 | High Speed Internet Access Options
v1.0 (3/26/07) |
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| Before we start |
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FindAnISP.com was founded to provide information about dialup internet access, which is no longer suitable for many people's needs. There are
other websites out there that cover high speed internet access better than this one. The best of these is a place called BroadbandReports.com. This page
is just to give you a broad overview of the possible choices you have - not to start a brand new web site in competition with them.
A question we hear often is "I moved out into the country to get away from it all, but now I realize that I can't get
any decent internet service here - help!".
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The following list briefly discusses each the options you might have, along with
the advantages, disadvantages and limitations. The order is roughly in order of best to worst possibilities.
Any pricing and features is as of the time this was written (3/2007). Check with companies to find current pricing.
This directory is only intended for residential service in the United States. If you are reading this from some other country, your choices are likely to
be very different. If you are looking for business class services, look Here.
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| Fiber to the Home |
| Description: |
Verizon offers a service called FIOS in certain areas. Other phone companies
(AT&T U-verse) will also be making this available, mostly
in areas with high density population and areas with high incomes. FIOS (and similar services) use fiber optics to get
high speed internet into your local neighborhood, and then a variety of ways to connect your house to the service.
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| Startup Cost: | With 12 month contract - "Free"
Month to Month $69.99
(Verizon pricing shown) |
| Monthly Cost: | $39.99 (5Mb) $49.99 (15 Mb) $179.99 (30 Mb) |
| Speed: | Download - 5 Mb up to 30 Mb
Upload - 2 Mb up to 5 Mb |
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| Limitations: |
Very limited availability - you must be living in an area where the service is offered.
Given its high costs to build a network, it is unlikely to ever be available in rural areas. |
| Advantages: |
Extremely fast (by American standards) at a reasonable price. The service can easily deliver streaming video, which
is why the phone companies are building it - to compete directly against cable TV companies.
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| Disadvantages: | Only 1 supplier - lack of competition means in the future the
costs will probably go up if competition from Cable TV goes away. If you hate the phone company, that's the only one likely to offer this.
You probably will be required to get your local and long distance phone service from the local phone company as part of a package. if you already
cut your land line and rely 100% on cell phones, you may have to pay for a phone that you never use.
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| DSL |
| Description: |
ADSL (Residential) and SDSL(Business) provides high speed internet access over your existing copper phone line. It is described
in more detail on the DSL Page.
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| Startup Cost: |
Typically free with a 12 month contract with self install
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| Monthly Cost: |
Anywhere from $12.95-$39.95 a month for ADSL. Expect that after the 12 month "teaser" rate is over and you are addicted, the price will go up
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| Speed: |
Download - 128Kb up to 1.5 MB/Sec -
Upload - 128 Kb up to 768 Kb
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| Limitations: |
The big limitation is you must be within about 15,000 feet of the phone company's central office downtown (or a "Remote" central
office in your neighborhood). The maximum speed you can get is limited by your distance. If you are able to get any
DSL service, the phone company has probably already called you - they know who you are and what your phone number is.
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| Advantages: |
High reliability, relatively low cost. The phone company understands how to provide 99.99999% availability for phone service and will
react quickly to fix outages.
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| Disadvantages: |
In most situations, you can only get DSL from one company (unless you are business class accounts). If you don't like the phone
company (or they don't like you), there is no choice. Most phone companies require you to have local phone service from them
in order to get DSL.
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| Cable Internet |
| Description: |
A "Cable Modem" (Probably based on the DOCSIS Standard) receives and sends signals using the
coax cable TV cable already in your home.
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| Startup Cost: |
Typically free with a 12 month contract and a self-install - you might get a discounted price for a few months. Month to month, you'll probabably have to buy the modem
for $60-$100.
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| Monthly Cost: |
$30-$50 - expect a surcharge if you don't subscribe to cable TV - some companies have started requiring you to have cable TV service.
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| Speed: |
Download - 2 Mb up to 8 Mb
Upload - 256 Kb up to 2 Mb
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| Limitations: |
To get this, your building has to be wired for Cable TV. Cable TV is usually franchised to one company by your town or city - so
if you are outside of the city limits, you probably can't get cable internet, and even if you are in the city, you probably one have
one cable TV choice. This is no requirement at the moment that the cable TV company has to let other companies rent
their network.
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| Advantages: |
Very fast - the technology was built to support watching movies on demand, so it has very large capacity
to download Technology is not limited by distance.
