The Advantages of Satellite Internet for Those Who Are Off the Grid
It used to be that choosing to live in a more remote location meant making a lot of sacrifices, usually those of the creature comforts variety. With trips to the store taking a significant amount of time, many cell phone and internet companies unable to offer reliable service, and a need to be somewhat self-reliant, this was a huge factor in the choice of so many to stay a little more on the grid when it came time to choose a vacation home.
However, things have changed in the past decade. Once remote spots have, of course, become more overdeveloped, leading to a surge in building and all of the amenities associated with a larger community--reliable cell phone service, high speed satellite broadband, and a wider variety of shops. But at the same time that some more remote spots get overbuilt beyond recognition (Aspen, anyone?) there is a movement towards an off-the-grid lifestyle that is a little bit less rural, though nowhere near attempting to replicate the trappings of city life.
In part, one of the things that has made choosing to live way in the middle of nowhere manageable is the widespread prevalence of the internet. Those who want to stay connected with loved ones can do so easily through things like Skype and Gchat, while ordering everything from books to electronic devices is possible online. Some off-the-grid do-it-yourselfers even go as far as to have weekly orders with local farmer's markets or co-ops, where they drive into town once a week to pick up a bunch of organic foodstuffs.
But there are some spots where internet so far has been much more difficult to get, like particularly hilly regions or homes that tend to be inside of a valley. For this, things like regular internet providers won't really do, unless people want to be doing all of their business through dial-up, which isn't really fast enough to accomplish most of the modern needs of the internet. It's far better, then, to go with something a little faster but equally reliable, like satellite broadband.
There are many benefits for going with a dish. For one, it requires a lot less clutter and wires, and the installation process is as simple as setting up one dish, which is usually a breeze for anyone who is already getting satellite television. Better yet, having no intermediary device between your internet and your computer means that if a third-party company all of the sudden has a service outage, like with DSL and cable providers, you are still logged in. In a way, the short lag time of satellite to dish communications is more reliable and functional than depending on a company to fix your connection when it might take days for them to get to you.
So whether you just need internet at your far-flung vacation home a couple of times out of the year or you are planning on relocating and simplifying your life, it's good to know that the advances in technology of recent years means that getting online will be significantly easier than in days gone by.
However, things have changed in the past decade. Once remote spots have, of course, become more overdeveloped, leading to a surge in building and all of the amenities associated with a larger community--reliable cell phone service, high speed satellite broadband, and a wider variety of shops. But at the same time that some more remote spots get overbuilt beyond recognition (Aspen, anyone?) there is a movement towards an off-the-grid lifestyle that is a little bit less rural, though nowhere near attempting to replicate the trappings of city life.
In part, one of the things that has made choosing to live way in the middle of nowhere manageable is the widespread prevalence of the internet. Those who want to stay connected with loved ones can do so easily through things like Skype and Gchat, while ordering everything from books to electronic devices is possible online. Some off-the-grid do-it-yourselfers even go as far as to have weekly orders with local farmer's markets or co-ops, where they drive into town once a week to pick up a bunch of organic foodstuffs.
But there are some spots where internet so far has been much more difficult to get, like particularly hilly regions or homes that tend to be inside of a valley. For this, things like regular internet providers won't really do, unless people want to be doing all of their business through dial-up, which isn't really fast enough to accomplish most of the modern needs of the internet. It's far better, then, to go with something a little faster but equally reliable, like satellite broadband.
There are many benefits for going with a dish. For one, it requires a lot less clutter and wires, and the installation process is as simple as setting up one dish, which is usually a breeze for anyone who is already getting satellite television. Better yet, having no intermediary device between your internet and your computer means that if a third-party company all of the sudden has a service outage, like with DSL and cable providers, you are still logged in. In a way, the short lag time of satellite to dish communications is more reliable and functional than depending on a company to fix your connection when it might take days for them to get to you.
So whether you just need internet at your far-flung vacation home a couple of times out of the year or you are planning on relocating and simplifying your life, it's good to know that the advances in technology of recent years means that getting online will be significantly easier than in days gone by.
