One of the challenges I had to address when building our house in the “stix” was connectivity to our high-tech lifestyle. I was spoiled at our previous residence with a high speed cable connection. I knew I never wanted to go back to a regular 56k dialup connection but I assumed I could acquire DSL through our local phone company. As it turns out, I was wrong! Apparently, one has to live within a certain distance of a DSL base station or the signal weakens and degrades the further out you go.
That left me with only one really viable alternative, satellite. I found out that there were two types of satellite dishes I could buy. The first would allow me to only receive signal for my television. The latter accepted both TV & Internet. I signed up for a plan that took care of both and amortized the equipment investment over a 1 year period in my monthly payments.
I must say that going from high speed cable to a satellite was like slowing from a sprint to an easy jog. It was definitely better than dialup but still left much to be desired. Beggars can’t be choosers though so I was just sort of happy to have something in between. A few months ago, we got an offer from Direcway to upgrade our modem to a “premium” for an extra $10 a month. They claimed much faster speeds would be available so we signed up. After installing the new modem, WOW what a difference. I still can’t say it’s as fast as a cable connection, but fast enough for little ole me up here in the mountain!
You know my love for speed.
I can appreciate what you dealing with. I bet Wendy is tickled with some more speed though!
I just got cable and signed up for the internet after having a DSL connection and man what a difference!!!!
If I had known that cable was that fast I would have signed up for cable years ago!!!!
Yes Barb… I know your love for speed. Anytime it drops below an mp3 per second, you’re on the phone with Comcast! (hehehe)
I’m still waiting for them to bring that technology here that will allow broadband to get piped through the regular electrical outlets in the house. Now that would be neat!
Senior~
You should be on cable like me. I hate Direcway. Direcway suck big time! In my country, I use Direcway and the speed is no much better than dial up. Direcway charge too much plus is the biggest rip off. Take my advise and get rid of that stupid dish and join the rest of us who own cable.
Juan
Why I’d love to join ya James! Perhaps you’d like to call my local cable company and convince them to string an extra 5 miles of cable up my little mountain so they can collect my $50 a month?
I have called. NO luck. I have called again. NO luck. Perhaps if we collect signatures in the neighborhood. Eh, nah.
Besides, we just signed up for updated Satellite to squeeze a tiny bit more speed out for $10 more a month. We are locked into that for another year before we can think of switching to cable… IF cable ever gets here. Adelphia, are you reading this? Bring cable, please!! Don’t you want our money!?!?!
hehe