Broadband Card Review

Posts Tagged ‘Rural Broadband’

Is a broadband card the best option for high-speed internet in rural areas?

Folks who live in the country have few choices when it comes to internet access.  Much of the countryside is beyond the reach of cable or dsl.  This leaves millions of people depending on dial-up connections, and in rural areas, even the dial-up can be miserably slow, due to poor phone lines.  This makes uploading pictures or downloading movies a luxury to be enjoyed only during trips to a city.  But, it’s not just pictures and videos.  Unfortunately, more and more of the web requires broadband speeds and people in rural areas are being left behind.  So, what alternatives to dial-up exist beyond the suburbs?

There are three viable options for high-speed rural internet.

•    One option in some rural places is long distance wifi.  This isn’t the sort of wireless connection you pick up in a coffee shop.  This a powerful signal being broadcast from a tall tower.  An antenna is placed on your roof and connected through a router to your computer.  For this option you will pay an installation cost, sometimes as much as three or four hundred dollars.  A monthly fee will also need to be paid.  This is different from company to company.

•    Satellite internet access is another alternative.  A high speed satellite system works nearly anywhere that views the southern sky.  This method for gaining access to the net in rural areas is relatively stable.  The only disruptions are usually due to heavy cloud cover and rain.  Also, an ice covered satellite receiver can cause poor reception during nasty weather.  Satellite broadband is often the most expensive alternative to have installed, often costing as much as $700.  This cost is followed by the typical monthly plan that will run between $60 and $120 depending on how fast the internet connection needs to be.

•    The third option is a mobile broadband card.  These are also known as aircards or connect cards.  A broadband card can be bought at any wireless provider, such as AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.  The card connects to a USB port or card slot on your laptop or desktop.  This device uses a 3G signal from a cell phone tower to connect your computer to the internet.  It’s like a wireless phone for your computer.

A broadband card will work anywhere that has a signal from the wireless provider’s towers.  A nice advantage that this has over the other two options is mobility.  You can plug a broadband card into a laptop and get on the web from nearly anywhere.    It usually costs about $25 for installation.  The broadband card itself is usually free if you sign a contract for a monthly data plan.  This plan will set you back somewhere between $40 and $60 per month.

As far as I’m concerned, the best option for rural internet users is the 3G broadband card, but you’ll need to weigh the options and decide for yourself.  If you live in a rural area, check with a local wireless provider to find out if 3G broadband is available in your part of the country.