Starlink? (homes, utilities, best)

[reubenray]

I wanted to update this. My original order got pushed back to late 2022 last November when everyone got pushed back. I did some searching and found an earlier cell with dates of early to mid 2022 just 2.3 miles away. I have also checked with AT&T, Cox, T-Mobile and Verizon and I was told no by all of them. I am on the endless waiting list with T-Mobile. There are three houses being built around me and boy will they be surprised to find out there is no internet services. Cox is just a 1/4 mile away and AT&T fiber is less than a mile away. This is in NW Bella Vista.

There is a wild card in play with Dish 5G Wireless. They installed some antennas at a tower less than a mile away from me. These may be in operation in June.

[Snaple4]

Internet it home isn’t an essential service but it can certainly feel like it should be. It is funny how companies refuse to hook up houses without a proper explanation. Is it actual capacity issues of the line, because they can’t get enough workers to install stuff, they just are not interested unless a certain number of people are at that spot (explanation from pea ridge water why they didn’t bring water when they said they would)…. Good luck with your internet. If price is comparable 5g would probably be better than Starlink if I had to guess.

[TRex2]

Originally Posted by reubenray

I wanted to update this. My original order got pushed back to late 2022 last November when everyone got pushed back. I did some searching and found an earlier cell with dates of early to mid 2022 just 2.3 miles away. I have also checked with AT&T, Cox, T-Mobile and Verizon and I was told no by all of them. I am on the endless waiting list with T-Mobile. There are three houses being built around me and boy will they be surprised to find out there is no internet services. Cox is just a 1/4 mile away and AT&T fiber is less than a mile away. This is in NW Bella Vista.

There is a wild card in play with Dish 5G Wireless. They installed some antennas at a tower less than a mile away from me. These may be in operation in June.

Originally Posted by Snaple4

Internet it home isn’t an essential service but it can certainly feel like it should be. It is funny how companies refuse to hook up houses without a proper explanation. Is it actual capacity issues of the line, because they can’t get enough workers to install stuff, they just are not interested unless a certain number of people are at that spot (explanation from pea ridge water why they didn’t bring water when they said they would)…. Good luck with your internet. If price is comparable 5g would probably be better than Starlink if I had to guess.

Everyone is struggling right now. Some of the reasons are just what you said here: bandwidth bottlenecks and shortage of workers. Exact reasons are considered privileged information because they don't want their competitors to know their exact weaknesses, even if such weaknesses can be approximated by observation.

I know a couple of people who have Internet by way of 4G-LTE, and it works just fine, so I guess 5g would also work well, but who knows, these days.

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by TRex2

Everyone is struggling right now. Some of the reasons are just what you said here: bandwidth bottlenecks and shortage of workers. Exact reasons are considered privileged information because they don't want their competitors to know their exact weaknesses, even if such weaknesses can be approximated by observation.

I know a couple of people who have Internet by way of 4G-LTE, and it works just fine, so I guess 5g would also work well, but who knows, these days.

This is what I have now. It is a Mobley hotspot from AT&T that I got 5+- years ago to use in my RV. I transferred the sim card to a Netgear Nighthawk M1 hotspot that I have an exterior antenna connected to. I can get around 50 mbps early in the morning then it drops from 10 to 15 mbps the rest of the day.

[TRex2]

Originally Posted by reubenray

This is what I have now. It is a Mobley hotspot from AT&T that I got 5+- years ago to use in my RV. I transferred the sim card to a Netgear Nighthawk M1 hotspot that I have an exterior antenna connected to. I can get around 50 mbps early in the morning then it drops from 10 to 15 mbps the rest of the day.

Not good for a video feed, but seems like it would work for anything else. (I am guessing, since it has been a while since I did any actual measurements.)

[PBC-1966]

If you're way up in the northwestern corner you should get a good signal from T-Mobile's cell site by The Highlands Golf Course - It operates on both band 12 (700 MHz) and band 66 (1700/2100 MHz). I'd just fit a suitable directional antenna on whichever wall of the house is appropriate and connect to an LTE cellular modem. When we moved here from across the country I had a Multitech cellular modem in the RV connected to a roof antenna which we used during the journey. For quickness of having some sort of connection, I transferred it all to the house as soon as we arrived, and as we don't really do anything which needs vast amounts of bandwidth we ended up using it for over a year before getting Cox service. I have the LTE modem on backup now in case Cox has trouble. You should be able to pick up a suitable modem from Multitech, Sierra Wireless or one of several other manufacturers for a reasonable price.



Depending upon your precise location and obstacles, you might also get a good connection to T-Mobile's site in Hiwasse (it's in the field behind the post office - hard to miss as you drive along AR-72). I'm just on the northwest side of Scotsdale Golf Course and can get a good connection from there.

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by PBC-1966

If you're way up in the northwestern corner you should get a good signal from T-Mobile's cell site by The Highlands Golf Course - It operates on both band 12 (700 MHz) and band 66 (1700/2100 MHz). I'd just fit a suitable directional antenna on whichever wall of the house is appropriate and connect to an LTE cellular modem. When we moved here from across the country I had a Multitech cellular modem in the RV connected to a roof antenna which we used during the journey. For quickness of having some sort of connection, I transferred it all to the house as soon as we arrived, and as we don't really do anything which needs vast amounts of bandwidth we ended up using it for over a year before getting Cox service. I have the LTE modem on backup now in case Cox has trouble. You should be able to pick up a suitable modem from Multitech, Sierra Wireless or one of several other manufacturers for a reasonable price.



Depending upon your precise location and obstacles, you might also get a good connection to T-Mobile's site in Hiwasse (it's in the field behind the post office - hard to miss as you drive along AR-72). I'm just on the northwest side of Scotsdale Golf Course and can get a good connection from there.

I have a neighbor with TMO, but I can't get off of the waiting list. I am North of Branchwood about midway between three TMO towers. I am actually closer to the 5G tower North of Jane.

[PBC-1966]

I was thinking more along the lines of just a regular account, like their "Mobile Internet" prepaid plan. It depends upon whether 50GB/mo. is enough for you though, but better than nothing while you're waiting.

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by PBC-1966

I was thinking more along the lines of just a regular account, like their "Mobile Internet" prepaid plan. It depends upon whether 50GB/mo. is enough for you though, but better than nothing while you're waiting.

This is basically a similar plan I have now but for more money. I am paying $24/month for unlimited data.

[PBC-1966]

At least that sounds like a good plan. Is that really unlimited for any amount, or unlimited but slowed to 128 kbps after a set limit?



Either way, it sounds like the best you can do for now. At least if there are more homes being built on your road, that's an incentive for Cox to extend its network out if there's sufficient demand - Might take a while though!