An SOS about Internet

Bl00df4rt · August 31, 2021

Hi, I’m new here and I need a bit of help. I don’t know if this is the correct place to say something like this, but I need a bit of help with ideas. Anything tech related that my parents had needed help with I have been able to solve, all but one thing; Internet.

For 9 years, I have been trying to come up with a solution. Their home resides in a secluded area within Texas that is shrouded by trees on a private road (that might mess with legalities a bit). The only ISP that has an actual line in the ground (Their current ISP) is CenturyLink, who provides 6 mb/sec and charges them $160/mo through DSL. They frequently disconnect them and throttle their connection, disabling their ability to use their home phone. They rarely get the speed they pay for and I don’t know what to do. Satellite internet in the area has even worse speeds with data caps. I’ve looked into fixed wireless connections, but the trees in the area are very dense and I’m not sure that would work out.

Is there anything I could do? They’re wanting a fast, reliable connection with no data caps. SuddenLink does have a line in the ground nearby, but’s it’s on a road that is out of reach. Is there any way I could get their attention and make them build a line here? Thank you for your time.

Rauten · August 31, 2021

3 hours ago, Arika S said:

Starlink

+1 to this.

If they can get it, they should. Only real alternative they're gonna have.

Blue4130 · September 1, 2021

22 hours ago, Bl00df4rt said:

Is there any way I could get their attention and make them build a line here? Thank you for your time.

Yes. Open your wallet and hope you have enough money. Isp's will run a line, but it is not going to be cheap.

mariushm · September 1, 2021

Where's the closest internet presence besides them ?

A proper solution would be fiber, it can go for miles and you could custom order an uninterrupted 1 mile cable or as much as needed. media converters are cheap, like 20$+ for a 1gbps media converter (from fiber to ethernet).

There are ethernet to VDSL / DSL converters/extenders, which can send ethernet through a cheap phone cable or using a few wires in ethernet cable at more than 1 mile

For example this extender is advertised at up to 7000 ft. (but with those very long distances you'd have >1s latency in that high distance mode, so online games/live stuff/phone calls will be problematic, but browsing websites would be fine)

Link : https://www.amazon.com/Tupavco-Ethernet-Extender-Kit-Repeater-VDSL/dp/B01BOD8C9W/

Still, you'd have to bury it or put it on poles / trees, which could get expensive. Also, you have risk of a lightning strike hitting the wires or a tree falling and breaking the wires. It may make more sense to get a fiber cable, which will be just fiber so won't attract lightning strikes.

Donut417 · September 1, 2021

On 8/31/2021 at 2:08 AM, Bl00df4rt said:

I could get their attention and make them build a line here? Thank you for your time.

Throw money at them. I know in some instances ISP's will build out to a home but might require the home owner to cover the cost. Ive seen Comcast provide quotes as high as $50,000. This is due to the fact they had to install equipment such as AMPs and such to get the signal where it needs to go, and they make you pay for every foot of cable and any equipment that is required.

Outside of that, there is not much you can do.