question re interwebs out in nowhere country

[Kingcreek]

Hey all, I have lived without TV or computer for 26 years, Ever since I moved into my dream home. We have 2 iPhones but signal is weak at best and sometimes nonexistent in certain weather and foliage conditions.
The time has come to consider internet service, for upgrading our alarm system, maybe streaming some tv/movies, replacing our land phone line yes you read that right (6 miles of old wire with occasional outages- might as well stretch a string between 2 cans).
I have checked with every broadband carrier in the area and we have 3 towers within the 5 mile radius but no line-of-sight because we are in a secluded wooded valley.
So it looks like my options are dish (ack!) or Starlink.
Starlink is probably a 1 year wait, about $600 for receiver and taxes/S&H (including the non-refundable reservation fee), and $99 per month thereafter. Data is currently unlimited but no guarantee that it stays unlimited.
Is this a reasonably good deal?
Would this increase our home value? I'm told lack of high speed internet can be a deal breaker for most people these days and we will probably retire downsize and relocate in about 3 years.

[Brad Johnson]

Have you checked with your land line provider about any plans for fiber upgrades? Rural phone services having been granted metric buttloads of money to upgrade under a couple of different fed programs. It's possible your provider has that on their agenda and just hasn't said anything.

Brad

[Kingcreek]

Have you checked with your land line provider about any plans for fiber upgrades? Rural phone services having been granted metric buttloads of money to upgrade under a couple of different fed programs. It's possible your provider has that on their agenda and just hasn't said anything.

Brad

I haven’t but that’s a good idea. I imagine we would be the last ones serviced though.
The politicians have been talking about the importance of rural high speed internet for years.

[Ben]

When you say towers, I just want to check that you are referring to fixed wireless microwave towers, not 4G/5G towers? Because otherwise you should definitely check into fixed wireless providers. Mine came out before they ever installed anything and used their equipment to check that I would get a sufficient signal, as I'm near the edge of their coverage area. I'm sure any in your area would provide this free service as well. Some will even work with you to install towers for the antenna to get above any obstacles (within reason).

Otherwise, even with the wait and startup expense, I would have to go Starlink if regular satellite were the only other option.

[AZRedhawk44]

Go Starlink as soon as you can, and in the interim look into some sort of 4G booster to plug into your home. 

[Kingcreek]

The area providers have coverage maps and the best one told us we would need a 50’ mast (at our own expense) and a larger than standard broadband dish.
I know at least one of the towers is a retrofitted old microwave tower.
Not having any recent experience I just don’t know much about what is currently available or good value.

[AZRedhawk44]

They may say you need a 50' mast to get perfect signal.

But a Wilson Amplifier on a 10' antenna on the second story of your home, pointed at the nearest tower, will still do wonders compared to your current reception.

https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/weboost-home-complete-signal-booster-kit-470145/

[Ben]

But a Wilson Amplifier on a 10' antenna on the second story of your home, pointed at the nearest tower, will still do wonders compared to your current reception.

https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/weboost-home-complete-signal-booster-kit-470145/

That looks like it's for cell signals. Rural fixed wireless is different, IFAIK.

What is fixed wireless?
Fixed wireless is fairly new, and despite the way it sounds, it doesn’t utilize a cellular network like your mobile phone does. This approach involves connecting existing fiber, cable, or DSL internet between two fixed locations via a radio and a receiver. Fixed wireless relies on small stations to transfer data at high speeds, similar to a satellite but localized. Because the stations are clustered close together, the technology is capable of delivering faster internet speeds than 4G with lower latency. Many providers see fixed wireless as a way to expand the edges of their current service footprints with a reliable, cost-effective approach. Up until recently, fixed wireless has been costly to deploy because subscriber numbers were low and it was best suited for densely populated areas where stations could be within line of sight. Now, the ability to utilize higher frequencies and advances in receiver technology have the capacity to transform fixed wireless into the broadband solution we’ve been searching for.

[MechAg94]

My parents use a wifi cellular box that does okay for them.  Their neighbor has a small 30 foot tower with a dish.  They haven't heard how expensive it was.  It seems to work just fine.  Even if you can't do the 50 foot mast, do what you can and it will still be an improvement.

My brother works from home and has had a hell of a time with internet.  He finally got Starlink within the last couple months and is very happy with it so far.  It may not be perfect, but it is far better than the other options he had. 

[AZRedhawk44]

That looks like it's for cell signals. Rural fixed wireless is different, IFAIK.