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| Disadvantages: |
Regardless of your problem, the solution will be something like "Can you be at home a week from Tuesday between the hours of 8AM and 5PM so you can be there when our technician doesn't show up?" - Need we say more?
We're talking about the Cable TV company here.
Suggestions by the phone company that "Cable gets slower if more people sign up"
is largely disinformation and not true (no more than it would be for DSL and for the same reasons - insufficient network
capacity at their gateway)
Upload speeds into the internet (useful for file sharing) are about as slow as DSL - Cable Internet is optimized for downloading.
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| Fixed WiFi |
| Description: |
Fixed Wifi is based on the 802.11 technology also used for WiFi Hotspots in airports and hotels - except that a
special antenna is placed on the outside of your house pointing towards a tower maintained by the internet provider. Instead of
working for a few rooms the way a WiFi access point does, Fixed WiFi can go up to 20 miles *IF* there is a clean line of sight from
your roof line to their tower.
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| Startup Cost: |
You'll have to buy the equipment and pay for installation up front - although you might find
an Internet provider that will let you pay over time. $200-$250 would be typical to pay for
the antenna and its installation. If you are far away from their tower, you might have to
pay for more powerful (and expensive) equipment to amplify or repeat the signal. Your ISP might
also use "mesh" technology which relays your signal on its way to their tower.
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| Monthly Cost: |
About the same as DSL - $20-$50/month depending on the demand and the local market. These ISPs will be
more interested in signing up business customers than residential customers. An ISP that has licensed bandwidth
will be more expensive, but much better service quality. Asking them if they use "licensed spectrum" will identify
you as an informed consumer when you are discussing their service plans.
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| Speed: |
Download - 256 Kb 1.5 Mb
Upload - 256 Kb up to 1.5 Mb
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| Limitations: |
802.11 over long distances requires an absolutely clear line of sight with an extra margin of clear space. If trees
near the line of sight get wet, the signal may fade or fail completely. If you live at the bottom of a valley surrounded
by tall mountains, this is not likely to be available.
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| Advantages: |
Bypasses the local phone company completely, unlike DSL. High speeds are available at long distances far out into the country,
especially if the land is flat. We are aware of at least one grain co-op that has antennas on the top of each of their grain
elevators.
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| Disadvantages: |
Unless the ISP has licensed bandwidth, if a second ISP sets up business, your service might stop working. 802.11 is subject
to many types of interference like portable phones, microwave ovens and your own Wifi router (unless you put things on
different channels).
Quality of service is highly dependent on the skill of the company providing the service and the equipment they use. Ask
for references within a few blocks of where you are to see how well the service really works.
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| 3G Wireless Services (Cell Phones) |
| Description: |
If cell phones work where you are, there is a good chance your wireless phone company offers internet
access. The option you hope to find is generally called 3G (3rd Generation).
Just because the service is offered by the cell phone
company does not mean you need a cell phone to use it - 3G cards are sold that plug into any computer. The service uses
the towers and infrastructure already built to provide cell phone service.
Other terms you
may hear include CDMA and EVDO. Verizon Wireless would be one company offering a plan like this (pricing below is for their service).
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| Startup Cost: |
$35 with 1 year commitment - up to $175 early termination fee
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| Monthly Cost: |
$79.99 (unlimited)
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| Speed: |
Download - 400-700 Kb (0.4-0.7 Mb)
Upload - 300-400 Kb
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| Limitations: |
You must be using the computer in an area with a 3G cellphone tower reasonably nearby.
If you aren't near a major urban area, you will only get a slower (20-80kb) 2nd generation service that may be slightly faster than dialup, but slower than the slowest DSL. The
advantage of 2nd generation wireless internet is that it is portable over a wide area, not that it is is fast.
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| Advantages: |
Portable - you can carry around your laptop, PDA or smartphone and use the service anywhere there is a signal.
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| Disadvantages: |
High cost, relatively slow speeds, speeds may slow down when more customers are actively using service in your area.
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| WiMax - 4G |
| Description: |
WiMax is a new service coming out in 2007 - Sprint/Nextel has committed to building out their 4G Wimax network, other companies probably
will also, although one major manufacturer has already decided to drop out (Ericsson)
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| Startup Cost: |
(Clearwire) $100 for modem + $50 Activation with 1 Yr Contract
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| Monthly Cost: |
$29.99 (Basic) $37.99 (Premium)
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| Speed: |
Download - 768Kb Upload - 128 Kb (Basic)
1.5 Mb - 256 Kb (Premium)
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| Limitations: |
Someone has to offer the service in your area.
