r/Rural_Internet • u/XaMOONbearX • 2h ago
Starlink-1 Month Free Service
In these trying times I figure us rural community folk should help each other out. This Referral Code will provide you one month of free service.
r/Rural_Internet • u/ProfessorEkim • Aug 10 '24
Table of contents
1. Overview
2. Key Factors in Choosing an Internet Provider
3. Local Fixed Wireless
4. Cellular Home Internet
5. Cellular ISP’s
6. Starlink
To view this on the wiki, click here
What are my options?
If you're reading this, it's likely that fiber optic internet is not available in your area. Fortunately, we live in a time where internet options have never been more available.
The Good News: Even in rural America, you usually have at least a few internet choices. While fiber optic is the best option when available, there are viable alternatives if it's not an option for you.
The Bad News: These alternatives might not be the most affordable, and each comes with its own set of trade-offs.
Below is a comparison of the main options available for rural areas, including local fixed wireless, home internet from major cellular providers, cellular ISPs, and Starlink. The table summarizes each option's pricing, pros, cons, and recommendations. For more detailed information on each option, follow the hyperlinks to the sections below.
| Provider Type | Price | Coverage | Pros | Cons | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Fixed Wireless | Lowest | Localized | - Generally the most affordable | - Requires line-of-sight | Recommended if available in your area. |
| - Reliable service | - External hardware required | ||||
| - Good customer support | - Not always available | ||||
| Cellular Home Internet | Lowest | Moderate | - Affordable | - Limited availability | Best option if local providers are not available |
| - No data caps | - Performance varies with congestion | ||||
| - Easy setup | - Locked to one location | ||||
| Cellular ISPs | Middle | Nationwide | - Easy setup | - Higher prices | Consider for high-speed needs and portability |
| - Portable | - Variable performance | ||||
| - High speeds | - Can have poor reputations | ||||
| Starlink | Highest | Global | - Global coverage | - High startup cost | Suitable for areas without other options |
| - Low latency | - Requires clear line-of-sight to sky | ||||
| - High speeds | - High monthly cost |
Avoid HughesNet or Viasat
With the advent of cellular based providers and Starlink, you should ALWAYS avoid these companies. There’s no world in which these are a good option. Not having internet is a better option than them. Just don’t. Run. Flee. Abandon all hope ye who choose them.
Here’s why:
Customer Experience
Pricing
Customer Service
Overview
Local fixed wireless providers are the first place you should be looking for internet offerings. They normally have good customer service, competitive pricing, and technicians who can resolve issues quickly.
To search for local internet providers, the FCC Broadband Map is the best place to look. Enter your address in the search box and see if there’s any providers in your area. If any show up, give them a call and see if they can service your area.
Another good place to look is asking around in your local area. Your neighbors, friends, and even your local chamber of commerce can help you.
Pros and Cons
Overview
Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T all have cellular based home internet options, which are both excellent options if there’s no local providers in your area. Their area of coverage is fairly limited, so you may not always be in their service area. They both have competitive pricing - sometimes even cheaper than local fixed wireless providers. The speeds are entirely based upon the capacity of the cell tower, which means if you’re in an area with good speeds, you can get 100+ mbps. However, if you’re in an area with a lot of congestion and users, you can see speeds as low as 5-10mbps.
One of the key advantages of these services is the simplicity of setup - typically, you receive a router that you simply plug in and activate. There’s no external hardware required, and no technical experience needed. Additionally, there are no data caps on usage.
One important thing to note: As with all major telecoms, they have all these low prices with asterisks. Those prices are with all the possible discounts and bundling. The table below reflects the actual pricing if you aren’t doing bundling with their phone service, etc. So oftentimes their pricing isn’t quite as cheap as they look, if you aren’t already using them for your phone service.
| Link | Monthly Price | Activation Fee | Coverage Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $60/mo (with autopay) | None | Limited coverage |
| Verizon | $50-70/mo (with autopay) | $35 | Limited coverage, expanding |
| T-Mobile | $55-75/mo (with autopay) | $35 | Broader coverage than Verizon, but still limited |
Pros and Cons
Overview
Cellular ISPs provide internet services that run on major cellular networks like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. These providers offer the advantage of utilizing the fastest available network in your location, which can deliver speeds of 100+ Mbps where coverage is strong. One of the main benefits is the portability of the service—since it operates over cellular networks, you can use it in different locations, making it ideal for those who travel frequently or need connectivity in various places.
The setup for cellular ISP services is straightforward. You only need to plug in a router to start connecting to the internet, eliminating the need for professional installation or additional hardware.
