Rural Internet and Headaches

[Helitorian]

I've become an infrequent visitor here because of the fact that I don't have internet where I live (rural Nebraska). It hasn't bothered me until recently. I find myself wanting to learn computer coding and such, but not having internet makes that just a tad hard.

So, I've been spending lots of time (when I have internet access) researching rural internet companies. HOLY. COW. It is ridiculous! I'm either gonna pay out the butt for 2 GB of data or I'm gonna pay out the butt and have to sell some of my organs on the black market to get a whopping 25GBs. I don't need 25GBs!!! That's TOO MUCH internets! ARGH!!! Why isn't there an emoji I can use to simulate me pulling my hair out!? Why isn't there a decent company that'll give me 10GBs for around $40-60 and not be giant jerks and raise it each month!?

Do any of you have rural internet and would be awesome enough to give me some advice or should I march out to the backyard with all my aluminum foil and start building a tinfoil tower in hopes of getting a decent contract with the little men on Mars?

And sorry for being so irate. I've just spent the past 2 hours looking only to come up with nothing.

 

[jasper19]

I recently moved out of town, but still within a 20 minute drive to my local bigger town.

I didn't check out the internet situation until i got out there. Man did i panick!...it was down to either dial up, or satelite internet...and that was really depressing as i spend alot of time online.

I was lucky and i am right on the edge of verizon 4g network!...they have this thing called home fusion internet. Its wireless internet just like the wireless of a cell phone. There are different rates for plans.

So i am not sure if you are in one of these areas? are you relatively close to any larger town/city?...or are you really far out there in the sticks?

 

[Colorguarder08]

try wireless brands such as clear wire or something go to best buy they should be able to help you. We are on Clearwire and really only have issues when we are trying to use the internet and netflix at the same time. But it's about $40 a month we had to buy a modom and thats it we have had it for several years now.

 

[Helitorian]

Jasper19: I'm about 11 miles south of a large town, 10 miles south of a tiny town and maybe 20 miles west of a decent sized town. I never even considered Verizon. I was thinking I'd have to bite the bullet and resort to raising my smartphone GBs and use it as a hotspot. Thanks!

Colorguard08: I'll have to look into that too. Thanks!

 

[jasper19]

Jasper19: I'm about 11 miles south of a large town, 10 miles south of a tiny town and maybe 20 miles west of a decent sized town. I never even considered Verizon. I was thinking I'd have to bite the bullet and resort to raising my smartphone GBs and use it as a hotspot. Thanks!

Colorguard08: I'll have to look into that too. Thanks!

Ya see if verizon has a 4g tower in your area and is offering the home fusion.

Being that i am at the edge of the network coverage area, like nobody out here has it. It is AMAZINGLY fast...like blows cable out of the water fast. I average like 50mbps

The downside is that they limit your usage with different plans, and the highest you can get is 30 gigs worth, so i have 2 of them :54:

But it doesnt sound like you have that much usage anyways. Hope they have it in your area! How big is the city you are near?

 

[Helitorian]

Ya see if verizon has a 4g tower in your area and is offering the home fusion.

Being that i am at the edge of the network coverage area, like nobody out here has it. It is AMAZINGLY fast...like blows cable out of the water fast. I average like 50mbps

The downside is that they limit your usage with different plans, and the highest you can get is 30 gigs worth, so i have 2 of them :54:

But it doesnt sound like you have that much usage anyways. Hope they have it in your area! How big is the city you are near?

I checked and it says they offer it in my area but I'm gonna check to see if my cell provider offers anything. If I don't like what they have, I plan on going in to the local Verizon store to double check that they offer it in my area. Even though I'm outside the major town, my address and zip code make it seem like I'm in the town. I'd rather double check and be sure than get something I can't use.

I read lots of reviews about the service and saw lots of negative comments. What is your opinion, Jasper? I'm too cheap to afford the 30 gb plan and there's no way I could swing two of them! Lol I have 2 GBs on my iPhone and manage to stay under that each month but I don't watch much in the way of videos or really listen to Pandora so I think I should be good with the 10 gb.

 

[Helitorian]

Oops. Forgot your last question.

It's a decent size but not massive. Twelfth largest in the state I think.

 

[jasper19]

Its very very good service, at least comparing to what is available in rural areas. Like i mentioned, it is 5 times faster then my cable was in town. This could just be my situation, who knows how many people use it around you. But i know the fewer people that draw on a signal the faster it is for you. So if you think everyone in your rural town has these it will probably not be as fast as it is for me. But still miles ahead of dial up or satelite.

It works through stroms, because its not satelite, its like how your cell phone will work in a storm or cloudy.

A downside is its not AS reliable as cable, there can be times when it goes down, and you have to call in. But really overall it hasn't been down much. My cable was down as well from time to time when i was in town.

Another downside is it can be difficult to get to the right person when calling into verizon to figure out a problem. I don't think they did much training with their customer rep people, half the people didnt even know what home fusion is! lol...But...once you figure out the right number, and info to give them and you do get the right person there is no problem.

Also if you sign up for it, they send a guy out to instal for you, and it checks your signal right there. If you have good 4g cell signal from where you are there should be no problem.

overall i would classify it as follows

8/10 reliability
10/10 speed
5/10 price...it is kinda spendy but for rural i had no other option
8/10 customer service (if you can get to the right person)

Also this is just my experience and opinion...your mileage may vary....

 

[Helitorian]

Wow thank you so much for all the info. You've been a huge help
I'm in the middle of changing jobs but as soon as I'm settled, I'll definitely be giving Verizon a chance. I can't wait to have internet on my laptop again!

 

[jasper19]

Wow thank you so much for all the info. You've been a huge help
I'm in the middle of changing jobs but as soon as I'm settled, I'll definitely be giving Verizon a chance. I can't wait to have internet on my laptop again!

Oh another downside is that its kinda like a phone contract...so you basically have to commit to at least 2 years...if i remember correctly. at least i had to i think, maybe they changed it now.

 

[MrsKay]

I live in a rural area and I am using my verizon phone for my hotspot. I have the 10gb plan. right now they are running a special if you sign up for the 10gb plan you can get 1 free gb, which brings it to 11 gb. This works for me. Although you are locked into their 2 year plan by doing this, but I need my phone anyway, so....
When the time comes you should shop around, but I believe in my area verizon has the best coverage.

 

[Helitorian]

Thank you, MrsKay. I had Verizon as my phone service a few years ago but left to go to us cellular for a cheaper plan. Now I'm not too pleased with us cellular but who's ever happy with their cell company? Lol