need help with internet access in rural/wooded area

[tobisangels]

Hi. I sure hope you guys can help me out (I'm sooo computer/techno challenged)

I live in a rural/rural area (meaning I live in a rural area of a rural city/county). I would like to try and get wireless internet service because I am tired of living in the stone age with my dial-up. My problem is I live down in a "hole" so to speak. My home is down a hill, in a hollow, and I am surrounded by trees. In my home I have 0-1 bar on my verizon phone, and 1-2 in my front yard. I have been checking on all the different methods of improving my signal for my desktop, but there seems to information overkill, and it makes my head spin, so I was hoping someone could just tell me simply what I need to do, what I need to buy (or at least start with) without spending major amounts of $$$, and quite possibly, where to purchase. I'm hoping to get a good signal from my roof, which is my only hope. If not I'll have to go with satellite

I'm not really sure which services are available in my area ( I checked availability, but just not sure which would work for me). I am going to try verizon first, then go from there.

Please help!
Thanks!

[Alienware_51]

Hi Tobisangels,

If you have poor coverage with Verizon in/around your house you could invest in a Wireless Repeater. It "strengthens" your wireless signal and then you would have to run a cable into your house that carries the strengthened wireless signal into a broadcaster that broadcasts the signal throughout your house. I think that installing a wireless repeater can kind of get expensive (but I'm not too sure). Another option you have is to look up high-speed internet providers in your area. Satellite is an option, but that is expensive per month. Someone told me a few months ago that Hughes Net was like 90 bucks a month.

Have a great day,
Alien.

[RudyRules]

Try other wireless providers as well.
I am in the same boat as you and AT&T, Verizon, Sprint do not work at all at my home, Nextel wokrs if I walk down to the end of my driveway. Only Alltell works.
The Alltel aircard works MUCH better than using the phone as amodem but it's also more expensive.

[Maximum Signal]

A basic direct connect amplifer/antenna package should get you the reception you are looking for . Our CA819 kit is $200 and works amazing with EVDO devices. Wireless amplifiers do not work well with 3G and good wireless systems are alot more expensive. Check out our link below to our site.Drop us a line if you have further questions

Originally Posted by tobisangels

Hi. I sure hope you guys can help me out (I'm sooo computer/techno challenged)

I live in a rural/rural area (meaning I live in a rural area of a rural city/county). I would like to try and get wireless internet service because I am tired of living in the stone age with my dial-up. My problem is I live down in a "hole" so to speak. My home is down a hill, in a hollow, and I am surrounded by trees. In my home I have 0-1 bar on my verizon phone, and 1-2 in my front yard. I have been checking on all the different methods of improving my signal for my desktop, but there seems to information overkill, and it makes my head spin, so I was hoping someone could just tell me simply what I need to do, what I need to buy (or at least start with) without spending major amounts of $$$, and quite possibly, where to purchase. I'm hoping to get a good signal from my roof, which is my only hope. If not I'll have to go with satellite

I'm not really sure which services are available in my area ( I checked availability, but just not sure which would work for me). I am going to try verizon first, then go from there.

Please help!
Thanks!

[Bill Clinton]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

Hi Tobisangels,

If you have poor coverage with Verizon in/around your house you could invest in a Wireless Repeater. It "strengthens" your wireless signal and then you would have to run a cable into your house that carries the strengthened wireless signal into a broadcaster that broadcasts the signal throughout your house. I think that installing a wireless repeater can kind of get expensive (but I'm not too sure). Another option you have is to look up high-speed internet providers in your area. Satellite is an option, but that is expensive per month. Someone told me a few months ago that Hughes Net was like 90 bucks a month.

Have a great day,
Alien.

Satellite may be worth checking because most of the carriers are limiting the data to 5GB/month so depending on your internet habits you could go over.

I used WildBlue for a while and they had plans as low as $49.99/month which is actually cheaper than what just cable internet costs me now. I had a more expensive plan from WildBlue, around 89.99/month but besides the lag the speeds were very similar to my cable.

I have heard that Hughes Net is dreadful, and they have data caps of like 512MB/day or something and if you go over you're speed will be throttled down to dial-up speed for 24 hours. I would hope that doesn't apply to all their plans, but I remember when i compared satellite providers they were one that I made sure to avoid.

As far as repeaters go, figure on spending $250-$400 for a repeater system, $180-$250 for a wired setup. you may find a used one on eBay cheaper. I have used repeaters in the past and it is possible to improve your reception.