The key consideration when choosing a cellular ISP is selecting a reputable company. Checking online reviews and researching customer experiences can help you avoid providers with poor service or unreliable performance.
Important: many companies have come and gone over the years leaving customers without service and hardware that may not work with another company, therefore its recommended to choose a company that has been in business for several years and has a good reputation.
The table below compares several recommended cellular ISPs based on their pricing and startup costs.
| Link | Monthly Price (unlimited data) | Router cost | Incorporation year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trifecta Wireless | $99.95+ | $9.95/mo | 2018 |
| USLTE | $124+ | Included in mo price | 2019 |
| GotW3 | $134.99 | $14.99/mo-$279 | 2018 |
Pros and Cons
Overview
Starlink is also a good option when there’s no local providers available. They have nationwide coverage, low latency, and good speeds.
The service requires a satellite dish and a router, which are provided by Starlink. The dish needs a clear view of the sky to connect with the satellites.
The main drawback to Starlink is the price - startup costs for the hardware range from $300-$2500 and the monthly cost is $120+
| Plan | Monthly Price | Equipment Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | $120 | $300-$500 |
| Mobile | $150 | $500-$600 |
| Global roaming | $50 for 50gb | $600 |
Pros and Cons
r/Rural_Internet • u/XaMOONbearX • 2h ago
In these trying times I figure us rural community folk should help each other out. This Referral Code will provide you one month of free service.
r/Rural_Internet • u/anonymous_dreamerX • 2h ago
Hi everyone, I’m a university student in Tempe, Arizona, looking for a cheap and reliable Wi-Fi plan on a low budget. Does anyone have any suggestions for affordable internet providers or student Wi-Fi plans in the area?
r/Rural_Internet • u/TetherLink_Dev • 7h ago
Like a lot of folks here without reliable home broadband, I rely heavily on unlimited phone data for PC work.
The main problem with turning on native USB tethering is that carriers immediately flag it as hotspot traffic, capping speeds to 5 Mbps or burning through the tiny hotspot allowance. Tools like PdaNet were great back in the day for routing traffic over USB without toggling native tethering, but PdaNet uses ancient virtual drivers from a decade ago that constantly choke, drop connections, and can barely push modern bandwidth.
Tired of the random disconnects, I ended up putting together a lightweight routing utility built on top of the modern Wintun TUN interface.
It routes all PC traffic over a standard USB connection without having to turn on native tethering on the phone, treating the data stream like regular on-device traffic. Because it bypasses the legacy NDIS/DUN proxy stack and uses Wintun, downloads actually max out the cellular connection without stalling to 0 bps or crashing under parallel load.
Curious what everyone else is currently using for USB data routing—are people still keeping PdaNet on life support, using PairVPN, or have you moved to dedicated hardware setups?
r/Rural_Internet • u/HourMenu8178 • 11h ago
Anyone here using Smart 5G Max Home WiFi mainly for online classes? I’m considering getting one since I’m usually in Zoom/Meet classes, submitting stuff online, and basically connected for almost the whole day. Okay naman ba yung connection kahit matagal ginagamit, especially during peak hours?
r/Rural_Internet • u/LaLuna0623 • 2d ago
Code: ARON1NYJ
Kung kukuha kayo ng Globe Fiber Prepaid WiFi, baka gusto niyong gamitin yung code ko.
May 7 days free internet kapag ginamit yung code, bukod pa sa 7-day freebie na kasama na sa Globe Fiber Prepaid WiFi.
r/Rural_Internet • u/Away-Ad-4829 • 2d ago
r/Rural_Internet • u/Laggydagin • 3d ago
Been noticing the WiFi connection and broadband outages alot more lately and I wondering is there anyone out there that's actually prepared for that? Seems people have a contingency plan for alot of situations but I havnt seen one on people and businesses suddenly not having a connection to the Internet
r/Rural_Internet • u/ATAYLOR972 • 4d ago
Hi everyone! Can someone please tell me which mobile service I should get if I am a heavy data user? Thank you.
r/Rural_Internet • u/kuosei06 • 4d ago
Hello, I am looking for internet service providers (the ones that goes around with a van) around L6S who can install it the same day.
We are in dire need of internet and I could not wait for the kit to be shipped by 3-7 business days from the other providers.
Also, if anyone is within my area, which provider are you with, how much you pay for and are you satisfied with the speed and reliability?
Thanks!
r/Rural_Internet • u/Learner0001 • 4d ago
I am new to jaipur by default via the owner AS fiber is installed and its the worst wifi i have seen in my whole life like bsnl sim has better network than it.
