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Can anyone give me the skinny on broadband options in Fern Forest? I hope this doesn't elicit a storm of laughter from readers [ ] Anything available? I'll be building a home in the coming year; I'm relocating from the mainland (NW Montana, where I'm on a co-op, with, believe it or not, fiber to the home). Thanks for you input!
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David
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David
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Much of Fern Forest is served by some type of internet. Some is served by none. It would depend on the EXACT LOCATION of your lot.
And... just because service is advertised as being available there, it may not actually be available and you won't find that out until you call to get it hooked up. If you call now and they say its available, it may not be available when you get here.
I'm only about 2.5 miles from the main highway in Orchidland. We're wired for a land line. And the only broadband available is through cellular 4G. The speed is fine, but it is VERY expensive. While Orchidland isn't that close to Fern Forest, it gives you an example that just because it "should" be available, doesn't mean that it IS available.
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Broadband, generally:
DSL is limited to 17500 feet (about three miles, as the wire runs) from the CO or remote.
DSL headend equipment has a fixed number of "ports". It's possible to live in a service area *and* close enough, yet end up on the (very long) wait-list for a port. Ports are in such short supply that most local realtors understand "explicitly writing DSL into the offer" and the Telcom transfer process -- if you disconnect a DSL line here, next on the list gets your port, you are not getting it back.
Cable effectively has no distance limit nor fixed number of ports; if it's available on your street, you can get it too. There is a "business grade" offering which gets you internet WITHOUT television. Look for the gray metal boxes with fins and big "drip loops"; these are inline cable amplifiers (Telcom's are black or stainless, no drip loops).
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Speaking of waiting lists for telcom DSL, there isn't one. It is strictly first come-first served. You may even be told you are on a list, you are not. The only thing you can do is call every single day and if a port is open and you just called, you can have it.
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My lots are at the far eastern end of Fern Forest, but near the back of the development, if that helps. The nearest intersection is Makoa St. and Ala Naulani. How is the cellular data offers in that area, if anyone knows? Who is the best cellular carrier for 3G/4G data? I don't require Internet access for TV viewing, per se, other than the usual news article snippet.
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David
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David
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Verizon is the only carrier with "actual" 4G deployment, but you will probably need an amp + antenna to see the tower from there.
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quote: Originally posted by kalakoa
Verizon is the only carrier with "actual" 4G deployment, but you will probably need an amp + antenna to see the tower from there.
Thanks. Any recommendations for an amp and antenna?
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David
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David
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quote: Originally posted by kalakoa
Broadband, generally:
DSL is limited to 17500 feet (about three miles, as the wire runs) from the CO or remote.
DSL headend equipment has a fixed number of "ports". It's possible to live in a service area *and* close enough, yet end up on the (very long) wait-list for a port. Ports are in such short supply that most local realtors understand "explicitly writing DSL into the offer" and the Telcom transfer process -- if you disconnect a DSL line here, next on the list gets your port, you are not getting it back.
Cable effectively has no distance limit nor fixed number of ports; if it's available on your street, you can get it too. There is a "business grade" offering which gets you internet WITHOUT television. Look for the gray metal boxes with fins and big "drip loops"; these are inline cable amplifiers (Telcom's are black or stainless, no drip loops).
When I called (a few months ago) I was told that they no longer have a "waiting list" for DSL. You need to be the first caller of the day a port opens up. The guy said they get 1-2 dozen calls PER DAY requesting service.
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quote: Originally posted by dehenky
My lots are at the far eastern end of Fern Forest, but near the back of the development, if that helps. The nearest intersection is Makoa St. and Ala Naulani. How is the cellular data offers in that area, if anyone knows? Who is the best cellular carrier for 3G/4G data? I don't require Internet access for TV viewing, per se, other than the usual news article snippet.
-Mahalo
David
I think Verizon is going to be your only option. You can either get a phone that can act as a wifi hotspot (which is most of them nowadays) or get their "Home Fusion" but I believe the fusion plan will require power and a structure to mount it on (but the data rate is about 1/2 of the phone plan). Again, no way to know if you are going to have service there unless somebody shows up with a phone and stream some video or something to check it. On our lot in Orchidland we get good data speeds and voice at the front of our lot but 40 feet away its dropped calls and no data.
While checking the phone service you (or somebody you send) can check the power poles to see if there is cable or phone lines near the lot.
Also, I think the home fusion plan includes the antenna and amp. They won't install it unless they can guarantee a strong signal. You can call them with the address and they will tell you whether or not the service is available there. But be forewarned for most of Puna they won't be able to tell you squat until January at the earliest because their system is based on USPS delivery addresses of which most of Puna has none. They are creating a work around in their system. If your lot doesn't have a physical address you should start the process to get one.
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Dial up, satellite or cell phone. Those are your options. A booster will help, not the cheap ones, but the $300 -$400 ones. We have a Wilson. There are other posts about this that go over all the options for the area. Satellite is expensive to install and still have high monthly fees and limited monthly usage. I prefer cell phone and use AT&T.
Melissa Fletcher
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"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973
Melissa Fletcher
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"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973
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