Internet in rural areas

passthemanna · 07-23-2020, 09:14 AM

Is there anything that can be done to speed up poor internet? I live in a rural area. The max internet speed we can get is 7mbps. There is only one company that offers service. It used to be sufficient. I'm not sure if we are having issues because so many people in the area are now working from home?? But it is so SLOW! I get that we'll never be able to play action video games and whatever, but just browsing internet takes forever. Are there devices that can boost speed? Anyone know anything about satellite internet or other options?

Katigre · 07-23-2020, 11:18 AM

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do as a household in a rural area b/c the ISP (internet service provider) has a monopoly. IMO access to internet is like other utilities and the government should be ensuring better access (similar to how everyone has post office service no matter where they live). But that costs $$ and taxes.

One thing you could look into is whether there are any hotspots supported in your area - then those could be purchased. What do the McDonald's in your area do for internet and is it any faster?

Satellite internet tends to be very high latency (delay) so it depends on what you're using it for whether it would work.

passthemanna · 07-23-2020, 11:32 AM

The city has better internet/more options. We're 10 miles out. It's all ag and residential. My phone doesn't even get great reception so I'm not sure a hot spot would work.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

knitlove · 07-23-2020, 11:45 AM

I think she was talking about locations that offer hot spots. Like the library or McDonald's or the police station.

If you bairly get cell service you could talk to your cell phone provider and see if they have anything that would help that. Where we lived before we had almost no serve and then one of the houses behind us got a cellphone signal booster from the same provider and then we would have service ( untill they went on vacation) it might be pocoble to boost cell service and use that as a hot spot.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

sweetpeasmommy · 07-23-2020, 11:47 AM

I can’t get a cell signal here so my provider gave me a device that runs off my WiFi but that won’t be helpful if your WiFi is slow. Have you checked with your ISP to see if there are any options to speed it up? We had satellite internet before they finally got fiber out here and it goes out during heavy rain, snow you have to go clear off your dish constantly. And it’s not really that fast, if you go over your limit they slow it waaaaay down for the rest of the billing cycle.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

passthemanna · 07-23-2020, 01:34 PM

7mbps is the best our isp offers. It used to be fine i really thing a line got damaged somewhere but they keep saying it's fine. Thry said it may be the router so i got a new one and we don't get kicked off all the time anymore at least.
I need it for work and school so McDonald's won't work.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

FlyingBlueKiwi · 07-23-2020, 04:00 PM

Consumer Reports is lobbying to get internet reclassified as a utility, so that rural and other underserved areas can get better service.

Their petition is here. https://action.consumerreports.org/t...EY=YCRMAGAUG20

passthemanna · 07-23-2020, 07:16 PM

Signed and shared on FB!

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sweetpeasmommy · 07-23-2020, 09:12 PM

Signed it. I know there are a ton of people nearby here still with no decent internet. I think they stopped laying the fiber cable just a few miles from here and don’t know if they ever did phase two.

You might have to go with satellite and work around the weather issues unfortunately.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

passthemanna · 07-23-2020, 09:16 PM

Our internet now is affected by weather for some reason. I think they have fiber in town.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

sprout · 07-24-2020, 03:39 AM

We are in the exact same boat. We don't have an answer.

Soliloquy · 07-24-2020, 10:06 AM

Hang tight! Starlink is very likely coming this fall! My DH follows it closely. They're installing some kind of station about 5 miles from me. I'm in the northern part of the state but I believe that the southern area will be covered, too.

The rural northwest is one of the first areas to get coverage, I believe.

passthemanna · 07-24-2020, 10:14 AM

Thank you! I just signed up for updates on their site. I would love to have another choice. I really think our connection was better before. Even in the spring when all of us were streaming, gaming, working, schooling, our connection was better but Centurylink just says it's fine. Actually they go back and forth between saying there is a line issue and it's fine. :eyeroll

ThreeKids · 07-24-2020, 11:20 AM

Considering how important internet access is and how the lack of it is expanding education gaps during quarantines, if there ever was a time where you could rally neighbors/school districts/etc. to work together for better internet, it is now.

passthemanna · 07-24-2020, 11:34 AM

A large portion of the community is pretty hostile towards the school district, unfortunately. People on fixed incomes and ag land owners are furious that the schools want expensive building repairs and new buildings.

07-23-2020, 09:14 AM	#1
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Internet in rural areas Is there anything that can be done to speed up poor internet? I live in a rural area. The max internet speed we can get is 7mbps. There is only one company that offers service. It used to be sufficient. I'm not sure if we are having issues because so many people in the area are now working from home?? But it is so SLOW! I get that we'll never be able to play action video games and whatever, but just browsing internet takes forever. Are there devices that can boost speed? Anyone know anything about satellite internet or other options? __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-23-2020, 11:18 AM	#2
Katigre Rose Garden Why thank you, it is naturally blue... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,278	Re: Internet in rural areas Unfortunately, there is not much you can do as a household in a rural area b/c the ISP (internet service provider) has a monopoly. IMO access to internet is like other utilities and the government should be ensuring better access (similar to how everyone has post office service no matter where they live). But that costs $$ and taxes. One thing you could look into is whether there are any hotspots supported in your area - then those could be purchased. What do the McDonald's in your area do for internet and is it any faster? Satellite internet tends to be very high latency (delay) so it depends on what you're using it for whether it would work.

