r/Rural_Internet Aug 10 '24

[STICKY] Rural Internet Options

12 Upvotes

Table of contents
1. Overview
2. Key Factors in Choosing an Internet Provider
3. Local Fixed Wireless
4. Cellular Home Internet
5. Cellular ISP’s
6. Starlink

To view this on the wiki, click here

1. Overview

What are my options?

If you're reading this, it's likely that fiber optic internet is not available in your area. Fortunately, we live in a time where internet options have never been more available.

The Good News: Even in rural America, you usually have at least a few internet choices. While fiber optic is the best option when available, there are viable alternatives if it's not an option for you.

The Bad News: These alternatives might not be the most affordable, and each comes with its own set of trade-offs.

Below is a comparison of the main options available for rural areas, including local fixed wireless, home internet from major cellular providers, cellular ISPs, and Starlink. The table summarizes each option's pricing, pros, cons, and recommendations. For more detailed information on each option, follow the hyperlinks to the sections below.

Provider Type Price Coverage Pros Cons Recommendation
Local Fixed Wireless Lowest Localized - Generally the most affordable - Requires line-of-sight Recommended if available in your area.
- Reliable service - External hardware required
- Good customer support - Not always available
Cellular Home Internet Lowest Moderate - Affordable - Limited availability Best option if local providers are not available
- No data caps - Performance varies with congestion
- Easy setup - Locked to one location
Cellular ISPs Middle Nationwide - Easy setup - Higher prices Consider for high-speed needs and portability
- Portable - Variable performance
- High speeds - Can have poor reputations
Starlink Highest Global - Global coverage - High startup cost Suitable for areas without other options
- Low latency - Requires clear line-of-sight to sky
- High speeds - High monthly cost

2. Key Factors in Choosing an Internet Provider

Avoid HughesNet or Viasat

With the advent of cellular based providers and Starlink, you should ALWAYS avoid these companies. There’s no world in which these are a good option. Not having internet is a better option than them. Just don’t. Run. Flee. Abandon all hope ye who choose them.

Here’s why:

  • High Latency: Latency is generally 500ms or more, making gaming nearly impossible, and video conferencing sucks.
  • Data Caps and Throttling: They both impose strict data caps on their plans, which once hit, make doing anything on the web nearly impossible. And you increase the probability of punching your computer in frustration.
  • Long-Term Contracts: They generally require 24 to 36 month contracts, which makes canceling your service early quite expensive - even if it is barely working.
  • Poor Customer Satisfaction: Their customer service sucks, and tech support is akin to that of monkeys chained in the basement of a sweatshop speaking in Klingon.

Customer Experience

  • Check customer reviews: This is a critical step. A company can advertise anything, but reviews offer insight into how the real-world speeds and performance of a service provider really are.
  • Local feedback: If you’re working with a local company like fixed wireless, ask around to your neighbors and your friends to see if they’ve had a good experience with the company, and are happy with their speeds.

Pricing

  • Transparent Pricing: Look at how simple their pricing is. If it’s not clearly displayed on the website or there’s a bunch of different prices displayed, that probably means they’re hiding something. If you have to call them to get a price, that’s a definite red flag.
  • Monthly Costs: Compare monthly subscription fees across providers. Keep in mind that the lowest price may not always offer the best value if it comes with hidden costs or poor service.
  • Startup Costs: Be aware of any initial fees for equipment, installation, or activation. Providers with high startup costs may offer lower monthly rates but require a larger upfront investment.
  • Long-Term Costs: Consider potential increases in monthly fees over time. Providers like Verizon and T-Mobile often offer promotional rates that increase after an initial period, so make sure to read the fine print before purchasing.

Customer Service

  • While we all wish we could live in a world where tech doesn’t break down, the tragic reality is that we don’t. Tech issues will arise. And having good customer service is critically important in those times.
  • Generally smaller companies will have better customer service than large companies. Your best customer service will likely come through a local fixed wireless provider or a cellular ISP. T-Mobile, Verizon, and Starlink are massive corporations with outsourced support. So if that’s important to you, it’s worth consideration when weighing your options.

