Internet in rural areas with no service
Posted by oltop@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 48 comments
Not sure if this is the right thread, but I frequent here a lot and figured id give it a shot.
I have a small plot of land in a pretty rural area that gets no cell service. Spotty might be more accurate, if I walk out to road I can occasionally make a phone call. This typically doesnt bother me, however I work remote and its been preventing me from getting up there to start building a cabin/developing the property.
I dont need to stream movies etc, I just need to be able to receive and make phone calls and send some emails. In a perfect world Id love to make my car a "hot spot" or mobile office. Is there antennas out there I need or is this Starlink a possibility? Id only need to use it once a month, maybe less, so being able to turn it on and off is a plus.
TIA
jawniequest@reddit
Hi I know this was old but wondering if you were able to check the sky for connection using the app at your place without having service? I’m in a similar scenario and have ordered the set up gear but am now concerned about to to actually set it up in such a dead zone
Monarc73@reddit
Starlink will fail in a long-term shtf scenario. (Their whole business model is based on constantly renewing the mini-sats as they fall.)
You might be better off just getting a satellite capable phone, or putting in your own tower, depending on usage, budget ...etc.
OtherwiseAlbatross14@reddit
The internet in general will fail in a long term shtf scenario so I'm not sure how that's really relevant
Monarc73@reddit
Idc about the internet, but it would be nice to be able to communicate with my network for as long as possible. (Assuming that we are all using the same work-around.)
Blueacid@reddit
True, if they're out of radio range / Line of Sight then you're going to need some sort of network maintained by you, or a third party, to bridge the gap.
If it's someone else, then that could be cellular, landline telephone, internet, HAM radio repeater, satellite internet, etc.. but it's likely that in a SHTF that most of these won't remain viable options.
Monarc73@reddit
I like the idea of having my own cell / radio / ham tower, and a large network of repeaters. (In a shtf scenario, I doubt that I'd be super interested in talking to anyone outside of my immediate area anyway.)
rankhornjp@reddit
I would look into Starlink. I use one for work for this exact reason (I need internet, but it will do wifi texts/calling, too).
PhiloLibrarian@reddit
Starlink is Elon Musk’s satellite company right?
ThaOppanHaimar@reddit
yeah.
If any sort of bad event happenes, Starlink is the last thing you wanna put your trust on
Pyro919@reddit
Any reliable/widely available alternatives?
I’ve wondered since I wouldn’t necessarily want to keep funneling money into his pockets but it would be nice to have something for this exact type of situation.
Vegetable-Topic-140@reddit
Can you get landline service?
Landline phone service is often reliable even when electricity is down for weeks due to wind, snow, ice, etc.
If you can get phone, then you can probably get DSL. That's what I use way out here in the sticks where we have no cell service under any circumstances. We both WFH, have a few monitoring devices on it (like our well/water leak system), and it's quite capable.
Now, the best DSL package isn't as good as the best broadband, but we stagger when we each need to upload big files, and we time that if we want to watch a movie.
It works out extremely well without needing to do business with Starlink.
ShakataGaNai@reddit
Starlink for sure. You can get the starlink mini now for $300, the roam service for $50. *Lots* of car mount options, 12v accessory to starlink power cables. Starlink has a bunch of these 1st party accessories, and even more 3rd party on amazon etc.
Provided you car park the car somewhere with reasonable sky visibility, it'll work great. So dense forrest not good, open plains great. And if you're not anywhere with existing wifi, the wifi signal will go a few hundred feet.
cbmamherst@reddit
I have Starlink and works great but if you are in the woods it definitely can be problematic. I am in the woods and it took quite a bit of work to figure out where to put the antenna. It was almost a no go but we found a spot on our roof that works quite well. Starlink has an app you can install on your phone and scan the sky to see how well it will work. I used this a lot looking for where to put the antenna.
HamRadio_73@reddit
+1 for Starlink. The boondocking RVers friend.
clauderbaugh@reddit
This right here OP. I've worked nomadically from my mobile office using multiple generations of Starlink for about 4 years now and it's a game changer. I now use the mini but still have my old Gen 2 articulating dishy for backup and throughput when needed. (it punches through storms better but uses more power. The mini uses less power but has heat limitations that throttle speed.) As mentioned, standby mode on the roam plan for $5 a month will let you do what you're asking if your phone is set to wi-fi calling. The audio is clear and uses VoIP.
WhereDidAllTheSnowGo@reddit
The cheaper option…
Get a tower, preferably on a hill.
Install a directional, high gain antenna pointed at nearest cellular service (tower). Install cellular radio with SIM. This needs power.
If home nearby, add a modem and run a cable to yer wifi router. Make phone calls via wifi.
