Help me choose my new ISP!

[DanishDevil]

I've got some really shitty options at my new place (it's one of many 5 acre lots in the area, so the ISP's won't give us better options because of lack of population density). I will be moving in within the next 6 months, but the ISPs need several weeks heads up to get things rolling.

I play games (FPS as well, so good ping is desirable) and stream a decent amount of video. I use around 750-1200GB of data per month, so anything with a data cap is out. There are no point-to-point radio ISPs within range, and the only consumer option is $90/mo DSL that's so far from the central hub that it is rated at 1Mb/384kb.

My two best options for internet are (both business-class):

3Mb/3Mb T1 - $3000 install, $200/mo
They have to install a repeater in order to make this happen. I don't know if that's going to affect latency. From my limited research, it looks like T1 should have good ping, but obviously the bandwidth isn't there for large downloads or video streaming. This is on a 3yr contract, ETF is 100% of remaining contract if cancelled in the first year, and 50% of remaining contract after 12 months.

20Mb/20Mb Fiber - $15,000 install, $500/mo
This is contingent on me and another customer both pulling the trigger to split the construction cost. This obviously would be the higher performing option. This is on a 5yr contract, ETF is 100% of remaining contract, period. They have also offered a 100/100 option for $3500 install and $1195/mo and 4yr contract, but the wife has pretty much vetoed that.

The good news is, there is a lot more to do at the new property than be online, so the slower T1 option may be the way to go if I can shift my time spent away from the internet.

There is decent cell service, but data caps exist, and the prospect from ISPs is bleak with having any additional options in the near future as the amount of distance to be covered per house is astronomical.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[ShiBDiB]

Sprint hotspot with unlimited data?


None of your options are good, but if you're spending thousands of dollars down plus thousands over the span of a contract for internet to play some FPS/Stream you're (politely) f'ing insane.

 

[Aquinus]

Being right outside LA, how do you not have better options than that? Unless you're out in the boons at your new place that isn't on your account, I can't imagine these options being available and others not. At least here in NH, if Cable isn't an option, neither is fiber. If those are really your only options, you should go with the DSL. I guess it depends on how important your internet is to you and what your available funds are like but any normal person would say DSL hands down simply because of the cost.

 

[brandonwh64]

You do NOT want a T1... thats some of old tech and Most are done over ATM network

 

[Chetkigaming]

All this deals are no good, i`d better choose another place to live, in sake of playing games.

 

[flmatter]

I have some extra fish hooks and line I can send your way Fish on!

 

[v12dock]

Those are you only options...? No WISPs in your area? Could yo get a wireless signal from a location with good internet to your house? I think you can rent space on t-mobile towers.

 

[Sasqui]

Any neighbors to share costs with? Or show you good fishing spots?

 

[DanishDevil]

Sprint hotspot with unlimited data?


None of your options are good, but if you're spending thousands of dollars down plus thousands over the span of a contract for internet to play some FPS/Stream you're (politely) f'ing insane.

4G ping won't really be good enough to game, and Verizon is the only good cell service in the area according to the neighbors.

Being right outside LA, how do you not have better options than that? Unless you're out in the boons at your new place that isn't on your account, I can't imagine these options being available and others not. At least here in NH, if Cable isn't an option, neither is fiber. If those are really your only options, you should go with the DSL. I guess it depends on how important your internet is to you and what your available funds are like but any normal person would say DSL hands down simply because of the cost.

I'm actually moving to an area outside of Sacramento. It's about 8 minutes from subdivisions, but everything in the immediate area is all 5 acre parcels or larger. That's why there aren't any better options.

You do NOT want a T1... thats some of old tech and Most are done over ATM network

Can you elaborate on the issues with this? I realize that it's old tech, but from my research online, if fiber or DSL aren't an option, ping should be good and it should be a relatively reliable connection.

All this deals are no good, i`d better choose another place to live, in sake of playing games.

Definitely not choosing another place to live, it's a little late for that now. My wife and I are in love with the property, and have already begun some renovations.

I have some extra fish hooks and line I can send your way Fish on!

Thanks bud!

Those are you only options...? No WISPs in your area? Could yo get a wireless signal from a location with good internet to your house? I think you can rent space on t-mobile towers.