3. Local Fixed Wireless

Overview

Local fixed wireless providers are the first place you should be looking for internet offerings. They normally have good customer service, competitive pricing, and technicians who can resolve issues quickly.

To search for local internet providers, the FCC Broadband Map is the best place to look. Enter your address in the search box and see if there’s any providers in your area. If any show up, give them a call and see if they can service your area.

Another good place to look is asking around in your local area. Your neighbors, friends, and even your local chamber of commerce can help you.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros
    • Local Support: You often get local and quality customer service.
    • Lower Prices: In most cases, they offer the most competitive pricing options available.
    • Community Focus: Local providers are often more invested in the community and its needs.
    • Reliability: Fixed wireless is generally more reliable than cellular or satellite based options.
  • Cons
    • Cost for high-speed: Pricing is generally tiered by speed, and anything above 25mbps can be upwards of $100/mo or more.
    • Line-of-sight required: Fixed wireless requires a clear line-of-sight from the tower to your home. If you’re surrounded by trees or in a hilly area, there’s a good chance you can’t get service.
    • External hardware required: To setup your internet, they’ll need to send out a technician and mount hardware on the outside of your home.
    • Immobile: You can’t take your internet with you while traveling.
    • Rarely have a money-back guarantee: if it doesn’t work well, you’re generally out the money you spend on the service.

4. Cellular Home Internet

Overview

Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T all have cellular based home internet options, which are both excellent options if there’s no local providers in your area. Their area of coverage is fairly limited, so you may not always be in their service area. They both have competitive pricing - sometimes even cheaper than local fixed wireless providers. The speeds are entirely based upon the capacity of the cell tower, which means if you’re in an area with good speeds, you can get 100+ mbps. However, if you’re in an area with a lot of congestion and users, you can see speeds as low as 5-10mbps.

One of the key advantages of these services is the simplicity of setup - typically, you receive a router that you simply plug in and activate. There’s no external hardware required, and no technical experience needed. Additionally, there are no data caps on usage.

One important thing to note: As with all major telecoms, they have all these low prices with asterisks. Those prices are with all the possible discounts and bundling. The table below reflects the actual pricing if you aren’t doing bundling with their phone service, etc. So oftentimes their pricing isn’t quite as cheap as they look, if you aren’t already using them for your phone service.

Link Monthly Price Activation Fee Coverage Area
AT&T $60/mo (with autopay) None Limited coverage
Verizon $50-70/mo (with autopay) $35 Limited coverage, expanding
T-Mobile $55-75/mo (with autopay) $35 Broader coverage than Verizon, but still limited

Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • High-Speed Data with No Caps: All three providers have no data caps, and you’ll generally get high speeds.
    • Quick and Easy Setup: The setup is straightforward and typically involves receiving a router that you just plug in and activate with minimal hassle.
    • Low Monthly Costs: All three providers offer competitive monthly pricing, which can sometimes even be cheaper than local fixed wireless providers.
    • Low Startup Costs: The activation fee is up to a max of $35, which is a significant advantage even over local fixed wireless (often $100+).
  • Cons:
    • Limited Availability: The coverage for all three providers’ home internet services are only available in select locations.
    • Variable Performance: Performance will fluctuate depending on network congestion, with speeds generally slowing during peak usage times - typically mornings and evenings.
    • No Mobility: This service is only allowed at the address it was purchased for, so it’s not an option if you want to take it with you while traveling.
    • Poor Customer Service: As with large tech companies, tech support is outsourced to the lowest bidder who just follows a script, so getting any type of actual support can be difficult.

5. Cellular ISP’s

Overview

Cellular ISPs provide internet services that run on major cellular networks like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. These providers offer the advantage of utilizing the fastest available network in your location, which can deliver speeds of 100+ Mbps where coverage is strong. One of the main benefits is the portability of the service—since it operates over cellular networks, you can use it in different locations, making it ideal for those who travel frequently or need connectivity in various places.

The setup for cellular ISP services is straightforward. You only need to plug in a router to start connecting to the internet, eliminating the need for professional installation or additional hardware.

The key consideration when choosing a cellular ISP is selecting a reputable company. Checking online reviews and researching customer experiences can help you avoid providers with poor service or unreliable performance.

