Dear Cuties,
The time has come where I need to move in order to be able to keep my husband at home (he has Alzheimer's). Our current house has lots of stairs, both inside and out. He is falling a lot; this is just one of the reasons I need to find a new abode. I have found a few that I'm very interested in, but the internet connections there are satellite or dial-up only. Dial-up is out of the question. I'm wondering if there are people out there have used both and can give me an honest comparison between that and DSL or cable internet (I have cable internet now). I would prefer to go in to this with both eyes wide open rather than have unpleasant surprises when I try to use internet, which is my primary source of communication.Thank you very much for your time!!
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I wish i could help. Ask a neighbor and perhaps they can guide you.
1 comment
by justonlyme
25 Jul 2014
There are no neighbors where I'm looking. My thinking in moving out a ways is that there are fewer cars that can hit him, we have a trained dog that can stay with him and bring him home, and the noise and chaos of neighborhood living would be absent. Thank you for the suggestion.
85867When we moved out here, we had only dial up or satellite as options. We tried dial up, what a laugh! On a 54K modem, we were connecting at 11 or 12. Pages timed out before they loaded, couldn't do banking, anything. Phone lines out here are really old. So we went with Hughes Net. It's a bit expensive, but I found it completely reliable and very worth it. Even with my late husband the computer junkie downloading things, we rarely exceeded our limit. The only problem was snow in the dish, you either cleaned it out or didn't get connected, it blocks the signal. Also make sure you have good line of sight for the dish, although Hughes satellite is so high that usually isn't a problem. But we don't have mountains or such here, so depends on your terrain. I do have DSL now, because Verizon actually opened up a node here. Frankly, the only difference is I don't have to worry about snow in the dish. We're so far out and the speed is still slow, I can't stream video, I can't even watch YouTube stuff. Hughes has just gone through a major upgrade, so depending on how fast your DSL is, you might even like it better. Except the snow in the dish part, and that can be a real pain, depending on where the dish is. Call Hughes, tell them where the house is, what your circumstances are, and see if they'll give you an idea where they'd put the dish. Or, go with a local authorized dealer, which is what we did, and got a rebate and next day service, because the man has a local shop, you're not dealing with corporate Hughes. And if you have trouble, you call Dave, not some 800 number. And Dave knows the terrain and all the problems, Hughes service people can come from hundreds of miles away sometimes. Shop local if you can, local people are usually very helpful and kind. Best of luck to you and to your husband, hugs, Marji
1 comment
by justonlyme
25 Jul 2014
Good information to have! Thank you!! Where I'm looking to buy is basically in the desert, so snow wouldn't be a huge problem. But it is mountainous, so line of sight is a whopping huge problem. I live deep in the mountains snow, so cannot receive any TV, radio or cell phone signals when I'm at home. HughesNet is an option in the area I'm looking at. I think I'll work the phones now to see if perhaps I can find something suitable for the house I'm looking at. I appreciate all of the information and encouragement!
33451I live in the country in central Maine and the only television programming and internet available to me is satellite. I have dish TV and dishnet internet. Dishnet internet is supplied by Hughes net (Hughes is printed on the side of my dishnet modem). I have never had any problems with my connection. It is limited to 10 GB monthly (upload and download) plus a 10 GB monthly bonus the can only be used between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. I set my updates and schedule large file downloads during this time. Speeds do slow down if there are large storms and I have had snow block my signal so I needed to clean the satellite dish. Today my ping is 717, download speed 10.17 MB, upload speed .75 MB. These results were using Google chrome browser. I have no idea if this is good or not. I am just thankful that it works. I have never had DSL or cable but I did use dial-up and on the old telephone lines in our area we were lucky if we got connected and got e-mail without any pictures or attachments. Satellite is expensive. My bill is $145 a month for TV (over 250 top channels) and internet but to me it is worth it to stay connected to family and friends. Best of luck in your research and hugs, blessings and prayers for you and your husband. Barba
1 comment
by justonlyme
25 Jul 2014
Oh wow. Satellite is slower than I thought. I have Comcast cable now. I have a 250 GB cap. My ping is 40 ms, download speed is 55.35 Mbps, and upload is 11.62 Mbps. And this is during the height of internet usage, which I share with all of my neighbors. That is a very big bill too. I probably wouldn't get TV if we could get decent internet. I may have to start looking closer to town then. Thank you for your information and support!!
