Cell coverage and Internet in Rugby TN (Knoxville, Oak Ridge: lease, co-op)

[THall79]

Can anyone tell me their experiences and cell coverage in Rugby TN?
We are looking to rent there about a year. Time to unplug for a while, although I still have my BS to complete while my husband looks for work in the Knoxville area.
So it is important that we can have internet and good cell coverage.
Thanks!

[2mares]

Im not sure you will get any responses from locals in that area. Most areas have a variety of cell coverage. Most ppl have verizon. Personally as far as Im concerned verizon can stick it where the sun dont shine. Im using straight talk $30/mo for 1000 min and 1000 text. I havent had any reception problems. Often reception is lost in the valleys during the summer. If your not in a hole you shouldnt have any trouble. As far as internet you will need to do an internet search for the location and see who the providers are. Often the phone service in the area will offer internet service. There are also cable companies, but I had trouble finding an affordable one in my area so I went with frontieer. Internet may be a little slow in more rural areas.

Curious why Rugby?

[THall79]

We are looking to re-fresh, and found a cute cottage for rent in the area. My husband is looking for work in the Knoxville area in general. He just finished his MBA and is looking to spend quality time with the kids, swimming, hiking, exploring.
We also like that there is no fast food temptations, we are working on our health and think that this cute town (we are of British heritage) is a good place to relax before moving onto the next phase of our lives.
We currently have a drive to the big city so that wont be a big change...
I'm sure it will still be an adjustment, but hoping it all pans out.
Any tips or advice on the area?
Not from the south, but have family in Powell, and spent a month there a year ago and felt that TN was a good fit for us for many reasons.

[Creekcat]

I have no idea about cell or internet for that area, but it is pretty far out there. The drive to Knoxville, to me, looks like something I wouldn't want to do. Close to The Big South Fork Park that should provide everything that you and your husband will want to do with your children.

[hiknapster]

There is no way that most people would spend three hours to commute, every day. Working in the DC area, for instance, and having to move far enough away to find affordable housing makes sense. A commute from Rugby to Knoxville doesn't. There are plenty of quiet, charming areas in the Knoxville metro area without resorting to that.

If your husband is looking to spend quality time with the family then this isn't the way to go about it. Quite frankly, locals that hear of that commute would be stunned. Driving from say, Harriman to Knoxville every day is looked upon with sympathy. I can't even imagine the feedback you'd hear about that drive! Bear in mind that you can be in rural territory about 10 or 15 minutes from downtown Knoxville. Also, very, very rural places like Rugby have a very different vibe than you may expect.

[THall79]

Thanks guys!
Yeah this is not a permanent placement by any means a 6-12 month lease, it takes a good 4-6 months to go through the hiring process. Most likely he'll do weekly hotel stays until we rent or buy a new place.
We intend to buy a home in a small town with some acreage outside of Knoxville (pending employment there)or wherever we end up.
But until then while surviving on unemployment, the cottage in a small town is appealing. Providing internet is available (I'm still a student)

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

There is no way that most people would spend three hours to commute, every day. Working in the DC area, for instance, and having to move far enough away to find affordable housing makes sense. A commute from Rugby to Knoxville doesn't. There are plenty of quiet, charming areas in the Knoxville metro area without resorting to that.

If your husband is looking to spend quality time with the family then this isn't the way to go about it. Quite frankly, locals that hear of that commute would be stunned. Driving from say, Harriman to Knoxville every day is looked upon with sympathy. I can't even imagine the feedback you'd hear about that drive! Bear in mind that you can be in rural territory about 10 or 15 minutes from downtown Knoxville. Also, very, very rural places like Rugby have a very different vibe than you may expect.

I agree, a commute from Rugby to Knoxville would be ridiculous.

However, the geniuses at the Office of Budget and Management in Washington just added Morgan County to Knoxville's MSA, and since Rugby is in Morgan County (well, most of Rugby), that means Rugby is now part of Knoxville's metropolitan area. In order to be part of Knoxville's MSA, 25% of Morgan County's workforce has to commute to the Knoxville area for work. I'm assuming most of those don't drive all the way in to Knoxville but rather work in Anderson County (Oak Ridge). Still, that's a crazy commute, at least it would be for me.

But back to the OP's question: I have AT&T cell service, and every time I go to Rugby/Big South Fork I lose reception. I've heard that people with Verizon don't have reception issues around there.

[Puttmossman]

We drive through Rugby a couple of times a year.
The only cell coverage in the area is Verizon.
Most of the towns in the area get internet through Twin Lakes Telephone Co-Op but I'm not sure if Rugby is included.

The preferred route to commute to Knoxville would be
Rte. 52 East
Rte.27 North
Rte.63 East
Rte.75 South.

The Rte. 52 portion of your commute would be very slow, over winding mountainous road.
Your commute time would be approx. 75 minutes assuming good weather.

There are no stores of any kind in Rugby with the exception of a tourist gift shop. Shopping for basics like food and clothing would be in Huntsville (30 minutes East) or Jamestown (20 minutes West).

[THall79]

Just curious, what you mean by the vibe of small town? I'm sure we'll be considered outsiders We are Canadian and have lived on the west coast and in the midwest for about 10 years now...still have that Canadian accent eh?

Currently we drive about 25 mins for groceries now.

*We do not plan on commuting 1 hour +, I agree that is ridiculous! We have family my hubby can stay at in the Koxeville area too if work is found during the week...
Fingers crossed work is found quickly, but we know it takes time, so until then we want to spend less and stay low-key, vacation like for the time.

[Memphis1979]

I can tell you for a fact that cell coverage is lacking from AT&T in the area of Rugby TN. Other carriers, I can not speak of.