Options for internet connectivity
Options for internet connectivity
I recently purchased a home. I feel both thrilled and nervous. My current apartment has fiber, but it’s being replaced by this new house. Sadly, the new place doesn’t offer any. I’ve been feeling emotional for days. Someone must be absorbing my tears. The internet service here is poor; cable is available but expensive and doesn’t quite meet expectations. I’m disappointed because the options are limited. I can pay a lot more for T-Mobile’s unlimited plan, which gives me better speeds than the cable provider’s offerings. Their speeds range from 300-350Mb down and about 290-310Mb up, plus they offer a static IP. The cable company (COX) claims restrictions due to HOA rules, but I told them I’d pay thousands just to have the lines installed. Even though I’m willing to spend $60 a month for unlimited data with T-Mobile, it’s still not ideal. My current plan from CenturyLink is solid—$65 a month with no issues. This situation is frustrating. What alternatives exist? How can someone improve their connection or even get better service in this location? I don’t want to pay $130 a month for a provider that doesn’t deliver on promises, especially with such limited upload speeds.
Check for WISP options nearby as a viable alternative. Also identify structures with clear line-of-sight, enabling direct point-to-point wireless connections before installing fiber to those sites. Running fiber directly to your home may require numerous permits and costs; it’s likely you’ll need dedicated internet service around 3k per month. Try persuading the HOA to allow another organization to manage fiber in the area.
It's about what you bring to the table. In my neighborhood Comcast is the sole wired internet service. I considered T Mobile too, but I'm unsure they can manage the traffic we'd generate. Having alternatives is definitely an advantage. My manager is still stuck with Hughsnet and a Verizon 6 Gig monthly plan.
It raises the question of whether bundling mobile data is worthwhile. For example, paying $120 a month for T-Mobile with two lines and getting double speed could be worth more than $60, especially if you avoid the expensive, slow cable service. Additionally, it makes you think about how the shared IP address would behave when connections are aggregated—would it stay consistent or vary?
Yes, you can connect them, but those cellular connections are likely to have a small data limit. You won't be able to reach high speeds for extended periods. If you're linking to another server at the end, notice that it's the server's IP address, not your own or the other connection's. A dual-wan setup will restrict you to the speed of one connection for each TCP/UDP link.
It seems unusual since a single service might be limited. Combining two providers of the same type usually doesn’t add value unless they’re directed to separate cell towers, which would mean sharing the same bandwidth. I understand this setup in the UK too—there’s no speed cap, just whatever capacity is available.
From the UK to the US for the past five years—I’ve been able to combine different services.