Wifi in Fern Forest

[Jean H]

I've heard there is wifi available in FFVE. Any one have any info on it...name of company, speed, etc.? Is there enough speed for streaming video? Prices? Would you have to be on the grid to be able to use it? If there is a big dish, would it take much power if you are using solar panels? This is the one big problem I see about living here...even the cell phone service is not the best! Maybe if we complain we will get more towers or internet service here? I read where there is money available for rural areas from the government and it is just sitting there not being used because of the proper persons not able to fill out forms or get intouch with the right people...

Jean Hopper

[randomq]

I don't know about FFVE, but typically you can get a better signal by putting your router, usb wifi dongle or directional antenna up on a pole above the trees and lined up with the provider. That much requires no additional power. If that's still not enough, they do sell more powerful dongles and directional antennas like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-AWUS036NH-Wir...B003YIFHJY. Either way, mount it in a waterproof enclosure, or one with the opening on the bottom, and either temporarily use it via USB, or permanently mount something small like a raspberry pi + 2nd low power dongle in the enclosure to act as a router.

The difference in power would only be a few watts at most, so a solar/battery setup should not be a hangup.

Edit: these may be even better:
http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-Waterproof-Ou...B003ILWRLI
http://www.amazon.com/Brands-Wireless-2-...B0054MLMLA
http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Meter-Act...B004AGX4YO

[leilanidude]

Jean H - Is your question really "What internet providers are there for FFVE?"
Assuming that is the real question, you have a couple of options.
Satellite internet, which you would then have your own wifi enabled router inside your house, or a Verizon Wireless MiFi device, which uses the 4gLTE signal to give you wifi within a short range of the device. There are also some other devices that utilize the cellular networks. There have been some threads on this in the past. I am thinking that only Verizon will have enough reliable signal strength for you in FFVE, certainly not T-Mobile and probably not AT&T.

[kalakoa]

An "active USB extension cable" might do the trick:

http://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-Female-...005LJKEXS/

Note that these won't pass enough power for a high-draw peripheral (the Alfa wifi device is specifcially mentioned).

Alternately, use a real receiver like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-NanoStati...004EGI3CI/

Built-in antenna is directional (60 degrees). It's not USB; Ubiquiti devices are regular ethernet with passive 12VDC on the spare pairs, so a long cable run isn't a problem, but you'll want to pass it through a grounded surge protector where the cable enters the building, something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-Ethernet-Pr...00FY7GMEW/

Last I checked with Ubiquiti support, their devices were 12V "nominal", with a safe range of 18V+, so they can be powered directly from the battery plant in a 12V solar system.

[terracore]

You are probably thinking about Aloha Broadband, however they do not have service in FFVE. They pretty much only serve lower puna and parts of Ka'u.

Your options are probably going to be limited to satellite or Verizon LTE internet (previously called Home Fusion).

[MarkP]

I have AT&T and I get service in Eden Roc, which is next door to Fern Forest. I also seem to get reception in Fern Forest itself. In Eden Roc I use a repeater with an antenna mounted about 25 feet up. My experience in Fern Forest is just regular reception of my cell phone.

[ericlp]

Been up to FF plenty, Friends live up there. Have T-mobile and works fine there. Dunno how fast tho, probably lucky to get 3G there. But FF is huge, we were at the front end of the sub... If you're out on Jungle King you'd be pushing your luck.

I think we were getting 3-4 bars on t-mobile, lucky to get 2 down in beaches, but they have had the new cell tower up for about 6 months now, and for some reason they can't figure out how to turn it on.

Edit: tho if I lived up there, I would go with unlimited satellite. 130 gigs a month. You could listen to the radio, cruise the web and watch netflix or amazon's streaming service all day long. Last I checked, it was 60 bucks a month for the first 6 months, tho, I am sure you could sweet talk that deal into a year or more. Then it's 120 a year after that. I've heard that VOIP is doable as well. I guess you just have to let the caller know that there is a about second delay after done speaking and from what others tell me it's ok. So for TV, Internet, Radio and Phone service I think it makes the 120 a month bill easier to swallow.


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[Jean H]

Thank you, much info here. I am thinking of the sattelite for 60 per month for 6 months...and it doubles after that and stays that price for 2 years, I believe...maybe 3! I didn't know you needed your own router to go with it. You would think they would supply the hardware and router for the Sattelite like I have with ATT U-Verse on the mainland. They supply the hardware and allows you to use your wireless electonics like pcs, laptops, streaming video players, etc. is there no hardware that goes into the house...must you hook up everything to the sattelite? I am not familar with this and am trying to help my son get soething set up for better communication.

Jean Hopper

[leilanidude]

They can/will supply the router if you want. Or they will tell you which brand/model to get on your own.

[bluesboy]

exede provides the satellite modem, just hook it up to your wifi router and voila! High speed wireless. I like the apple airport express wifi. That then hooks up to my Apple TV and stereo system.