Internet access on Rattlesnake

[Webbsatwinni]

I know this may not be a popular subject (island living is for relaxing), but to monitor the weather and use our house as my mobile office for work (to allow for more time at the island), I was wondering how islanders connect to the internet.

I read that Bear island had cable tv and internet and I did not know if the same was planned to Rattlesnake in the future. I am planning on setting up a Verizon card and using my PC as a router to connect my work laptop to the verizon connection. Also, I may get a slingbox for cable tv so that on rainy days the kids will not go stir crazy.

If anyone has a thought on a good internet solution, please let me know.

[codeman671]

Went with Hughes satellite for internet and Directv for television. The satellite service is quite expensive to set up (I paid $900 just for install plus a 2 year contract at $60 per month) but works fairly well compared to the alternatives. I use a wireless router to run our laptops beyond that. The latency takes a but of getting used to as it is certainly slower than DSL or Comcast but I am happy with it.

[Webbsatwinni]

Thanks Codeman,

We had the satellite companies out last week and we have a tree in direct line of site. So, that option is out unless we cut down trees and I would hate to do that for internet and tv.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Thanks Codeman,

We had the satellite companies out last week and we have a tree in direct line of site. So, that option is out unless we cut down trees and I would hate to do that for internet and tv.

We actually mounted both of our dishes on different trees to avoid such a problem. Most of the satellite companies state that they only will mount to the structure or to a pole but if you ask them when they come for a consultation they will usually put it wherever you want. I can find the name of the installer we used, he was out of the Plymouth area I think.

[wifi]

If you are considering Satellite Internet, do a careful read of their FAP (fair access policy). different carriers have different policies. This policy is meant to penalize 'larger' bandwidth users, such as a slingbox by rolling back bandwidth speed to dialup speeds for some 'penalty time'. Satellite is great for email and casual surfing (such as reading this board), just be aware of its rules if you expect to do more than this.

What part of Rattlesnake are you on? If you are looking up towards Long Island, in Moultonboro, you might be able to snag some wireless signals going by.

[Webbsatwinni]

We are on the north west end facing the broads. I would not have thought that there would be a hotspot that we could grab from there, but now I will try.

[kjbathe]

I thought satellite internet solutions download over the dish but uploaded over a phone line. Is DSL an option? You could try http://home.mv.net/dsl/loopqualify.shtml to find out.

[wifi]

Originally Posted by kjbathe

I thought satellite internet solutions download over the dish but uploaded over a phone line. Is DSL an option? You could try http://home.mv.net/dsl/loopqualify.shtml to find out.

There are both types: Wildblue/Hughes/Starband are two way over the dish, there is another provider that does as you say, downloads over the air and uploads over the phone line. I don't remember who that is.

DSL on underwater cables? Lucky they can hear voice on it

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I can tell you that dial up on the island is dreadfully slow for us. 10-20kb. (Its like the 90s but with huge internet bandwidth.) We often just give up as we loose interest.

I can tell you that my verizon card in my laptop. (Rev A thanks to Island girl) is fantastic. Very fast and reliable on the broads side for us.

Our lot is actually so steep we can't find a tree high enough to see a satellite.

As much as we like to unplug at the island and settle for our 3 Maine TV stations, I have found that I can spend more time at the island if I have the ability to stay somewhat connected with the world through the wireless internet and phone.

[lakershaker]

I have asked this before, but didn't get much response, so I thought I'd try it again. As I understand it, the reason Bear Island is able to get wired for cable & internet is because 10 residents along a linear mile signed a petition saying they would buy services, and under the franchise license the cable company was required to wire them, at which time they did the whole island. You only need to commit to basic service (~$10 per month). Rattlesnake Isl. is about 2 miles long - certainly there are either 10 people on one end or 20 on the whole island who would be interested. Sounds like just right here we have about 4 or 5 as part of this thread.

So I guess the question is, who is interested on Rattlesnake? If there are enough responses, I will follow up and try to see what we need to do next...

Alternatively, you can get sat. internet via the NHEC, but I don't know how this stacks up to other sat. options. But it is a lot cheaper than the prices Codeman was talking about....

[Mink Islander]

I used to do dial-up but it was soooo painfully slow it was essentially worthless for work. I now have a VerizonWireless card for my Laptop and the speed is really quite good and reliable. Not cheap, though.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

I used to do dial-up but it was soooo painfully slow it was essentially worthless for work. I now have a VerizonWireless card for my Laptop and the speed is really quite good and reliable. Not cheap, though.

How long of a contract do you have to sign up for with the Verizon Wireless service? (e.g. 1 year, 2 year etc.)

Thanks...

[Webbsatwinni]

Lakeshaker,
I'm in, so now we only need 8 more, do you already have the information needed to start?

My Verizon card is the same monthly cost as my home cable modem, and I had to sign a two year contract (it is almost up). So if we can get cable on Rattlesnake, count me in for what ever we need to do.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I am in for the cable commitment but may not be helpful as I am fed from the Alton bay end on the broads. Do we need 10 in the same area or set of poles?

[Rattler]

I would sign up for a cable commitment.

We're on the broads side of Rattlesnake -- right around the middle.

BTW, we have the Verizon laptop card. It works OK for basic mail and limited Web browsing. Expensive though -- I think we're paying around $70 per month, and during the off-season I have very little use for it.

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

How long of a contract do you have to sign up for with the Verizon Wireless service? (e.g. 1 year, 2 year etc.)

Thanks...

