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!
I don’t know what a tailgater is but we have dish in town - which I love - and maybe they can help.
Appy, it’s not me. I agree, just enjoy the scenery and go off grid (there is a land line anyway). But “the boss” insists there be decent tv and wifi up there and I want to find a way to do it without forcing the home in the city to use a really crappy service which is what is going on now. Costs being the operative factor for the boss, faster internet and our well loved dish hoppers and joeys for us.
I like your set up. Hm. I need to speak to dish about this. They have always been very good to us.
I wonder if we could hook up a hot spot with, say, an “unowned” tablet. There are no computers up there. But could we, with a tablet that we leave there for whoever, hook up a hot spot? I have so many good ideas.
Thank you everyone for such great ideas. Now I do my research. Will come back and tell you if I was able to get this done for cheaper.
Some providers allow you to “suspend” your service for off season times. It depends on who they are and what their policies are. Check with them.
It starts out with one, then a bunch. It is already at a bunch. If you don’t put a lid on it, it grows into a problem. FR is traditionally a place to comment on news articles with a long history of friwning on vanities. It is not just a matter of scroll past it if you don’t like it which is a total cop out reply.
A tailgater is a portable automatic Dish antenna. It currently requires a 211x or z receiver to work. $300 new. No other fees. If you have a 211 receiver at home you are in business. Dish would never know.
But I’ll leave that decision to you.
And there may be network/ local channel issues depending on the location of the off grid property.
There are lots of helpful tips on the RV boards.
The only limitation is that when we travel outside our home area, we do not let 'local' channels, which includes ABC-CBS-NBC-FOX, etc. All the other channels are identical to what we get at home.
We also have a Slingbox hooked up to our home box, but using it requires a robust internet connection. We can connect through our cell phones, but it's a data hog.
If you already have DISH at home, I'd suggest buying the Tailgater. The Tailgater will only work with one TV, just so you know.
I really appreciate this thread, and it’s a good break from all the blood and gore going on.
I have a different question. We have a vacation home with a metal roof which cuts off the signal. Is there any way to boost the signal inside the house? Otherwise we have to go outside when we want to talk.
We did invest in a good antenna, and now pull in all the stations we care to watch. We’ve never ever had cable in any house.
Thanks Yaelle, hubbie and I have been trying to solve this problem too. The home had direct tv while it was occupied full time, but we don’t want to pay for the time we cannot access it, internet is an even more difficult problem.
I live the art instruction videos that have appeared on YouTube. But they cost me an arm and a firstborn!! You are right. But I do envy those who can live stream...
Years ago I started a chat about another kind of rural infrastructure...very low tech but even more essential than wifi—lol
“The home might be used less than once a month, or even just a few times a year.”
You’ll have difficulty finding a broadband company willing to provide intermittent service “a few times a year.” I had a vacation house in a remote location and paid nearly $200 for 14 days of broadband service (Internet only) this past spring.
I would check with Charter to see if it offers service in your area. Charter offers a day-to-day rate and doesn’t require that you sign a long-term contract. I’ve found the company to be reasonable cost-wise and the service they provided to me was excellent.
Good luck.
I have an isolated cabin like you describe and if you have Direct TV, you can add another tv at your cabin. Someone must be there when it is installed. It is very reasonably priced. It works out beautifully for us.
I think that is what “we” have. That is what I want to get rid of. Do you mind telling me - in freepmail if you like - what the costs are? Just sort of generally, what the deal is to do the cabin with the house in town? I am hoping maybe dish will make the same deal. I don’t want direct tv.
Roku Stick
Get a Roku II or III
If you know anyone that has Direct TV, they can share up to 5 people like Netflix.
So use that account to log into pretty much any channel.
You can also pick up a digital Antena like a Leaf with a 60 mile rage. That way the signal will be strong.
I love these ideas.
Yep that’s what I do.
I have a high speed internet connection, 100mb, plugged into my TV. I have an indoor digital antenna, the Leaf( one time purchase for $50) for local channels, and I have a Roku (one time a little over $100). I do have Netflix streaming and Amazon Prime too.
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