Options for internet in rural areas
Options for internet in rural areas
Right now my home setup is really slow and costly satellite internet—about 500kbps up/down with data caps of 100GB per month, costing around $200 USD each month. It’s not very enjoyable. I’ve been exploring other options and decided to check cellular services. The quality is poor, and we usually get a solid signal close to a third-floor window. Recently I saw some people using satellite dishes aimed at nearby cell towers to boost their cellular connection for internet. I’m thinking it might work by connecting a cellular USB modem to the dish and pointing it at the tower. It seems possible, and I think I have a spare dish somewhere. I’m curious whether this would actually help with the weak signal we have. Maybe a simpler cellular booster would be easier, but I’m not sure how much improvement it would bring compared to the dish method, and if it would be better or worse. Another idea is using Linus’s 12KM Wi-Fi video setup: place a dish at a friend’s house within range, connect that to a stronger local cellular signal, and beam it back to my home via the dish. The downside is figuring out the cost and dealing with tree coverage issues. I’m hoping someone has experience with either approach or knows if the dish method is technically feasible. I really need better internet speeds at this price point.
Employing a device to capture cell signals, I'm not sure about it. This hasn't occurred before. The equipment Linus is using supports WiFi bands—specifically 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz. Re-sending those signals seems impractical with that gear. It might also raise legal questions. Generally, WiFi frequencies are open to anyone without a license, but cellular data isn't as free. If you have someone close to a tower, you could place the modem there and link it to the dish, sending the signal to your home. I can't guarantee how effective this would be. The reality is, with only one bar from your carrier, you'll likely face poor service. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of living in BFE—no reliable internet.
Install steel poles on the roof—it's affordable, costing around $200 for two units that cover up to 15km. The poles Linus uses seem overly complicated and impractical. I currently rely on wireless point-to-point connections between my homes. If you try convincing a friend to use poles, they might find it unsightly or raise concerns about visibility and signal issues. However, even in the worst case, you'd likely get better performance than your present connection, with at least 1-2 bars and occasional interruptions due to coverage gaps.
It varies by location and what you're permitted to install, but for such setups the best choice might be a direct connection to a cell tower when you have clear visibility. You could mount it on a building or construct a dedicated structure to support it. If your signal is strong enough, consider a booster in your area and use a 3G modem for better connectivity.
It's challenging to know exactly what your ISP needs because it can differ. However, if you can connect to a nearby telecom tower, that could help. The best approach is to find ISPs that are open to collaborating with you to secure a connection within a fair price range for the gear and installation. For wireless, a strong signal is essential, which makes achieving reliability tough.
Relevant links:
- https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/powerbeam-ac-gen2/
- https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/powerbeam-ac-iso/