With CenturyLink internet availability becoming a challenge, many islanders are looking for alternatives. At our weekly “Hamsters” gathering—a social group who meets at Friday’s Share & Care—we recently discussed wireless internet options. To a ham, cellular and satellite internet are simply RF (radio frequency) systems relying on antennas and clear line-of-sight. Several members shared their solutions. Ron Postma, W7REP, used his 45 years of radio experience to research local cell coverage via the FCC database and found Calyx, a non-profit offering internet via T-Mobile. Ellen Hardin, AI7FP, turned to Starlink because it was the only service available to her after checking with CenturyLink, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Meanwhile, Ev Paschal, KF7VX, uses Verizon’s Home Internet Lite plan. The performance is great, but his location is open from north through the south-east without any trees obstructing the view.
What is the practical side of choosing an internet service? What is actually available at my house? How can I tell which cellular network will work best? And what should I try before committing to a new service? George Berz, KK7IWD, offers some practical advice. CenturyLink provides copper-based telephone line service and DSL internet, but not everyone can get DSL, and speeds vary widely—from about 3 Mbps to 40 Mbps. For many island residents, cellular internet may be the best alternative to DSL. The major cellular networks are T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Cellular speeds vary dramatically by location, just as cell phone coverage does on the island. George suggests testing multiple companies by asking friends to help. Start with your current cell phone carrier. What is your internet data speed at home right now? Open a web browser, go to Speedtest.net, and check your speed. Then have a friend who uses a different cell phone carrier come over and run the same test. Compare the results. Once you find a carrier with good speed at your location, ask about its home internet options. You may find that the company does not offer home internet at your address. Availability on Anderson Island is growing, but not all companies currently offer home internet service everywhere on the island.