6279I cannot help as I live in South Africa. Wishing you and your husband well in your new home.
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255054I have had experience with just about all types of internet service. The problem is -- it varies by the area (even town to town can be different)
Over-all here is what I have found: Satellite can be "spotty" depending on the weather. Also, high winds can knock it out of alignment.
DSL can be very good if the lines are good. It can be compared to cable with speed and reliability. It can get expensive -- but you can have your own little price war with companies. Make them bid against the other for services and then take the best package offered.
I will include you in my prayers. May you be led to the best place for you and your husband to live. I am hoping and praying that he will not be too agitated in the move. May you be blessed for keeping him home!
Hugs!
1 comment
by justonlyme
25 Jul 2014
You have touched on my concerns with each service. I appreciate your input. I have no experience with satellite internet, but am gathering from the comments that it will be frustrating. Wind, where I'm looking to move, is almost always present.
Thank you for your encouragement. Moving my husband will be the most difficult part of all, which is why I'm trying to predict the "kinks" ahead of time.
5767535301I live in the wrong part of the world to be of any use with your question but I wanted to say I am thinking of you and your husband. Good Luck with your future plans
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115758I can't help with your dilemma, however I just wanted to wish you the best on your move.
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by justonlyme
24 Jul 2014
Thank you very much! It is going to take a while because my husband is clinging to every item we own, but we are getting there baby steps at at time.
173693Sorry to hear this, my hubby does not have Alz. but not a week goes by without a fall even though he has a walker and a W.C. . I can certainly empathize with you. NO NO on the Dial UP. I have no access to cable and those around me who have satellite are unhappy with it. I have Broad Band (don't really understand how it works) but it is unlimited in time and I can DL as much as I want. Those with satellite internet around here are limited in both. We have satellite TV but have no problems with it unless it's a really bad storm. A little rain does not affect it./Lillian
1 comment
by justonlyme
24 Jul 2014
You have given me the exact answers I was looking for. I have broadband high capacity right now. I think that going with satellite would throw us back in to the dark ages. I may look in to having fiber installed to the house and see if I would have to take out another mortgage for that alone. Thank you for your response. You have been incredibly helpful!
145791Hi. When we moved to the country 5 years ago we had the same problem. Went with HughesNet and had very few problems. Speed on satellite are probably as good as DSL. The only issue I had was you are limited to how much you can download/upload and when you go over that limit you are knocked back to dial-up speed or worse for 24 hours! As long as it was only me only the internet, it was fine. But when husband started on at the same time we had a problem. You can then buy more bandwidth if you want. Anyway, we have friends who work from home and have very little problems using satellite. Good luck and prayers for you and your husband. Hugs. Nan W
1 comment
by justonlyme
24 Jul 2014
My whole family is on the internet most of of the time. My son still lives at home, and my daughter comes and goes. My husband is very young for this degree of brain degradation, so it increases the challenge. Thank you for your feedback!
11927My internet is furnished by my telephone co., never a 'blip'. We have cable for our tv and they offer internet, but my neighbor has a lot of trouble with his internet being down. We tried satellite dish and hated it as any sprinkle of rain caused lost signal. Gotta have our computers to stay in touch with the world!
1 comment
by justonlyme
24 Jul 2014
That is what I'm afraid of is weather interruptions. Where we live now, there is LOTS of rain. Where I am looking to move, there is lots of wind. Good to know. Thank you!!
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