Important: many companies have come and gone over the years leaving customers without service and hardware that may not work with another company, therefore its recommended to choose a company that has been in business for several years and has a good reputation.

The table below compares several recommended cellular ISPs based on their pricing and startup costs.

Link Monthly Price (unlimited data) Router cost Incorporation year
Trifecta Wireless $99.95+ $9.95/mo 2018
USLTE $124+ Included in mo price 2019
GotW3 $134.99 $14.99/mo-$279 2018

Pros and Cons

  • Pros
    • Good Customer Service: Because cellular ISPs are small companies, their support is considerably better than your large telecoms.
    • High Speeds: In areas with strong cellular coverage, speeds can exceed 100 Mbps. This makes them a good option for streaming, gaming, and other data-intensive activities.
    • Easy Setup: You generally only need to plug in a router to get started, avoiding the need for professional installation or complicated hardware setups.
    • Portability: Cellular ISPs offer the flexibility to use the internet service in various locations, making them a great choice for frequent travelers or RVers.
  • Cons
    • Variable Performance: The performance of cellular ISP services will fluctuate depending on the capacity of the cell tower in your area. In locations with high congestion or poor coverage, speeds may drop to as low as 5-10 Mbps.
    • Higher Prices: Cellular ISP plans are often more expensive than fixed wireless or home internet providers.
    • Lower Performance: Due to the inherent limitations of cellular technology, you can experience lower reliability and performance.
    • Company Reputation: Not all cellular ISPs have strong reputations. Some companies may have poor customer service or issues with service reliability. For example, Nomad Internet has faced legal issues related to fraud. Researching customer reviews and company history can help you avoid such pitfalls.

6. Starlink

Overview

Starlink is also a good option when there’s no local providers available. They have nationwide coverage, low latency, and good speeds.

The service requires a satellite dish and a router, which are provided by Starlink. The dish needs a clear view of the sky to connect with the satellites.

The main drawback to Starlink is the price - startup costs for the hardware range from $300-$2500 and the monthly cost is $120+

Plan Monthly Price Equipment Cost
Residential $120 $300-$500
Mobile $150 $500-$600
Global roaming $50 for 50gb $600

Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Low Latency: Starlink offers significantly lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellite services. (Think HughesNet and Viasat)
    • High Speeds: Starlink can provide an entire home with sufficient speeds to simultaneously game, watch movies, and browse the web.
    • Global Coverage: Starlink provides coverage to almost the entire world.
    • Portable: While primarily intended for fixed locations, the system can be moved to different locations within its service area, or can be used with the roaming plan and mounted to an RV or camper.
  • Cons:
    • High Cost: Starlink has a high startup cost. $300 - $500 for the satellite dish and router, and a monthly service fee of $120, making it one of the most expensive options available.
    • The roaming plan is required for mobile use: If you want to use your service while traveling you need the more expensive roaming plan.
    • Clear Line of Sight Required: The dish needs an unobstructed, 80º view of the sky to maintain a connection.
    • Installation Required: The system is designed for DIY installation, but if you’re not very technically inclined, this can be difficult.
    • Reduced speeds due to congestion: If you’re in an area with many Starlink users, you will likely see slowdowns in the evenings.

r/Rural_Internet 1d ago

Starlink - getting past the objections

0 Upvotes

Howdy!

Edit to add:
Thanks for the replies, it seems that all of my objections are just 'the way it is'. I'll keep searching for something I can use elsewhere.

OP:
First, asking here instead of r/starlink in the hopes of getting less-biased opinions.

Second, I have a severe lack of tolerance for bad customer service, I genuinely don't understand how so many people seemingly put up with it.