07-23-2020, 11:32 AM	#3
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas The city has better internet/more options. We're 10 miles out. It's all ag and residential. My phone doesn't even get great reception so I'm not sure a hot spot would work. Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-23-2020, 11:45 AM	#4
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,260	Re: Internet in rural areas I think she was talking about locations that offer hot spots. Like the library or McDonald's or the police station. If you bairly get cell service you could talk to your cell phone provider and see if they have anything that would help that. Where we lived before we had almost no serve and then one of the houses behind us got a cellphone signal booster from the same provider and then we would have service ( untill they went on vacation) it might be pocoble to boost cell service and use that as a hot spot. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

07-23-2020, 11:47 AM	#5
sweetpeasmommy Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 30,329	Re: Internet in rural areas I can’t get a cell signal here so my provider gave me a device that runs off my WiFi but that won’t be helpful if your WiFi is slow. Have you checked with your ISP to see if there are any options to speed it up? We had satellite internet before they finally got fiber out here and it goes out during heavy rain, snow you have to go clear off your dish constantly. And it’s not really that fast, if you go over your limit they slow it waaaaay down for the rest of the billing cycle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Amy eNFp Wife to ISTJ DH 1997 Mom to one Sweet Boy 10/2004

07-23-2020, 01:34 PM	#6
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas 7mbps is the best our isp offers. It used to be fine i really thing a line got damaged somewhere but they keep saying it's fine. Thry said it may be the router so i got a new one and we don't get kicked off all the time anymore at least. I need it for work and school so McDonald's won't work. Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-23-2020, 04:00 PM	#7
FlyingBlueKiwi Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,504	Re: Internet in rural areas Consumer Reports is lobbying to get internet reclassified as a utility, so that rural and other underserved areas can get better service. Their petition is here. https://action.consumerreports.org/t...EY=YCRMAGAUG20 __________________ Wife to my wonderful Beloved (2002) / Mom to The Mathematician - making progress living with ASD, ADHD/SPD/anxiety and depression (2004) and precious Taylor taken from us too soon (2009). Go Team Lioness!!!

07-23-2020, 07:16 PM	#8
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas Signed and shared on FB! Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-23-2020, 09:12 PM	#9
sweetpeasmommy Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 30,329	Re: Internet in rural areas Signed it. I know there are a ton of people nearby here still with no decent internet. I think they stopped laying the fiber cable just a few miles from here and don’t know if they ever did phase two. You might have to go with satellite and work around the weather issues unfortunately. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Amy eNFp Wife to ISTJ DH 1997 Mom to one Sweet Boy 10/2004

07-23-2020, 09:16 PM	#10
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas Our internet now is affected by weather for some reason. I think they have fiber in town. Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-24-2020, 03:39 AM	#11
sprout Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 7,261	Re: Internet in rural areas We are in the exact same boat. We don't have an answer.

07-24-2020, 10:06 AM	#12
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Internet in rural areas Hang tight! Starlink is very likely coming this fall! My DH follows it closely. They're installing some kind of station about 5 miles from me. I'm in the northern part of the state but I believe that the southern area will be covered, too. The rural northwest is one of the first areas to get coverage, I believe.

07-24-2020, 10:14 AM	#13
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas Thank you! I just signed up for updates on their site. I would love to have another choice. I really think our connection was better before. Even in the spring when all of us were streaming, gaming, working, schooling, our connection was better but Centurylink just says it's fine. Actually they go back and forth between saying there is a line issue and it's fine. :eyeroll __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

07-24-2020, 11:20 AM	#14
ThreeKids Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: .. Posts: 10,737	Re: Internet in rural areas Considering how important internet access is and how the lack of it is expanding education gaps during quarantines, if there ever was a time where you could rally neighbors/school districts/etc. to work together for better internet, it is now. __________________ DS (12), DD (10), DD2 (7) And my kids were going to behave perfectly all the time and if they didn't, they'd be Dobsoned, but I was going to Dobson so perfectly that they'd know not to slip up but once or twice because I was going to be sooooooo consistent and awesome and wise.

07-24-2020, 11:34 AM	#15
passthemanna Rose Garden "...to do justice,and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God..." Mi 6:8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,468	Re: Internet in rural areas A large portion of the community is pretty hostile towards the school district, unfortunately. People on fixed incomes and ag land owners are furious that the schools want expensive building repairs and new buildings. __________________ Teri Christ-loving J- 12 R- 9 S- 6 Photographer at Grace and Gratitude by TLC https://www.facebook.com/GraceandGra...TLC/?ref=br_rs

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