Rural Internet Options

[InactiveBrunch]

Currently the setup at my house is extremely slow and expensive satellite internet- about 500kbps up/down with datacaps for 100GB/month for around $200USD/month.

Obviously very not fun.

 

I've been looking into other alternatives, and I decided to take a look at cellular.

The service is very bad, and we usually can attain one bar standing next to a third-floor window.

 

Recently I've read online of people experimenting using satellite dishes, pointed at the nearest cell tower in order to increase cellular service stability, and then using that for internet. I'm imagining that would basically involve getting one of those cellular USB internet things, setting it up with the dish and trying to get the dish pointed at the tower. This seems feasible and I know I have an extra dish lying around somewhere, but I'm wondering if there will actually be any sort of improvement if the connection is so spotty in the first place.

Perhaps instead of the dish this would be easier with a simple cellular booster, but I'm not sure how much the connection would actually improve with that, and if it would be better/worse than with a dish.

 

Another alternative would be to use the setup in Linus's 12KM wifi video, set up a dish somewhere at a friends house within service range, get that connected to local, more powerful cellular, and beam that using the dish setup to my house. Problem with that is I'm not sure how expensive it would be, and the treeline would be difficult for the connection to navigate.

 

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with either of the two methods described above, or knows if the first method is something that sounds technically double and is something that could work.

 

I'm really desperate for internet solutions here as having such speeds for such a price sucks.

 

EDIT: This isn't in the US/Canada.

[Donut417]

20 minutes ago, InactiveBrunch said:

Currently the setup at my house is extremely slow and expensive satellite internet- about 500kbps up/down with datacaps for 100GB/month for around $200USD/month.

Obviously very not fun.

 

I've been looking into other alternatives, and I decided to take a look at cellular.

The service is very bad, and we usually can attain one bar standing next to a third-floor window.

 

Recently I've read online of people experimenting using satellite dishes, pointed at the nearest cell tower in order to increase cellular service stability, and then using that for internet. I'm imagining that would basically involve getting one of those cellular USB internet things, setting it up with the dish and trying to get the dish pointed at the tower. This seems feasible and I know I have an extra dish lying around somewhere, but I'm wondering if there will actually be any sort of improvement if the connection is so spotty in the first place.

Perhaps instead of the dish this would be easier with a simple cellular booster, but I'm not sure how much the connection would actually improve with that, and if it would be better/worse than with a dish.

 

Another alternative would be to use the setup in Linus's 12KM wifi video, set up a dish somewhere at a friends house within service range, get that connected to local, more powerful cellular, and beam that using the dish setup to my house. Problem with that is I'm not sure how expensive it would be, and the treeline would be difficult for the connection to navigate.

 

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with either of the two methods described above, or knows if the first method is something that sounds technically double and is something that could work.

 

I'm really desperate for internet solutions here as having such speeds for such a price sucks.

 

EDIT: This isn't in the US/Canada.

The using a dish to capture a cell signal, not sure on that. Never seen that before. 

 

Now the gear Linus used, uses WiFi bands, Ive seen them use 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz. So re-transmitting the cell signals is out at least with that equipment. And it may or may not be legal. As the WiFi bands are generally allowed to be used by any one, with out a license but cellular data bands not so much. What you could do, if you have a friend near enough to a tower. Is put the cellular data modem there and connect it to the Ubiquiti dish and have it sent to a dish at your house. I cant say how well this will work.  

 

The fact is you only get 1 bar with your cellular provider means you going to have shit service with them. Sadly this is one of the CON's of living in BFE, no decent internet. 

[Blebekblebek]

Use steel pole on the roof

And it's not expensive, at max you spend about $200 for 2 units which can go for 15km

The unit that linus use are really the most ridiculous and impractical setup to show.

 

I've been using wireless point to point to share between 2 house.

 

Now the problem you might counter is to persuade your friend to install those pole, it might look ugly and also worried them for various reason, and the line of sight of your area, but then again, even at worst you'll get 1-2 bar and occasionally time out due to that situation, but it will be far better than your current speed.

 

 

[W-L]

28 minutes ago, InactiveBrunch said:

-SNIP-

It depends where your located and what your allowed to setup, but for something like that your best option may be to configure a point to point system to a cellular tower as long you are able to get decent line of sight let it be having it mount it onto a structure or to built a new one to house it.

 

If your cellular signal is decent enough you can get a booster in your area and use a 3G modem to get decent access. 

[InactiveBrunch]

50 minutes ago, W-L said:

It depends where your located and what your allowed to setup, but for something like that your best option may be to configure a point to point system to a cellular tower as long you are able to get decent line of sight let it be having it mount it onto a structure or to built a new one to house it.

Yeah I've thought of that, but I have no clue exactly how to achieve that. Could you link anywhere to start?

 

Also, what constitutes a "decent enough" signal for cell? I'm assuming one bar sometimes doesn't cut it...

[W-L]

8 minutes ago, InactiveBrunch said:

Yeah I've thought of that, but I have no clue exactly how to achieve that. Could you link anywhere to start?

 

Also, what constitutes a "decent enough" signal for cell? I'm assuming one bar sometimes doesn't cut it...

It's very hard to determine what your ISP provider will require since it can vary but if your able to get a line of sight to a close by telecommunications tower something like this would be able to work. Your best option would be to look for ISP's which are willing to take the time to work with you to try and get you a connection within a reasonable cost bracket for the equipment and setup. For wireless one bar is pretty low so it will be difficult the get a reliable signal so it might be hard to get that to work. 

 

https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/powerbeam-ac-gen2/

https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/powerbeam-ac-iso/