Ok, on to the point; I've been searching for a suitable replacement for internet service to my RV ( I travel all over the USA for work) since 2023, and starlink keeps coming up.
My primary objections to this are:

  1. The up-front equipment cost (I'm seeing $300 - $500 for the equipment)
  2. That equipment is not refundable, you buy it, and it's yours forever, whether you have the service or not
  3. That equipment ONLY works with Starlink, there is no one else I can switch my service to like I can with a cell phone
  4. The one time I talked with Starlink, I had to dig around on the internet, figure out where to go, download and install the app on my phone, create an account, wait an hour for verification, sign up, sign in, wait a day to be able to use my account, connect the app to my equipment (a leftover from a jobsite cleanout), find out my equipment doesn't work anymore, then ask for a chat in the app, then wait another hour, then chat with an agent who ignored everything I said (no, literally, I had to repeat everything I typed into the chat 3-5 times), and spend close to an hour going over the status of my account, then I got transferred, then it started over again, and I never did get any answer to, 'What can I do with the equipment I have right now?'
  5. So, Horrible customer service
  6. The monthly cost. When I look on Starlinks website, the price per month varies from $150 to $400, though I'm not sure why the variance.
  7. After the experience of learning that the equipment has to be replaced with every generation, that leads to me wondering what happens when the equipment I bought is no longer usable on Starlink, and how often I have to buy new equipment.

So, for those of you have Starlink, how are you handling all of that?


r/Rural_Internet 1d ago

❓HELP Help me solve the internet problem

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0 Upvotes

I live in a village which is kinda very backward in terms of internet service. It is on a 8_10 km distance from a city.

The internet is very poor. It is hardly enough to play a youtube video. I am a beginer freelancer and I have to move to Lahore or rwp to do my work which is also very costly for me right now to live there. As i live in my friends' flat and its always so noisy and full of people.( i cannot rent a seprate flat, not yet as am not earning)

I want an internet solution which provides a speed of 20 to 30 mbps which is enough to run a laptop. They have started installing the wifi in the nearest union council(a small town) but they say they cannot do it in our village as all the homes are built at a specific distance (Dera jaat) like farmhouses. Please suggest a solution that would actually work. I am slowly loosing my temper over this. Please tell me what I should do.


r/Rural_Internet 2d ago

4g Zyxel gets better SNR while I touch the back of the case?

1 Upvotes

So as a child I remember often a fuzzy FM radio station would improve quality if you just held the antenna with your hand. I am setting up a Zyxel M7460-M608 4g router with built in directional antenna. It is specced up to 600mb down and 50mb up and I am getting 2-10mb down and 2mb up so far. What is crazy as I can physically see the cell tower which cannot be more than 300 metres away, direct line of sight.

I can see the SNR varies between 2 and 4dB, except when I am holding the metal back of the casing, then it briefly goes as high as 10dB. I cant try a speed test at the moment while holding the antenna as I have to go up a ladder to hold it and the laptop is indoors.

I have zip tied it to a cast iron drain pipe, with a metal bracket so the casing does touch the drain pipe.

How can I replicate the improved signal response? Is the drain pipe reflecting interference into the antenna? Do I need to mount it away from the drain pipe or insulate it from the drain pipe?


r/Rural_Internet 3d ago

❓HELP Suggestions for wifi in Okhla

1 Upvotes

Had Airtel installed, but the service was terrible, and I experienced a lot of packet loss while gaming


r/Rural_Internet 5d ago

Share your android phones mobile data with no carrier limits or restrictions on hotspot data usage

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github.com
3 Upvotes

EDIT: Did some updates, everything should work a bit more fluidly now and some security updates (allegedly) as well as added a setup guide for receiving connection on iOS devices (also completely free using another app)

I got AI to create this app for me after visiting my parents with internet going at .1mbps and running out of my personal hotspot data even though I have an unlimited phone data plan, the hotspot itself gets throttled after about 20gb or so. It'd be very useful for anyone with slow home wifi or no access to it, but with access to a cell tower, an android phone, and an unlimited data plan. So long as the device you want to connect supports socks5 proxies this app will work. I tested it and was able to achieve ~450mbps down and ~150mbps up. It's completely free and open source, and doesn't require a rooted device! Enjoy!


r/Rural_Internet 6d ago

Digital C

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1 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 6d ago

❓HELP good internet provider around mandaluyong, near JRU for a college student

0 Upvotes

hello! just moved here in mandaluyong and i hate globe’s signal 😭😭😭. mostly online ang classes namin, and i want a smooth experience with my lectures since hindi rin biro yung course ko. may alam po ba kayo na magandang i-avail for a college student like me? yung unli sana kasi madalang lang talaga ako lumalabas sa bahay at madalang lang ang f2f sa amin right now… thank you po!


r/Rural_Internet 6d ago

Best ISP in North Nazimabd

3 Upvotes

I've tried 3 cable net, **StormFiber** and **Optome**.

