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Best broadband option in a rural area

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  • 23-04-2008 10:24pm
    #1
    danyosan
    Registered Users Posts: 315 ✭✭


    I've just read all the stickies and anything else I could find on the subject.

    Basically, my situation is, I'm moving to a new house in August where the fixed line is not suitable for broadband.

    What would be the general consensus for the best option for me to take.

    Mobile broadband seems to be an unmitigated disaster, so are there any other options?


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    #2
    smellslikeshoes
    Registered Users Posts: 3,354 ✭✭✭smellslikeshoes


    Really does depend on your area but you you might be able to find a fixed wireless provider, if not you will be left with little choice other than mobile broadband or possibly the dreaded satellite.


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    #3
    danyosan
    Registered Users Posts: 315 ✭✭danyosan


    smellslikeshoes wrote: »
    Really does depend on your area but you you might be able to find a fixed wireless provider, if not you will be left with little choice other than mobile broadband or possibly the dreaded satellite.

    Forgot to include that in my original post, fixed wireless isnt an option either, I'll be about 1 mile outside the range.

    Whats the craic with satellite? Tres expensive I presume.


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    #4
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Castanets a Clacking is what Eamonn Ryan has in mind !


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    #5
    conjamuk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 134 ✭✭conjamuk


    Mobile broadband is Ok depending on where you live I live in a slightly rural area and I get great speeds try o2 they seem to be the best.


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    #6
    smellslikeshoes
    Registered Users Posts: 3,354 ✭✭✭smellslikeshoes


    danyosan wrote: »
    Forgot to include that in my original post, fixed wireless isnt an option either, I'll be about 1 mile outside the range.

    Whats the craic with satellite? Tres expensive I presume.
    Satellite would be your last resort, somewhere between 3G and carrier pigeon.
    I personally wouldn't give up so easily on the fixed wireless option, its possible that there is another provider around that you wouldn't know about, the problem with the smaller wireless operators is they often don't advertise whatsoever and unless you're told about them by word of mouth you would have no idea. If you say the general area you're moving to somebody here might be able to make a suggestion.


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    #7
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    You only get good speeds on Mobile Phone Mast if no one else is using it. It only takes 10 users to pull it down to ISDN speeds. With 20 users you may have dialup speeds.


    Satellite is high latency (850ms) but no worse. The speed on the professional 2 way systems is comparable to basic DSL. At 10 users 3G/HSDPA mobile can have higher latency and much lower speed. But it costs more. The cheapest Satellite systems are worse than 3G.


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    #8
    snaps
    Registered Users Posts: 7,138 ✭✭✭snaps


    Im using three mobile broadband. It really has its ups and downs, but for what i pay for it, it does the job. Plus the fact its totally mobile. You can even take it on holiday (Depending what countries you go to) and you can use it abroad for free as well.

    Evenings a lot slower than the daytime hours on 3g broadband. When its good its good (This morning getting 1750kbps) evening time it can drop right down to under 100kbps.


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    #9
    danyosan
    Registered Users Posts: 315 ✭✭danyosan


    smellslikeshoes wrote: »
    Satellite would be your last resort, somewhere between 3G and carrier pigeon.
    I personally wouldn't give up so easily on the fixed wireless option, its possible that there is another provider around that you wouldn't know about, the problem with the smaller wireless operators is they often don't advertise whatsoever and unless you're told about them by word of mouth you would have no idea. If you say the general area you're moving to somebody here might be able to make a suggestion.

    I'm going to be around 4 miles outside (north) of Arklow town.

    I really dont think that contention is going to be an issue as there really aren't that many houses around the new house.

    I'm really dreading this move as I'm so used to having a nice fixed broadband line.


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    #10
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    You can use this site to check for 3G masts in your area. Not sure how up to date it is but it'll give you an idea of sites anyway. There are 3G masts in the Arklow area, but further north, towards Ballydoyle, there aren't any. 3G coverage may well be limited to none.

    Ryan's website also lists providers, though it's a bit crap too. It does say DSL is available north of Arklow. When you say the fixed line is not suitable, is it active and do you have the number? If the line is inactive then it would probably be classed as unsuitable, as only active lines are maintained in eircom's test database.


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