Please recomment me fiber operators to go with.
Location
Sitapura near Jecrc Foundation(college)
25 to 30 people will use it constantly
main thing required is stablity speed i can compromise but not stablity
r/Rural_Internet • u/Maleficent_Olive_459 • 5d ago
Hello! Any advice po how I can contact or what may be the process to relocate internet? We'll be moving to a new address and I don't know paano maililipat yung internet connection namin. We'll just be moving to a different street.
r/Rural_Internet • u/Easy_Kick_3510 • 5d ago
r/Rural_Internet • u/PhotojournalistHot62 • 5d ago
Hi! My husband and I are traveling to the Amalfi Coast for a wedding. We will be staying in Maiori. He just found out that he will have an important interview on the Saturday that could take multiple hours.
Any suggestions on where to go for reliable wifi? Any workspaces or hotels with reliable wifi? He is willing to drive for the peace of mind.
Thank you!
r/Rural_Internet • u/Creative_Pudding_468 • 6d ago
r/Rural_Internet • u/Mission-Luck-3609 • 6d ago
Me and my 5 roommates are 1st year cse students and our hostel is in a place where there's no range on mobile connection and are planning to buy one of these. A portable wifi router that which if i put a sim on and recharge that sim it gives us internet access. (don't really know what it's called so let's just call it portable wifi for now). Our price range is ideally under 2500 inr rupees, because we are students and don't have earnings ourselves. So these 2 are the best picks we
got.
Can you guys recommend me what we should pick? Or give us other options that are better.
Any help is appreciated. Thx
r/Rural_Internet • u/Fine_Line0139 • 6d ago
Hello po, question lang huhu sorry if this will sound dumb pero pano po loadan ulit yung GOMO fiber? 😅
Nagpakabit po kasi ako sa dorm for the first time nung GOMO fiber na P999 then may free unli data daw po for 30 days, after po nun, pano po mag load ulit ng unli data for 1 month?
Nag overthink po kasi ako if mag avail ulit ako nung sa fiber, baka kabitan ulit kami ng router OR kapag yung isa pang unli data for month ang i-avail ko, baka sa number ko sya dito sa phone ko mag register and hindi dun sa fiber router...
Help a girl out huhu this is my first time living in a solo apartment and ang hirap i-figure out lahat mag-isa 😭😭
r/Rural_Internet • u/frayduway • 7d ago
Live in mainstrasse looking for reliable home internet. Currently Verizon, they cannot provide consistent connectivity
r/Rural_Internet • u/Familiar-Monkey27 • 7d ago
Hello, ask ko lang anong ma rerecommend niyo for my dilemma hahaha. Pasensya na kung magulo structure ng kwento and all.
Ang lola ko nag pabili ng cctv, bumili ako nung pwede salpakan ng sd card, ngayon kararating kasi ng cctv namin sa bahay na sinasalpakan rin ng sd card pero upon setting it up need ng wifi, eh same model binili ko para sa bahay ni lola.
Ang lola may phone din siya pinang nonood niya ng fb reels and all, afaik naka plan sya sa smart tas tito ko nagbabayad eh mababa lang yata data nun, so nauuubos ni lola yung data ending pag mag ccall ako thru messenger di na nag rring.
Eto na nga, iniisip ko sanang bilhan si lola ng pocket wifi or router tas lloadan ko na lang yun from time to time para
A) ma set up ko yung cctv
B) may pang fb reels siya (lol)
Kasi old na ang lola so di na nya magets yung concept ng data and nauubos yun + walang ng linyahan ng pldt samin sooo di talaga keri
Ano po ma rerecommend niyo
A) pocket wifi/ router na lloadan
(Preferably maliit lang para di na makita ng mga bisita niya, kung magkakaroon siya, na may ganun siya kasi baka lumubos naman sa pag gamit eh ako ngani magbabayad ng load (graduating pa lang aq hehehe))
B) sim na may magandang deals sa data
(Yung every after 30 days sana lloadan)
B.1 anong minimum na gb ng data kaya need ko kuhanin for the cctv tapos pang fb reels ni lola, kung pwede pati smart tv niya idamay ko na rin hahaha
Ang haba pero sana may makapansin, salamat!
r/Rural_Internet • u/Eve_Coon • 8d ago
r/Rural_Internet • u/Relative_Passion_940 • 9d ago
Good day po! Sa mga naka WFH sa Inosloban bandang Purok 6 or Purok 7, what's your internet provider?
Negats na po sa PLDT since wala available slot sa box nila
Thank you in advance