Homestead Internet Service

Moonbeam,
How did you get the medical part? Very good. Yes, she is a coder working remote. I thought it had something to do with security and HIPPA. The more I study it, I think we will need to do DSL. This will obviously regulate what property we buy. Are you in the medical field?
Thanks,
nosedirt

SouthBrook,
We are hoping to be around the Danville area. Been through Glasgow many times, beautiful area. Just need to get our Tucson house sold so we can go. Can't wait.

Thanks,
nosedirt

A few things -
Make an actual call to Exede to verify availability. What shows on the website and what they say might be two different things. Get a confirmation if you plan to go that route and you may want to even start paying for service to lock it in.

The connection type callie is referring to is VPN (virtual private network). Timing issues/latency are enough of a problem that the satellite companies state that they may not work and they will not do support for them. I've tried them a few times and the connections are only marginally reliable - generally fine for short use but not for any extended connection.

I suspect that part of the reason is that the normal satellite feed is quite compressed (think ZIP file type compression) between the NOC and the user modem. Highly encrypted files don't compress well, and the actual bandwidth used is 100% of what your local router might give, while if you are just browsing the web unencrypted, the actual data going up and down for 10 gig might be only 3 gigs (which the NOC compresses and the modem then expands back to the 10 gig). A VPN could also suck up your bandwidth allowance quickly.

If you are bumping a 50 gig cap already, satellite is probably not for you. I used 54 gig last month, but almost all of it was after midnight in the free zone. Daytime use was around 5 gig IIRC.

Harry,
Yes, the kids and I use very little, The wife uses most for work. She is getting a lot of files that are photo copied so i assume that uses up the same as any pic. Otherwise the regular data shouldn't use that much.
nosedirt

ND, I've been a medical transcriptionist for 30+ years and working at home for 26 of those. Guess I have a "nose" for ferreting out others in the field, lol. I've done some coding too, but not in a long time. There are at least a handful of at-home MTs here on HT, not sure about coders.

Thanks for the description Harry! I knew someone could explain it, but it sure wasn't me, lol.

The internet situation was the biggest handicap to me finding a place in the county seven years ago, and I learned real fast that you can't depend on what they tell you is or is not available before you actually get there! Of course, that makes it even harder.

I came within an inch of buying a place that I had been assured DID have internet service, only to find out the day before closing that it did NOT, argh! Luckily, I had a clause written in that any sale was contingent on internet being available, so I got out of it okay, but what a mess both for me and the seller. I really loved that place too, the one I have now I just sort of settled for, but I was on a restricted budget and had to do owner carry so my choices were very limited. As it was, I was the next to last house on the line, and being that far out caused connection problems in itself even on DSL, so it was pretty frustrating for a while.

Now that satellite and cell phone service is more prevalent and the service better, hopefully you'll have an easier time of it, but check, double check and then triple check before making a commitment! My worst nightmare would have been buying a place and being locked in and not having any internet service, but I'm single and had no other income and no one else to fall back on. Good luck!

I m n m t 2.

I knew that, but didn't want to "out" you, lol!

D'oh!

We have Hughnet Gen4 here, and while the caps can be frustrating, the speed is far better than was possible when I was shopping for satellite at my old place several years back. Latency is so-so (due to the time it takes to physically fire EM-encoded data into space and back) but the browsing and video experience are both pretty good. It looks like Exede might be a better deal on some plans.

Don't expect a 10/2mbps connection to test out like it would over a hard line. That's what our speed is supposed to be, and while we get close to the 2 up, we only get a bit more than that down in speed tests. Still enough to watch netflix while browsing on another computer. Just watch your usage so as not to get capped.

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Calliemoon,
Contingency clause is a good idea. Thanks

Harry, we called Exede today, it will depend on the actual location in the county and at this point don't know exactly where we will end up. Since Calliemoonbeam was correct, it is a moot point. The wife called her home office to verify and they will not allow her to use satellite for internet, must be either cable or DSL. That is sure going to limit where we can purchase.

Sorry ND, wish I was wrong, but I've been doing this a lot of years so I pretty much know the routine, lol. I found a place and you will too, it just requires a lot more searching and a lot more attention to detail. Good luck!

I have managed to get Frontier to install DSL in areas not currently serviced by working with them and around their system.

1) Verify its not available in the area but figure out what phone company services the area.
2) Call up their business department and try to get DSL...they will turn since they don't provide it.
3) Ask for other wired options usually they will tell you businesses can get a T1. Start the process for this and the pricing will shock you. I think mine was $1200 for the install/router and $400 per month. Say this is ok and you would like to proceed but do not sign anything.
4) During this time get a few neighbors to sign a petition saying they would like DSL. As many as possible.
5) Once the T1 gets to engineering you can show them the petition and they will determine it is easier to put in the DSL repeater boxes to bring it farther out to service your area. If not just decline the T1 and look elsewhere.

Hopefully that helps someone.

DSL isn't available here. I will only be able to get satellite when I move. The cell phone data plans are too pricey. Verizon is the only reliable cell service in the area we are moving to. So I am stuck with price satellite data plans which are limited.

Sucks for me.

If Verizon 4g is available look at buying a grandfathered unlimited plan and do an assumption of liability. I think I bought mine for about $250 each and took them over this way. You will need to buy outright a Verizon 4g hotspot and a Verizon 4g smart phone (can be used and older models). You assign the account to the smart phone then turn it off and take the sim card and put into the hotspot and forget about the phone.

Callie,
She gave me the I told you so but I am just slightly hard headed. Well, I guess I don't need to be too excited until the house sells and right now the Tucson market is flat so it will be a while. Appreciate it though.
Mallow, that seems like an innovative way to get it done.
nosedirt

There are at least some options in a lot of places and of course nice to dial-up is a thing of the past for most. Tech is moving quickly, wonder what the next ten years may bring for getting connected.
nosedirt

I like this Fiber to each and every house that is happening around me. That means nice fast DSL plus cable TV through those same Fiber DSL lines so even a person out in the boondocks can get reliable high speed connections and cable TV also. They are pretty much done running the fiber to each house, now they have to go and connect the fiber in each house. It will also have a battery backup inside the house and every house then will become a WiFi Hotspot. LOL
Course I pretty much have that now with the wireless model I got when they did gave me my cable tv over the DSL lines. I like that now most everything I have is connecting wirelessly, even my Wii. LOL

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Arabian,
I've read some on FTTH and it does sound exciting. Will the communications companies spend the $$ to put it in? How soon? Could be the wave of the future.
nosedirt

I am really pleased with our independent co-op phone company they seem to be very progressive in what they have been doing over the years. They merged several years ago with the cable company, that is why they can do all this.
Being in a small town phone company that serves in parts of three counties IS the ONLY internet service we can get, even Cell internet have a hard time making it into our area. Oh yes there is satellite internet, but who wants THAT if a good ISP is available?
And the larger city is just too far away so even in dial up days it would have been a LD charge to use anyone but our local phone company.
And no rain out either with cable tv being supplied by the phone lines like those that have satellite.

I do believe this was one of those government grant programs available, and is a 5 to 6 year program to get everyone connected in our area and it already has been 4 years so that is why it is now just about finished. The fiber cable is already to the box at the house alongside the regular phone connection box just before it goes in the house. Now they are getting the appointments set up with the home owners to get the fiber connected and get things set up inside the house.
That in itself is a large project. LOL

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