I was merely addressing the 2 iPhones mentioned in the OP.  Using those for android based 4G internet access, or as wifi hotspots to connect other devices to (laptops, streaming TV's, etc), is better than nothing at all until Starlink is available.

[Ben]

I was merely addressing the 2 iPhones mentioned in the OP.  Using those for android based 4G internet access, or as wifi hotspots to connect other devices to (laptops, streaming TV's, etc), is better than nothing at all until Starlink is available.

Gotchya.

[Bogie]

10 years ago, I had a wireless internet router that I got from one of the local cell phone outfits. It was actually, IIRC, the hotspot thing, plugged into a mobile router that ran on batteries, or a wall-wart adapter.
 
I put it in a couple of plastic bags, on the end of a nice long cord, and ran it up a nearby tree. Things worked a lot better that way.

[Kingcreek]

I might go uphill to the 1909 barn and climb up to the peak hay door and point my phone around to see what kind of signal I get there. It’s probably 10-15’ higher than my house roof ridge. I inquired with Verizon about my options and they weren’t optimistic that I could get an adequate signal even with a booster. Right now in the house on a clear morning with no foliage I’m at 2 or 3 bars LTE signal depending on where I stand, nowhere near 3G.
And I’m on a limited data plan. If I upgraded it would cost as much as starlink per month

[BobR]

I don't know if this would interest you but it is currently in NV. Perhaps there is more to this Starlink than I knew because this seems to be more than what you mentioned.

http://www.nevadashooters.com/threads/need-starlink-rural-satellite-service-i-have-your-setup-200mbps-15mbps-ready-to-go.167342/#post-1500812

bob

[Brad Johnson]

I haven’t but that’s a good idea. I imagine we would be the last ones serviced though.
The politicians have been talking about the importance of rural high speed internet for years.

If you happen to talk to them and they don't already have plans for upgrades, mention this.

https://www.usda.gov/reconnect

Brad

[Cliffh]

If you happen to talk to them and they don't already have plans for upgrades, mention this.

https://www.usda.gov/reconnect

Brad

I was set to send my local telco & electric providers, until I read the end date:

The application window is OPEN until 11:59 A.M. Eastern on March 9, 2022.

Damn.

FYI, I'm paying $95 per month for Dish internet service.  Which I believe is their lowest cost plan, something like 10gb/mo with speeds up to 10mbps - my laptop is usually closer to 3mbps down.

[Brad Johnson]

Application window, not install window. They still have time to get their submission in.

Brad

[Bogie]

Okay - Check with T-Mobile - they have an internet gateway that works on cell.. I set mine up this evening.

[Calumus]

Okay - Check with T-Mobile - they have an internet gateway that works on cell.. I set mine up this evening.

If T-Mobile Has decent service near you this is a good deal. I have one client on it. $50/ month and he’s getting about 25mbps down and 20 up. If they don’t, Starlink is pretty damn good. I’ve got 3 clients I’ve set up with it so far, and they all love it. Two of them live close to each other and are averaging about 100mbps down and 60 up with a ping around 40. One lives a couple hours away, and he’s averaging 250/150 with a similar ping. There’s a Starlink app you can get on your phone that lets you scan for the best location around your yard. I wouldn’t even consider any other satellite options.

 Getting it probably won’t increase your home value; but it will keep most people from crossing it off their lists instantly. These days, a house with no broadband available is approaching the desirability level of a house with no electric.

[Kingcreek]

Getting it probably won’t increase your home value; but it will keep most people from crossing it off their lists instantly. These days, a house with no broadband available is approaching the desirability level of a house with no electric.

That was my way of thinking it also.

[Bogie]

And much funz...
 
Well, I got the T-Mobile internet thing going, and... Nice...
 
So, I figured I'd fire the living room computer while I was at it, and take a look at the disk of pix of my left ankle... Yup. Bone porn...
 
The doc's office uses some sort of "it hates you" softwarez. Had to run it in Windows. Had Windows 10 loaded on the living room box, but Linux Mint was #1...
 
And... I thought I had Windows updates turned off, but it seems to have tried something. And now I'm getting a Grub error. Have tried several workarounds, to no avail. Didn't have any real data on it, so I'm probably just gonna trash that drive, and drop in a new one.
 
Irritating.
 
Or maybe the doc's office has a bug that eats Windoze... Wouldn't be the first time. Everything else in the house is Linux.