gonna run you at least 50 a month.

If you have a neighbor with broadband and wireless, you might make some kind or arrangement to leech off of them... probably not allowable per the providers plan, but it is doable... ask first, otherwise you may send the neighbor's plan into penalties (if they have download limits).

My internet costs more than my property taxes. So what! It's an expense. I'd rather live with the internet than live without. I've done both, and having it is better than not. I pay property taxes, regardless, and get less than doodly squat out of that deal!!!!!!

arabian knight · #15 04/26/10, 12:10 PM

Hope in a few years that Internet over The Power Lines get up and rolling across the country.
Or have a independent phone company like I have that installed booster boxes up around a 3 county area so everybody can have DSL up to 6Kbs.
They even have TV Coming over the DSL lines for those that are too far out for hard wired cable TV Connection~ And believe me it works and works real good.
So this Phone CO-OP can offer a 3 in one bundled package just like the big city cable and phone guys do.

lmrose · #16 04/26/10, 12:14 PM

Good point Texican about not getting much return for paying property taxes and they keep rising!. I guess I am just plain frugal [cheap] always looking for a way to save money! We have learned to be very careful of how we spend each dollar and try to get the most for our money. That comes from growing up dirt poor and almost not surviving. So for years we have lived careful but well off the farm raising five children on less than $5,000 a year income and some years much less. I am willing to pay more when there is no other less expensive way available. This is a time I may have too if I want to keep the internet. It is my nature to look for the least expensive option and not spend money needlessly. It's a choice like everything else , I guess.

deb · #17 04/26/10, 12:16 PM

If you can't get cellular service at your house, then getting a Smartphone won't work because Smartphones run on cellular networks.

The only fast option for faster Internet service in our rural area is satellite, but my satellite provider doesn't have service in Canada.

I am not familiar with Canadian internet providers. You should check out BROADBAND dslreports.com and click on Forums. There are forums for Canadian Broadband (Internet service) and you may be able to find more advice there.

deb
in wi

farmerbrian · #18 04/26/10, 01:29 PM

So you have confirmed that DSL through telco is not an option? That is usaully the cheapest option for "high speed" internet.

If you have cable service you cant be too far out in the woods.

I would be surprised if wireless is not a decent amount more than $50 per month. Satellite will be even more expensive.

Besides good ol dialup, cable and DSL are usually the cheapest options.

Nevada · #19 04/26/10, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmrose

Thanks everybody for your suggestions! So I will address them one at a time. - I do have neighbors and once tried paying half of the neighbors internet bill to use her computer.It didn't work as others were always using it when I had time available or no one was home. The other neighbors are the kind that talk to us when they need help!

With neighbors nearby you have a good chance of getting free wireless Internet from a neighbor. But you won't be able to do it with a standard wireless networking adapter, you'll need something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/45dBm-Novel-WiFi...item2a068deca4

Joshie · #20 04/26/10, 04:05 PM

We also have millenicom. It costs us $70/month. Service is slllllllooooooowwwww.

I so very much miss our DSL.

How in the heck can your taxes be less than $50/month? Our taxes are less than half than they were when we lived in our suburban home. They still are six times your internet cost.

I wish we could get high speed internet. There's no way we'd consider satellite internet. I am not going to deal with FAP.