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| Advantages: |
WiMax is not strictly line of sight, so it can work through trees
and other interference that stop fixed WiFi. Mobile WiMax is designed to work in your car as you move up to 60 MPH,
opening up many new uses. Because it is more advanced, it should have fewer issues with interference from other devices.
As WiMax rolls out and more bandwidth may be licensed to use it, prices may go down.
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| Disadvantages: |
Technology isn't proven in the real world yet - Clearwire is the only company with a real world nationwide product that you can buy today.
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| ISDN |
| Description: |
ISDN is a pre-DSL technology you can order from your phone company that may allow you to get 128 Kb - beyond the 13,000 ft limit of DSL.
To learn more, read our ISDN page.
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| Startup Cost: |
Expensive. Phone company installation, possibly rewiring your house, buying ISDN equipment and phones.
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| Monthly Cost: |
Can be expensive, depending on the tariff in your state. Some states allow a per-minute charge on residential customers - however
one ISDN line replaces 2 analog phone lines, which offsets some of the cost.
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| Speed: |
Download - 128Kb with both channels, 64Kb with 1 channel
Upload - same as download
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| Limitations: |
Only available out to about 30,000 feet - if you are 10 miles from the nearest town, you aren't getting this either.
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| Advantages: |
Mature, off-the-shelf technology. About the same speed as slowest form of DSL. Digital will be faster than
an analog option with comparable bandwidth. Dialup ISDN doesn't lock you into a single internet provider, although
finding an ISP that knows anything about it may be hard.
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| Disadvantages: |
Mature (OLD) technology. Nobody at the phone company may know what you are asking about. Per minute charges will eat
you alive. If you are a moderately heavy user, expect to spend $100 a month. Not very attractive unless you have more
money than options.
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| Hotspot WiFi |
| Description: |
There are several companies that offer monthly plans that let you visit WiFi hotspots at places like Starbucks, Borders book stores
and McDonalds to access the internet. T-Mobile and Wayport are the main widely available options. You may also find free
WiFi available from businesses in your area.
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| Startup Cost: |
None unless you have to buy a WiFi card for your laptop.
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| Monthly Cost: |
$49.95/month (Wayport) $39.95 (T-Mobile)
$29.95/month with 12 month contract
Coffee and food not included
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| Speed: |
Will vary by location - but probably DSL like speeds
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| Limitations: |
Not available in your home (unless you live inside a McDonald's)
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| Advantages: |
No investment in equipment, useful if you travel a lot.
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| Disadvantages: |
You have to go somewhere to use it, no privacy, potential security issues, will you feel guilty
about going into a Starbucks to use their network and not buy anything? Do you want those old men that spend
all morning in McD's drinking 1 cup of coffee looking over your shoulder asking you what you're doing?
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| Municipal WiFi |
| Description: |
Some "progressive" cities have decided to build WiFi networks that are available anywhere in the city, using light poles and other infrastucture owned by the city. This is the notion that government knows better what you
want than the free market.
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| Startup Cost: |
Not normally a charge unless you have to buy a WiFi Card ($20-$40)
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| Monthly Cost: |
Often based on income... illegal aliens and people on welfare get it free - people who pay taxes and go to work pay full price ($20-$25/month)
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| Speed: |
In theory, the same as any other WiFi - but if everyone in the neighborhood has the service and pay nothing for it, don't get your
hopes too high.
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| Limitations: |
WiFi doesn't work well in high density applications.
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| Advantages: |
People may vote for you if you promise them a Wifi spot on every street corner... until someone realizes the drug dealers
know how to use computers, too.
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| Disadvantages: |
Combine the best of Indian tech support, 9 to 4:30 local government union-member employees, irresponsible customers who think infinite
free bandwidth is a basic human right, and the respect for personal privacy of your local police department - what could possibly go wrong?
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| 2 way Satellite |
| Description: |
Using a satellite dish similar to DirecTV (one of the 2 companies offering the service), your internet interactions bounce
off a satellite in geosynchronous orbiting 22,500 miles above the earth
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| Startup Cost: |
$300-$500
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| Monthly Cost: |
$60-$130
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| Speed: |
Download - 700 Kb up to 1.5 Mb
Upload - 128 Kb up to 200 Kb |
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| Limitations: |
Must have unobstructed view of the Southern Sky.