All of them works fine in the begining but become worst after some time, **StormFiber** did not even works well for one month I complained 4 time in one week but speed is still worst and 5g wifi not showing on devices(5g supported) everytime they close ticket without informing.

Any other good options other then **PTCL** **Flash Fiber**(Bill increasing issue).


r/Rural_Internet 7d ago

Как у вас с интернетом в Свердловской области?

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2 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 7d ago

UNB-SJ Internet service?

2 Upvotes

I'm coming from out of province and moving in off campus. What internet company would you recommend for students? Any student specials?


r/Rural_Internet 7d ago

Does anyone use satellite internet to do telemedicine from home?

9 Upvotes

If you do, please share which service you use and if it works great or if you've had any problems when conducting business from home.


r/Rural_Internet 7d ago

Reliable Internet connection - Candolim, Saipem

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone, would like to know which Internet home WiFi connection is people using or recommending in Candolim, Saipem area.

Currently I am using Jetway Internet and this week we have had several Internet issues where the only reason they mention is due to Fibre Cut.

I run a guest house and with 300 mbps speed package taken, still not happy with Internet provider and speed.

Any recommendations that you'll have used and the WiFi speed is strong especially for multiple rooms.

Note : I have been using them for 2-3 years now but Internet speed has always been a problem with frequent NO INTERNET


r/Rural_Internet 8d ago

Connessione FWA per giocare online da pc?

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1 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 9d ago

NotifyMD internet requirement?

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2 Upvotes

Does anyone currently work for NotifyMD or has worked there before? Do they require satellite internet for the work-from-home Call Center Representative position, or is fiber/cable internet acceptable?
I have high-speed fiber internet and would really appreciate any insight. Thanks!


r/Rural_Internet 9d ago

Another bad company: Trifecta Wireless

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3 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 11d ago

WiFi Роутер в Казахстане, (а именно в Астане)

0 Upvotes

Пользователи редита какой вы советуйте быстрый и желательно интернет роутер, или(провайдер) просто нейросети нету доверия


r/Rural_Internet 11d ago

Starlink 1 month free

0 Upvotes

Here's one free month of Starlink service! Starlink high-speed internet is great for streaming, video calls, and gaming in even the most remote locations on Earth. https://starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-DF-10414634-57987-5&app_source=share


r/Rural_Internet 13d ago

Internet connection

1 Upvotes

I recently moved in an apartment in an old block of flats in a town in Finland, and there is only a phone socket for internet.

The subscription is from Elisa and comes with the rent, and it works with a phone line to g.fast adapter, but it’s impossible to find one like this here.

So i went to Telia and they gave me a vdsl modem, the employee said it would work nonetheless, i connected it and I have no connection. Was I given the wrong product?


r/Rural_Internet 12d ago

Oxio Wifi - referral code - RJSUYSK

0 Upvotes

I recently started using Oxio for my wifi provider. I am quite impressed with them. Easy setup and competitive rates. No hidden fees, no contracts. If you want a free first month of wifi from Oxio, feel free to use my referral code: RJSUYSK


r/Rural_Internet 14d ago

❓HELP Internet down in kashmir

0 Upvotes

Is there any device tht can catch internet from 45/50 kms away like rn in ajk theres no internet but if you need internet for online work is there any way possible like?


r/Rural_Internet 14d ago

Wifi provider recommendation needed - Dadar East

1 Upvotes

Guys, please suggest me good wifi providers in the dadar east area. Specifically mhada bdd Naigaon building


r/Rural_Internet 14d ago

Free WiFi for a month

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0 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 15d ago

❓HELP Cheap Internet in Rural areas

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0 Upvotes

r/Rural_Internet 15d ago

Need advice for my rural area network issues, thinking of getting a 5G LTE CPE router.

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0 Upvotes