I researched WISPs, we're a quarter mile out of range from one, and all the others are over 5mi out of range.

Any neighbors to share costs with? Or show you good fishing spots?

There are a couple neighbors "nearby" (remember, 5 acre parcels) but they're all much older and said that they would only be willing to spend about $500 install and $150/mo on a better internet solution. Obviously, internet isn't a large enough part of their daily lives.

This should help make some sense of the reason why there aren't any good internet options, and why internet may not be the end all be all:

 

[eidairaman1]

T1 is twisted pair internet like dsl. Its considered special service/DS1

 

[Aquinus]

Can you elaborate on the issues with this? I realize that it's old tech, but from my research online, if fiber or DSL aren't an option, ping should be good and it should be a relatively reliable connection.

It's that there is no room for upgrading. If you're going to throw down that much money in the first place, you might as well go for something decent that has options going forward, but it's obviously a hard choice. I think this is one of those "go all or go home" problems. I think regardless of what you do, you'll be unhappy with something, be it speed, latency, or cost. That's the price you pay.

Maybe you could get the fiber and setup wireless with wave-guide antennas and sell internet to your neighbors to offset the cost.

 

[brandonwh64]

Can you elaborate on the issues with this? I realize that it's old tech, but from my research online, if fiber or DSL aren't an option, ping should be good and it should be a relatively reliable connection.

T1 connections are only 24*64k = 1.536 Mbps. Also is T1 connections are not used as often as they once were meaning if he cannot get fiber/DSL/Cable then a T1 is probably out of the question as well. T1's are mainly used for businesses for their phone system such as a PRI. A T1 line can carry 24 digitized voice channels, or it can carry data at a rate of 1.544 megabits per second. If the T1 line is being used for telephone conversations, it plugs into the office's phone system. If it is carrying data it plugs into the network's router. A T1 connection is a step above ISDN/56k INET.

• DS0 - 64 kilobits per second

• ISDN - Two DS0 lines plus signaling (16 kilobytes per second), or 128 kilobits per second

• T1 - 1.544 megabits per second (24 DS0 lines)

• T3 - 43.232 megabits per second (28 T1s)

• OC3 - 155 megabits per second (84 T1s)

• OC12 - 622 megabits per second (4 OC3s)

• OC48 - 2.5 gigabits per seconds (4 OC12s)

• OC192 - 9.6 gigabits per second (4 OC48s)

Hope this helps

 

[eidairaman1]

No coax providers in the area?

 

[P4-630]

wow wow those prices

 

[flmatter]

I would be down on those docks with a cooler of beer, a chair and a fishing pole..... Heck of a view and very nice property!!!

internet? what's that?

 

[Aquinus]

No coax providers in the area?

Northern NH tends to have this issue. For example: Sandwich, NH does not have a cable provider. For TV your only option is satellite and for internet your option is DSL. The OP's situation sounds very similar.

 

[v12dock]

I researched WISPs, we're a quarter mile out of range from one, and all the others are over 5mi out of range.

Could you get a tower?

 

[brandonwh64]

this is for people that live in remote areas of the US

http://www.hughesnet.com/

 

[Nordic]

this is for people that live in remote areas of the US

http://www.hughesnet.com/

Wouldn't that have terrible ping negating his gaming?


Really it seems unless you come up with another option, go all out or go fishing.

 

[Aquinus]

this is for people that live in remote areas of the US

http://www.hughesnet.com/

Satellite has bandwidth caps and crappy latency. He couldn't use the same amount of bandwidth or play FPS games on that.

If it's legal, I would consider getting the Fiber and reselling it to his neighbors. If he does it right, his neighbors would pay for most of the monthly bill and it would really be the installation he would be paying for. 15,000 over 4 years is almost ~350 USD a month. So if he can get neighbors to cover a large portion of it, it could work out if he has the capital to invest upfront. It would be worth it if the OP is planning on having the house for more than a decade.

 

[chuck216]

So I take it that Verizon FiOS is not an option? Because $125~$150/mo for a 25/25 or 50/50 residential connection sound better than any of those, and would include Phone and TV service.

 

[Aquinus]

So I take it that Verizon FiOS is not an option? Because $125~$150/mo for a 25/25 or 50/50 residential connection sound better than any of those, and would include Phone and TV service.

