Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: February 9, 2025, 2:10 pm
Atheist Forums › Science › Technology & Computing v
Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Thread Modes
Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
arewethereyet Offline
Don't make me use my mom voice! FAFO
*******
Religious Views: Yawn...
Posts: 16844
Threads: 129
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation: 65
#1
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.
Find
Reply
Nay_Sayer Offline
I Say Nay!
******
Religious Views: Devout Pastafarian (Ordained minister)
Posts: 3501
Threads: 25
Joined: August 9, 2015
Reputation: 27
#2
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.
"For the only way to eternal glory is a life lived in service of our Lord, FSM; Verily it is FSM who is the perfect being the name higher than all names, king of all kings and will bestow upon us all, one day, The great reclaiming"  -The Prophet Boiardi-

      Conservative trigger warning.
[Image: s-l640.jpg]
                                                                                         
Find
Reply
arewethereyet Offline
Don't make me use my mom voice! FAFO
*******
Religious Views: Yawn...
Posts: 16844
Threads: 129
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation: 65
#3
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?
Find
Reply
Silver Offline Donators
Faith's Nightmare
*****
Religious Views: Infidel Savant
Posts: 33631
Threads: 1422
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation: 152
#4
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?
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Find
Reply
arewethereyet Offline
Don't make me use my mom voice! FAFO
*******
Religious Views: Yawn...
Posts: 16844
Threads: 129
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation: 65
#5
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.
Find
Reply
zebo-the-fat Offline
Senior Member
****
Religious Views: Atheist
Posts: 3327
Threads: 179
Joined: April 29, 2012
Reputation: 24
#6
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.
The meek shall inherit the Earth, the rest of us will fly to the stars.

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud ..... after a while you realise that the pig likes it!

Find
Reply
Gawdzilla Sama Offline
Banana Hammer
*****
Religious Views: Rational
Posts: 19881
Threads: 324
Joined: July 31, 2016
Reputation: 34
#7
RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 24, 2023 at 6:15 am
Rent a satellite phone?
Find
Reply
Anomalocaris Offline
Stem arthropod
*****
Religious Views: None
Posts: 19789
Threads: 57
Joined: September 24, 2010
Reputation: 85
#8
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.
Find
Reply
Anomalocaris Offline
Stem arthropod
*****
Religious Views: None
Posts: 19789
Threads: 57
Joined: September 24, 2010
Reputation: 85
#9
RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 24, 2023 at 8:42 am
https://www.hughesnet.com/get-started

https://www.starlink.com/
Find
Reply
Angrboda Offline
Bringer Of Grief
*****
Religious Views: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.
Posts: 30268
Threads: 116
Joined: February 22, 2011
Reputation: 158
#10
RE: Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy
February 24, 2023 at 9:16 am
(February 24, 2023 at 8:38 am)Anomalocaris Wrote: 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.

I'm not sure, but I think those satellite internet services use phone service for their uplink.
[Image: extraordinarywoo-sig.jpg]
Find
Reply


Atheist Forums › Science › Technology & Computing v
Need info on Internet connection when even cell phone service is iffy

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  How often do you get a new phone? Silver 25 493 January 21, 2025 at 3:24 pm
Last Post: Ravenshire
  What would happen to the Internet if there were no regulation? FlatAssembler 7 936 January 27, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Last Post: BrianSoddingBoru4
  Will quantum computers slow our Internet down? FlatAssembler 5 920 November 16, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Last Post: Ravenshire
  Ermagerd not Internet Explorer! Rhizomorph13 18 2252 April 6, 2021 at 8:51 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Opinions on "fiber optic" internet? Gawdzilla Sama 31 3154 February 19, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Last Post: bennyboy
  Internet Speed 2018 Iroscato 20 3361 April 19, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Last Post: Edwardo Piet
  During a time of phone zombies Silver 2 983 July 23, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Last Post: Astonished
  Internet Browser paulpablo 14 2563 May 2, 2017 at 3:48 am
Last Post: Sal
  Nokia 3310 mobile phone resurrected at MWC 2017 account_inactive 15 2547 February 27, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Last Post: account_inactive
  Iran rolls out domestic internet account_inactive 6 1858 August 30, 2016 at 2:00 am
Last Post: Thumpalumpacus



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)