Mine is two years -- just like a typical cell phone contract.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by lakershaker

I have asked this before, but didn't get much response, so I thought I'd try it again. As I understand it, the reason Bear Island is able to get wired for cable & internet is because 10 residents along a linear mile signed a petition saying they would buy services, and under the franchise license the cable company was required to wire them, at which time they did the whole island. You only need to commit to basic service (~$10 per month). Rattlesnake Isl. is about 2 miles long - certainly there are either 10 people on one end or 20 on the whole island who would be interested. Sounds like just right here we have about 4 or 5 as part of this thread.

So I guess the question is, who is interested on Rattlesnake? If there are enough responses, I will follow up and try to see what we need to do next...

Alternatively, you can get sat. internet via the NHEC, but I don't know how this stacks up to other sat. options. But it is a lot cheaper than the prices Codeman was talking about....

I have read sections of our contract.. and believe it is the same as Bear Island... if you run with this... I will sign up.

IG

[Orion]

Who is providing this cable access? i.e. who is the contract with?

So for Bear I. they ran another underwater cable?

Sounds too good to be true!

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Orion

Who is providing this cable access? i.e. who is the contract with?

So for Bear I. they ran another underwater cable?

Sounds too good to be true!

Bear Island is handled by Metrocast. I was thinking of starting a similar crusade on Mark.

[lakershaker]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

I am in for the cable commitment but may not be helpful as I am fed from the Alton bay end on the broads. Do we need 10 in the same area or set of poles?

All of the cables - phone and electric - for Rattlesnake come under water from the area near Smith Point to the tip of the pennisula, so it shouldn't really matter what end of Rattlesnake anyone is on.

For all of you who indicated interest, please PM me with your name and email and I will follow-up.

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by lakershaker

All of the cables - phone and electric - for Rattlesnake come under water from the area near Smith Point to the tip of the pennisula, so it shouldn't really matter what end of Rattlesnake anyone is on.

For all of you who indicated interest, please PM me with your name and email and I will follow-up.

Perhaps some thought should be given to Sleepers Island...

[Island Phone Guy]

You are half right lakershaker, electric does come in that way but the phone cable comes out of Terrace Hill in Gilford, over Diamond island and then goes to Rattlesnake Isl. on the Diamond island side.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Island phone guy,
I am on the south east end of Rattlesnake on the broads side. The phone and power lines come from the north and from the south. Their is a gap of about 6 lots between the power and telephone feeds. To use house wiring logic, do you know if the power from the two directions is on the same "circuit"? When power is lost on one side, is it necessarily lost on the other side?. With a name like your's, I thought you might know.
Thanks

[islandAl]

Most likely, only one would lose power. That totally depends upon the cause of the outage and where the problem is.
With separate feeds (two source points coming to island) and only one is interrupted, then the other line is good and still providing power. You could be out while next door has power if fed from different source.
Could be close as local transformer on the island going out. Past the transformer (downstream) is out but just the other side is still working as that is (upstream) before the problem.

[wifi]

I think IPG was saying phone feeds from one side of the island, and the power feeds in from the other side. As far as loss of power, there are fuses up on some of the poles so if there is an overload from, say a tree falling, the fuse would trip and 'theoretically' upstream of the fuse would be saved.

[lakershaker]

Originally Posted by Island Phone Guy

You are half right lakershaker, electric does come in that way but the phone cable comes out of Terrace Hill in Gilford, over Diamond island and then goes to Rattlesnake Isl. on the Diamond island side.

Wow, you learn something new everyday. Makes sense I guess looking at a map as Diamond is closer, but doesn't have electricity only phone. Thanks for the info!

[Island Phone Guy]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

Island phone guy,
I am on the south east end of Rattlesnake on the broads side. The phone and power lines come from the north and from the south. Their is a gap of about 6 lots between the power and telephone feeds. To use house wiring logic, do you know if the power from the two directions is on the same "circuit"? When power is lost on one side, is it necessarily lost on the other side?. With a name like your's, I thought you might know.
Thanks

Sorry RG, I can answer probably most phone questions but do not know a lot about power.

[Eki]

You can take:

- two wireless routers
- two directv dishes

and get up to 12 miles of line-of-site remote internet service.

So if you have one friend on mainland and one friend on the island and you have line if sight ... you can have internet.

Most ISP's will not let you resell bandwidth, but that doesnt mean you cannot make a free connection to you friend, and get a friendly gift.

[Bear Islander]

I missed some of this because I have been away. Getting Metrocast to come to Bear Island took time and persistence.

I doubt they will be interested in bringing cable to other islands because it is expensive to install and maintain. It will take them a long long time to get a return on their investment. However the cable contract between Meredith and Metrocast spelled it out in black and white. If you have ten subscribers per cable mile they must wire the island or be in violation of their contract. Violating the contact endangers the license they need in order to be a telephone utility.

What you are asking for is called a "Line Extension". Send them a request in writing to the Metrocast corporate offices, copy your town manager. Don't take no for an answer.

I included a map showing the distances involved and a list of homeowners wanting cable. I also included a check for almost two thousand dollars made out to Metrocast. It was a years payment in advance for ten subscribers at the monthly minimum. Back then the monthly minimum was $16 and change, now it is $18 and change.

They never cashed the check, I didn't think they would. I did it to shut down their "payment in advance" requirement from the contract.

After they agree it will still take time. There are all kinds of permits including the Army Corps of Engineers so they can lay an underwater fiber optic cable. Plus the telephone and electric companies need time to replace older poles or poles that are to short so they can move their wiring to make room for cable.

Good Luck!