Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#1

Post by jason_slack » Thu, Dec 04, 2014, 8:12 PM UTC

I'm moving to an area of NY where there seems to be no internet (DSL, Cable, Ethernet, Fiber). The major companies don't service it. DISH can get satellite internet there, its expensive for almost no bandwidth per month ($70/mo for 10gb).

4G LTE, tethering out through a MiFi or phone would work. It has good coverage.

However this is a small cramp in my style. How do I go about finding tools for email, browsing, data transfer that are lower bandwidth? I write software in c++, use GitHub, etc. I'm an OS X user and even OS updates and XCode would be near impossible without going to a library or something.

Advice is appreciated.

Edit: I read about CradlePoint routers: https://cradlepoint.com/products/branch-office-retail-pos/arc-mbr1400-series-with-integrated-3g-4g

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#2

Post by nimajalali » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 1:27 AM UTC

If you can find someone willing to share their internet within line of site of your new place you could do a point to point.

Ubiquiti has great antennas that are relatively cheap. Unfortunately most ISP's won't allow you to use/share/resell your connection beyond your property, so be aware.

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#3

Post by jason_slack » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 1:39 AM UTC

nimajalali wrote: post #2

If you can find someone willing to share their internet within line of site of your new place you could do a point to point. Ubiquiti has great antennas that are relatively cheap. Unfortunately most ISP's won't allow you to use/share/resell your connection beyond your property, so be aware.

wow they make a lot of equipment....

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#4

Post by nimajalali » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 2:50 AM UTC

jason_slack wrote: post #3

nimajalali wrote: post #2

If you can find someone willing to share their internet within line of site of your new place you could do a point to point. Ubiquiti has great antennas that are relatively cheap. Unfortunately most ISP's won't allow you to use/share/resell your connection beyond your property, so be aware.

wow they make a lot of equipment....

Yup. Specifically for this I would use one of their NanoStations, which one depends on a bunch of factors but the locoM5 is a solid choice when there's no obstructions and plenty of clearance.

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#5

Post by MalcolmDiggs » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 4:41 AM UTC

I was in a similar situation for a few months while traveling (and living within a 13gb/mo hotspot).

Biggest piece of advice: Open up your activity-monitor, click the network-tab and just watch it while you work. I was amazed by how many things are constantly polling or backing themselves up. I ended up switching IDEs because of this.

Second piece of advice: Unless you're literally in the middle of nowhere, then your neighbors are having the same problem. Sometimes a handshake-agreement with the guy next door can save a lot of headache (eg, I'll give you 50 bucks to let me use your wifi).

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#6

Post by jason_slack » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 4:44 AM UTC

MalcolmDiggs wrote: post #5

I was in a similar situation for a few months while traveling (and living within a 13gb/mo hotspot). Biggest piece of advice: Open up your activity-monitor, click the network-tab and just watch it while you work. I was amazed by how many things are constantly polling or backing themselves up. I ended up switching IDEs because of this. Second piece of advice: Unless you're literally in the middle of nowhere, then your…

These are both good tips. Perhaps I can run Little Snitch on OS X to prevent apps from "phoning" out unless I let them.

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#7

Post by jason_slack » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 4:47 AM UTC

nimajalali wrote: post #4

jason_slack wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wow they make a lot of equipment....

Yup. Specifically for this I would use one of their NanoStations, which one depends on a bunch of factors but the locoM5 is a solid choice when there's no obstructions and plenty of clearance.

Any thoughts on how this might compare to the CradlePoint routers? Like the one I mentioned?

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#8

Post by zafiro17 » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 11:14 AM UTC

Not trying to be snarky or unhelpful here, but it is actually possible to live off of dial up, if you change your habits and expectations. And no, I'm not /that/ old. I wrote this about my experience living on dial-up while living/working in Benin, West Africa. You won't be watching any youtube videos or using Facebook or other javascript-heavy sites. But you can do really well with IMAP, POP, FTP, NTTP, and the like. http://therandymon.com/index.php?/archives/166-Life-in-56K.h...

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#9

Post by jason_slack » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 2:50 PM UTC

zafiro17 wrote: post #8

Not trying to be snarky or unhelpful here, but it is actually possible to live off of dial up, if you change your habits and expectations. And no, I'm not /that/ old. I wrote this about my experience living on dial-up while living/working in Benin, West Africa. You won't be watching any youtube videos or using Facebook or other javascript-heavy sites. But you can do really well with IMAP, POP, FTP, NTTP, and the like…

Hi Randall! I read your blog. Thanks for the reply. Yes, there might be a few dial-up options left in the area I am moving. I am surely going to check it out. I will have a landline for phone but that is all Verizon can get me.

I have 30gb a month for 4g LTE so I am hoping I can stay with in this changing browsing habits, downloading updates at friends, etc.

Your suggestions in the article are great. Offline RSS, using a dedicated e-mail client, I'm also going to stop apps from phoning home unless needed.

Any ideas for file transfers? Meaning what if I am downloading and it stops, having it pick up where I left off versus starting the download completely over again...

Re: Ask HN: Moving where there is no internet

#10

Post by crystalclaw » Fri, Dec 05, 2014, 5:42 PM UTC

zafiro17 wrote: post #8

Not trying to be snarky or unhelpful here, but it is actually possible to live off of dial up, if you change your habits and expectations. And no, I'm not /that/ old. I wrote this about my experience living on dial-up while living/working in Benin, West Africa. You won't be watching any youtube videos or using Facebook or other javascript-heavy sites. But you can do really well with IMAP, POP, FTP, NTTP, and the like…

> And no, I'm not /that/ old.

I remember dial up. I'm 18. I had it for several years before we switched to satellite, then verizon hotspot, then (pending). I'm sorry, but remembering dialup is not any indication of age.