If not, put in a cellular repeater, or WiFi service, or another form of wireless to yer phone and/or devices.
every-day-normal-guy@reddit
I didn't even know this was a thing. Thank you for sharing
glaars@reddit
I’ve had a few, Starlink is the answer. I have the mobile and take it with me when I travel as well 👍
Personal_Ad_8030@reddit
I live in a super rural place and had to get Starlink.
everyviIIianislemons@reddit
starlink is really the only option unfortunately, most satellite internet providers aren’t as widespread just yet
OneFoundation4495@reddit
I live in a rural area where cell-phone service is spotty, but my WeBoost signal booster and Verizon JetPack enable me to have cell phone service thst is OK but not great, and it also provides Internet service for my laptop and tablet.
countrysparky615@reddit
Starlink is good my wife works remote and I play online games with no problem! Tress will be the biggest annoyance for star link
oltop@reddit (OP)
It's in the woods, however its pretty clear out by the dirt road. You think if I plop it by the road thats enough?
drowninginidiots@reddit
If you’ve got at least a little cell service, you could try a cellular booster. I know people with them on their vehicles and they work pretty well.
Otherwise, starlink is definitely your best bet.
Adorable_Dust3799@reddit
I have starlink, almost 4 years now.
Owenleejoeking@reddit
Starlink is the only answer now.
I mean there are other answers like viasat ect. But they suck and are more expensive.
Starlink is like having city internet literally anywhere you can plug it in.
HCLandHoldings@reddit
A while back there was a service called Nomad Internet. I think it is still around? We didn’t end up using it, but it’s an alternative to Starlink.
stephenph@reddit
Starlink seems to be the answer, I have a coworker that had some land with no internet, he got starlink and now has a better connection then some of the team that have a traditional connection.
ryanmercer@reddit
Starlink. If you're lucky, residential lite is available in your area.
bwong00@reddit
Starlink on standby mode is your best bet. It's only $5 in the US, and you can use it to connect and bump up your subscription if needed.
GooseGosselin@reddit
I have Starlink, love it. They recently gave out free Starlink Minis to their customers, costs only a few extra dollars a month to activate, if you know an existing customer it might be worth asking about. I also have a cell signal booster that works great.
fdd4s@reddit
Starlink is the best option, but the budget option it could be a 4g modem/router with external 4g antennas, there are also cell phones with external antennas.
CCWaterBug@reddit
Starling is perfect for this situation
Ryan_e3p@reddit
Satellite internet may be the only option.
PhilipAPayne@reddit
This is the way we had to go. The service is pretty good and we actually do occasionally stream something. Unless there is a bad wind and rain storm, which we do get being in the side of a mountain, we see no difference from when we had “fast” internet in town.
alcohall183@reddit
Starlink is a possibility
11systems11@reddit
+1 for Starlink
57tripacer@reddit
Starlink mini👍
serenityfalconfly@reddit
Starlink is contributing to the mission to colonize Mars. Best internet service I’ve had. Every state from California to Alaska amazingly easy to set up.
Rheila@reddit
We can get a bar of signal if we head out to the orchard, but we just use Starlink and wifi calling and it’s good.
river343@reddit
T-Mobile offers satellite text. A friend has it and says text will go through no issue, calls might drop.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
This was me last year.
But I ended up switching services. Someone came to visit and I realized his phone worked and mine didn't.
felixthecat59@reddit
Starling, or one of the other satellite services, like Hughes.Net might be the answer.
DansDrives@reddit
Starlink, like others have mentioned, but all you need is to get a mini and put it in standby mode at $5 a month. That is enough for calls, texts, and emails. Best of all it’s reliable.
Grendle1972@reddit
In my area, I had 1 MAYBE 2 bars of service for my cell (Verizon). Hurricaine Helene hit and or DSL internet was wiped out. But, our neighbor had Starlink and we were able to connect using generator power. After that, we got Starlink for the homestead and a bridge that allows us to use it pretty much around the house or up to 450ft away. The Starlink service isn't cheap, but knowing I can power it with 65 watts or so of power (100w if melting snow) it's nice knowing a 100w solar panel and a small 300w power bank from Harbor Freight can keep internet up and running. Abd leaving it on Standby mode for $5/ month, I can still make phone calls and send endless, just can't stream movies. If you don't need full service but more than the $5 option, you can get the lower tier service for $60 or $80, I can't remember which.
mmaalex@reddit
Starlink is far and away the best option.
A cell booster MIGHT work if theres some signal to work with.
There are a few other sat providers that are somewhat cheaper, but have far inferior service speeds.
thomas533@reddit
Starlink is a good option but it can get expensive if you are only using it once a month. /r/Rural_Internet/ is a good place to start as well.
There are cell boosters. Some people swear by them but I've had mixed results.
Use cellmapper.net to figure out where your nearest cell towers are and you can then set up the directional antenna to point at them. It also might be the your carrier does not have good coverage in your area, but other carriers might.
gonyere@reddit
Starlink may be your best bet. Ask around locally - there may be other options. We've been on a WiMax system for years.