A cheaper option for off grid internet? | Page 2 | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

I just recently got AT&T for my phone. Although they say they don't cover this area, I have better cell service than Verizon. Theoretically I can use this phone as a mobile hot spot.

For more money of course

Where is the PorkChop bat signal?

We use a combination of a "cell extender" and an omnidirectional antenna to pick up any cell service in the area. The cell extender looks like a WiFi base station but it gets it signal from an antenna, over coax, and rebroadcasts the signal into the house.

I went with a zBoost branded cell extender because it was cheap on eBay, but if I could do it over again I would go with a Wilson branded cell extender -- they are supposed to be better but are more expensive.

zBoost extender:

qid=1388713514&sr=8-14&keywords=zboost

Wilson Omnidirectional Antenna:

qid=1388713554&sr=8-6&keywords=omnidirectional+cell+antenna

What I probably would have gone with:

qid=1388713629&sr=8-5&keywords=wilson+cell+home

Service is great with Verizon -- which is who we use.

We use this for a "home phone" -- it uses a cellular connection (with battery back up!) and you can use a corded or cordless phone and unlimited minutes for ~$20 a month.

qid=1388715039&sr=8-1&keywords=verizon+home+phone

We use PagePlus, Verizon's prepaid service, for cell phone use. It is much cheaper ($30 for 1200 minutes, texts, and 500mb data) but they have the EXACT same coverage. Other Verizon resellers (like Straighttalk) limit roaming and we live in a roaming area.

https://www.pagepluscellular.com/

We also use Exede satellite internet service. It has 4G speeds (on the download) but we have a data cap of 15GB per month -- which is rough. Monthly cost is ~$90 a month. For some reason data on our cell extender isn't all that fast although voice quality is good. If I could I would use a Verizon MiFi for internet access.

http://www.exede.com/

I'm paying 50/mo. There is a data cap. I'm on friends plan. I was able to get a .99 iPhone.

There is no cable here and no possibility of DSL. So I'm just doin the smart phone thing and will go to town when I need to do real internet work