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Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 23, 2023 at 8:58 pm
(This post was last modified: February 23, 2023 at 8:59 pm by arewethereyet.)
I am hoping to go to NC this summer for a visit with some relatives. The house I am heading to has no Internet and cell service is iffy. Dad used to live a couple miles away from my destination and all us kids had to find a sweet spot in his yard to get our phones to work.
What are my options to be able to connect to the Internet so I can do some work and stay somewhat connected to the world? I only need a short term solution.
If it matters...I have Verizon cell phone service.
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 23, 2023 at 9:39 pm
You could purchase a hotspot.
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 23, 2023 at 10:10 pm
I've been doing some digging. I hate to pay for a device I will use maybe once. I may call OnStar. It's available in my car but I didn't renew it as I don't ever go anywhere. Looks like that may work if I am not locked into a long term contract.
Anyone have experience using OnStar as your hotspot?
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 23, 2023 at 10:20 pm
Talk of Outer Banks has you nostalgic for home?
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 23, 2023 at 10:30 pm
(This post was last modified: February 23, 2023 at 10:30 pm by arewethereyet.)
(February 23, 2023 at 10:20 pm)Tomato Wrote: Talk of Outer Banks has you nostalgic for home?
Not going quite that far. My favorite aunt asked me a couple months ago if we would ever see one another again. She doesn't live far from another one of my aunts but they are inland....out in the woods of BFE NC.
If you ever watched Andy Griffith, they mention Siler City...not far from there.
The OBX is now too expensive and touristy for me.
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 24, 2023 at 5:18 am
If the cellular network is poor then a mobile hot-spot probably won't work either.
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RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 24, 2023 at 8:38 am
(This post was last modified: February 24, 2023 at 8:41 am by Anomalocaris.)
You need satellite internet, not just satellite phone. Something like HugesNet or Star link, The data plans very broadly go for around $1-5/GB, With savings for plans with larger amount of GB per month. Down load speed for hugesnet is low compared to most land service, but installation and hardware is free. Not sure how long the plans go for. Download speed for Elon Musk’s star link is higher, closer to 4G cellular, but you pay a substantial amount for the terminals up front. And Star link service is not available over wide swath of the lower 48.
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