Posted on 07/23/2016 1:25:01 PM PDT by Yaelle
What is the cheapest way to get decent "cable" tv and Internet service in a very rural place, when you only need it a few times a year when there? Has a FReeper solved this problem already?
The people going up there will be elderly and/or not at all techie. They just want to turn on a tv and see the regular typical cable channels and they want to surf the web in normal ways as well as use texting etc.
The home might be used less than once a month, or even just a few times a year. It happens to be in the state of California but I assume any solutions anywhere can be copied.
Any ideas welcome. Thanks!
Not a problem. Most cell providers offer data only plans with their proprietary hot spots. You would just set up a new account for the house.
I'm on such a connection now with AT&T. I bought the hot spot (Unite) from them and pay $50/mo for up to 5 GB data, which is more than enough for normal surfing but not for streaming lots of video. They have cheaper plans as well.
Slingbox might work. [I don’t have it nor have used it, but have read about it. Not sure what all would be involved.]
It would seem that anything else would require a significant investment.
Cable or satellite. I don’t know if they have plans for periodic connections. Some utility companies have re-connect fees. That could add up on an annual basis.
T-Mobile has been advertising unlimited streaming that is separate from the voice and data. I have not found much about it on their website.
One approach would be a laptop connected to the TV. Use a USB portable hard drive, load it up with digital movies/TV programs, and use the laptop video player. That would be the least expensive way to go, unless the people who would be watching NEED current TV for some reason. How many days a month? Same viewers or different as in a time-share? Every month or ...
There are a lot of work-arounds, but we would need A LOT MORE specifics. Most of them would run into a chunk of money, however.
Exactly, the idea that we have to pay services for a full year is the pricy part.
There is phone service up there. And the last time I was up there, for the first time, I could make cell calls and texts with ATT which didn’t used to work at all.
That is awesome. Bringing a spare dish from home. I know that would not be acceptable to the “powers that be” here though. Still I hope your solution helps some of the others with this issue.
What might be promising is working somehow with whatever cell tower has been moved up there. I can’t guarantee that all cell phones will work or that the elderly guest will understand how to DO their own hot spots. But if we could create a hot spot somehow...
Exactly our problem . Can see the satellite and every star in the heavens but the cost!!
Since I’m not the “boss” in this situation, I have to present a lower cost option to unhook the other house from a stupid dual contract in order to get my freedom. I don’t mind going off grid on vacations, but I don’t get any vacations. :) And the seniors like to get their texts and watch tv sometimes.
Thanks for this. We have an extra PlayStation. I wonder if this could work. Wow, great idea.
Directv for TV and a Wireless Hot Spot for Internet. Check Sprint,ATT and Verison for a Hotspot via separate device or a Smart phone.
I do this RV’g 4 to 6 months of the year.
PM me if you like.
Then settle for a smart phone with hot spot and use tablet for internet, and streaming TV.
I have an off grid second property. There right now.
I use a yagi antenna for cell sevice, which I then use for Internet via my iPhone hotspot. No additional cost.
I can get 3 TV networks OTA but just barely and not reliably. So I use satellite for TV.
Because I use Dish Networks at my first home I could probably just take a Dish receiver from there and get free satellite with a Tailgater or an installed dish. But for convenience I set up a separate Dish account and a 200 channel plan. I am on vacation mode 6 months of the year for $5/month. Costs @$500 annually.
Works very well for me.
If they can receive a good cell phone signal they might be able to tether their phones to the intent, i.e. use their phone as a “hot spot.”
A normal tv with a decoder box and manual antenna (rabbit ears) will bring in a few local channels. A radio is important for emergency broadcasts, but a CB radio is more important (two-way communications for help with snakes, lions and bears, and fire or medical emergencies).
for internet, NetZero dial-up. 10 hours, zero bucks.
No landline? This might work: Tether a cell phone (trac-fone?) to the computer. Use phone cards from dollar store to keep it activated. Or, max out the ‘free’ additional phones on your current cell plan and keep one in the cabin. Mounting stands (like a selfie stick with a base) can be glued or screwed in place.
Good luck!
http://www.pcworld.com/article/140028/article.html
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/phonesformobileworkers/f/what-is-tethering.htm
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/connect-tracfone-computer-53018.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEdpKTJtT1k
https://store.netzero.net/account/showService.do?serviceId=nz-dialup
In case the powers that be are alarmed, they should know that there is no violation of the agreement with directv. Tailgating folks do this all the time . I even met with the local satellite guys asking what to do and this is what they suggested and also taught me how to align the dish. My family is with me so i do not have directv in use at multiple locations at the same time - multiple locations being used at the same time is a violation of the agreeement.
Mucking up yes. But it is a low info weekend. Forgiven.
Rural: Satellite or Cellphone.
Both are expensive options.
Give up video. Stick with text.
Audio,
Radio Talk Stream Live, cell phone audio is FREE!
We have a very rural vacation home and that is pretty much what we did. (we rarely use it anymore so I am going off memory). If I recall correctly, you have to call and let them know you will be there and they turn it on--
Try to get a signal from over the air HD TV may need to spend a little bit of time on a good antenna. The rest may be a mobile hotspot on a cellphone. That is what
I do on my TX coast 2 a month weekend getaway. All the other posts here may have said that already.
See what TV you’d get with an antenna.
http://www.tvfool.com/
I get stations from 40 miles away with a cheap outdoor antenna and a booster.
Find out if there’s cell service. Seniors may be happy with just email.
If you have to have full internet that means DSL- here it’s only offered by the local phone company.
Love this. You guys are giving me many ideas to try.
Not being there, I wonder if ATT can pinpoint where the tower is from there.
Thanks, Texan5. On the one hand it’s worse if it’s your everyday Internet, like you, but at least you feel like you’re getting your $ worth.
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