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| Advantages: |
Available where no other option exists. A remote monitoring station to count penguins at the North Pole would
be an ideal application.
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| Disadvantages: |
EXTREMELY Slow for some type of activities. If you want to download software and wait several seconds for it to start downloading,
you may be satisfied. If you want to play real time games, Access your work computers using a VPN or use Telnet/SSH to access a remote computer, you will
want to switch back to dialup very quickly, and turn the dish into a bird feeder.
Since your dish operates as a transmitter pointed at a satellite along with everyone else on earth, if the dish loses its
alignment, it could interfere with other satellites or other people using the service,
requiring a service call (at your expense) any time the dish gets out of alignment.
Since satellites have a finite capacity, downstream bandwidth is usually capped (which may be mentioned in the small print).
If you try to be a heavy user, your service will be terminated or crippled. Since your dish only works with that one
service, you're basically screwed. Read the fine print before signing up.
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| Available From: |
Starband
HughesNet
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| 1 Way Satellite |
| Description: |
One Way satellite cuts the slowless problems of 2 Way in half, by using a dialup phone ISP to send your traffic into the internet.
If you don't do a lot of file sharing or uploading into the internet, this can be a much better option than 2 way satellite.
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| Startup Cost: |
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| Monthly Cost: |
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| Speed: |
Download - Upload -
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| Limitations: |
Same as 2 way satellite plus you need a phone line and a dialup internet provider.
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| Advantages: |
Removes one of the round trips up and down to the satellite.
Since the dish is receive only and can't break the satellite, it doesn't necessarily require a trained technician to
fix when the dish gets out of alignment. It is also possible to combine a wireless phone circuit for the "land line"
where it is not possible or desirable to get conventional phone service.
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| Disadvantages: |
Upload speeds are limited to dialup speeds (33.6 Kb/sec), cost of maintaining a phone line dedicated to internet access.
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| Public Library |
| Description: |
Lots of "free" government money has been spent to install computers and internet access in most public libraries.
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| Startup Cost: |
None (at least not directly)
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| Monthly Cost: |
Free!
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| Speed: |
Probably similar to DSL
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| Limitations: |
You have to get to the library to use it, and only during hours the library is open.
You may have to sign up in advance, or be limited to only an hour at a time if anyone is waiting to use a computer.
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| Advantages: |
Did we mention it is free?
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| Disadvantages: |
You are using their computers - so you don't have access to software or files on your own computer.
Computers probably have content filters to "protect the children" and complete logging of everything you do in case
you do something they deem to be "wrong" so they can report you to the police.
Computers may also be compromised and have keyloggers or other spy programs on them if the library staff are not technically savvy. Not recommended for
doing your online banking.
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| Bonded Dialup |
| Description: |
Using 2 modems and 2 phone lines to get a connection twice the speed of normal dialup.
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| Startup Cost: |
Buy a second modem and install a second phone line.
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| Monthly Cost: |
An extra phone line and two ISP accounts (from the same ISP)
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| Speed: |
Download - 106 Kb
Upload - 67.2 Kb
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| Limitations: |
Pretty much available wherever normal dialup is available
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| Advantages: |
2X the speed of normal dialup, no distance restrictions
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| Disadvantages: |
Finding an ISP that can support bonded analog channels may be hard. Total cost will be much more than
most other choices, with speeds slower than the slowest DSL.
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| Accelerated Dialup |
| Description: |
Software and hardware tricks to speed up internet access using a conventional dialup connection.
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| Startup Cost: |
Usually none.
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| Monthly Cost: |
From None to $10 a month extra.
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| Speed: |
In theory, up to several times faster for some types of activities. Any ISP that says accelerated is "as fast as DSL" is not
telling you the truth.
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| Limitations: |
Not available for all computer types.
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| Advantages: |
If it works perfectly, acceleration can make a significant improvement. As website designers create bloated graphics without
considering the effect on dialup users, having some sort of compression becomes very necessary.
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| Disadvantages: |
Can be difficult to install and get working, only some types of activities benefit from acceleration, can create other types
of hard to resolve problems.
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| Move |
| Description: |
Depending on your life situation, this might be the best choice or an insanely ridiculous choice.
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| Startup Cost: |
$0-$5,000,000.00
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| Limitations: |
You may have a wife, you may have children with friends in school, you may be upside down in an interest only mortgage
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| Advantages: |
You can get the best internet service available anywhere.
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| Disadvantages: |
See Limitations
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