He wouldn't be asking if there was.

 

[DanishDevil]

Thanks for your help so far guys, even though it's not all good news it's good to hear that I've done my research relatively thoroughly.

T1 is twisted pair internet like dsl. Its considered special service/DS1

Got it.

It's that there is no room for upgrading. If you're going to throw down that much money in the first place, you might as well go for something decent that has options going forward, but it's obviously a hard choice. I think this is one of those "go all or go home" problems. I think regardless of what you do, you'll be unhappy with something, be it speed, latency, or cost. That's the price you pay.

Maybe you could get the fiber and setup wireless with wave-guide antennas and sell internet to your neighbors to offset the cost.

I had considered that, but most of the neighbors are happy with the status quo as they are over twice my age

T1 connections are only 24*64k = 1.536 Mbps. Also is T1 connections are not used as often as they once were meaning if he cannot get fiber/DSL/Cable then a T1 is probably out of the question as well. T1's are mainly used for businesses for their phone system such as a PRI. A T1 line can carry 24 digitized voice channels, or it can carry data at a rate of 1.544 megabits per second. If the T1 line is being used for telephone conversations, it plugs into the office's phone system. If it is carrying data it plugs into the network's router. A T1 connection is a step above ISDN/56k INET.

• DS0 - 64 kilobits per second

• ISDN - Two DS0 lines plus signaling (16 kilobytes per second), or 128 kilobits per second

• T1 - 1.544 megabits per second (24 DS0 lines)

• T3 - 43.232 megabits per second (28 T1s)

• OC3 - 155 megabits per second (84 T1s)

• OC12 - 622 megabits per second (4 OC3s)

• OC48 - 2.5 gigabits per seconds (4 OC12s)

• OC192 - 9.6 gigabits per second (4 OC48s)

Hope this helps

Thanks, I had looked into that. I have begged them to bond more than 2 T1's, they said that the max they can do is two bonded T1's for ~3Mb/s synchronous.

No coax providers in the area?

No sir, I've searched many hours for one.

wow wow those prices

You're tellin' me!

I would be down on those docks with a cooler of beer, a chair and a fishing pole..... Heck of a view and very nice property!!!

internet? what's that?

:cheers:

Northern NH tends to have this issue. For example: Sandwich, NH does not have a cable provider. For TV your only option is satellite and for internet your option is DSL. The OP's situation sounds very similar.

Pretty similar, except for the fact that there's full-blown fiber 3mi away. It just costs too much to run 3mi of fiber to hit ~50 homes on the way.

Could you get a tower?

I assume this would be for a WISP. The closest WISP to me was unwilling to speak to me after realizing I was out of their coverage area. Doesn't seem like they're willing to work with me much.

this is for people that live in remote areas of the US

http://www.hughesnet.com/

Bandwidth caps and high ping have nixed this as an option. I have even found a local satellite company with zero bandwidth caps, but unless I want to have a T1 for games and a satellite connection for movies, it's not worth bothering over.

Wouldn't that have terrible ping negating his gaming?


Really it seems unless you come up with another option, go all out or go fishing.

Satellite has bandwidth caps and crappy latency. He couldn't use the same amount of bandwidth or play FPS games on that.

If it's legal, I would consider getting the Fiber and reselling it to his neighbors. If he does it right, his neighbors would pay for most of the monthly bill and it would really be the installation he would be paying for. 15,000 over 4 years is almost ~350 USD a month. So if he can get neighbors to cover a large portion of it, it could work out if he has the capital to invest upfront. It would be worth it if the OP is planning on having the house for more than a decade.

It may or may not be against their TOS, but my wife and I travel a lot now that we're married and I wouldn't want to have to manage an issue with one of my neighbor's internet while I was out of town. That, and they won't pay squat for anything better.

So I take it that Verizon FiOS is not an option? Because $125~$150/mo for a 25/25 or 50/50 residential connection sound better than any of those, and would include Phone and TV service.

Correct, FiOS is nowhere near us.

He wouldn't be asking if there was.

You got it!

 

[eidairaman1]

Yeah for them to extend fiber to even a node in that arwa costs tons.

 

[Nordic]

Please inform us of your choice. I want to get some land, just like you have someday and may have to make a similar decision.