MikesWisdom.com - Internet Service

In order for me to recommend the best
internet service for you,   I need to
know how   and   where you  use   the
internet or plan to use the   internet.
Most of the recommendations   below
apply to high-speed internet access. If
you are interested in a service other
than high-speed internet access, check
out www.inetstop.com.

Home and Office:

If you have DSL (Digital Subscriber
Line) service available from your local
telephone company, I believe this is the best way to go. DSL service is usually very reliable and the cost has dropped significantly over the past several years. You can typically get a DSL for the same amount or less than the cost of dial-up service with a second phone line. Unfortunately, the availability of DSL is spotty in rural America and your phone company may not offer DSL where you live.

If you cannot get DSL service, check with your local cable television company to determine if they offer high-speed cable modems. This option is my second choice. I recommend not getting roped into taking their TV programming packages, however. For TV packages, see my list of benefits for satellite TV elsewhere on this site.

Some smaller companies in rural America are offering high-speed, wireless service to homes and business, but don’t be fooled by the word "wireless." These companies still require that an antenna be mounted outside and cabling that will run inside your home to connect to your computer equipment . You can then make it a local wireless connection inside your home with normal Wi-Fi equipment. This actually works very well and most companies offer very reliable service. Still the places these companies can serve is very limited. Literally, you must be able to see the company’s tower from your home or business.

My last choice for high-speed internet service is by satellite. Yes my company, One-Stop Communications, has been selling this service for more than five years, but I only recommend it if you have no other option for high-speed internet access. The up-front cost to establish satellite internet service is expensive compared to DSL. The satellite equipment used is very advanced and not many companies manufacture the required equipment, which would bring the cost down. In addition, installation can be a little complex. The monthly fee is typically higher than DSL, too. Satellite also causes some issues with certain computer applications due to the latency on the satellite, which is a delay in signal cause by the distance your signal must travel back and forth from the satellite in space. As I’ve said, I would install satellite internet if you had no other choices for high-speed internet service.

Several companies offer high-speed satellite internet service, but the only one worth considering right now is HughesNet. The other companies have been having growing pains and technical issues with their service. A word of caution here: these companies will not tell you about their technical issues, especially if you are talking to someone in sales.

On the Go:

Wireless aircards are a great option for those on the go. Wireless aircards use the same towers you use to make cellular phone calls. Currently all the major cellular/wireless phone carriers in the U.S. offer aircards for internet access. My recommendations are AT&T or Verizon Wireless. These two companies offer the largest coverage areas. This means your aircard will work in more places.

The speed of the aircards compared to DSL is normally slower, but it still much faster than a dial-up connection, plus you are truly wireless. The download and upload speeds of aircards have become better over the years and will continue to improve.

Personally, I use a Verizon Wireless aircard. Verizon has been very aggressive about upgrading their system for aircards and in some parts of the States you can achieve download speeds up to 800K. I hope to see these upgrades in our market soon; currently, we are seeing download speeds up to 150K.

You can also use an aircard to serve your home or business with internet access and I know several people who do this. One customer, whom I know very well, could not get DSL service for his home and also needed internet access on the road for his business. He signed up for an aircard and uses it at home and takes it with him when traveling.

There are many options on the market for high-speed internet access. Ask around to find out what’s working for your neighbors and feel free to visit One-Stop Communications.