# DSL options for rural locations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518 "2012-02-11T14:17:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/81 "2012-08-14T21:59:47Z")
Another point is that due to the distance satellite internet has absolutely horrible ping times, on the order of a 1/2 _SECOND_, not a couple of dozen milliseconds with other high speed technologies. It’s OK for watching Youtube, not OK at all for playing first person shooter games. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/82 "2012-08-14T22:05:34Z")
Just ran the test again: Ping 25ms Download 3.37 Mbps Upload 1.07 Mbps And it’s raining pretty hard. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/83 "2012-08-14T22:55:45Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Just ran the test again: > > Ping 25ms > Download 3.37 Mbps > Upload 1.07 Mbps > > And it’s raining pretty hard. Those numbers are similar to DSL. This is satellite right? How are they getting a 25ms ping? I thought satellite always had a 250ms or so ping. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/84 "2012-08-14T23:07:03Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Those numbers are similar to DSL. This is satellite right? How are they getting a 25ms ping? I thought satellite always had a 250ms or so ping. Just ran another one: Ping 24ms Download 18.55 Mbps! Upload 1.79Mbps The clouds have parted, but I haven’t got anywhere close to 18.55. Yes, it’s satellite. Maybe someone more technically saavy can explain. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/85 "2012-08-14T23:08:32Z")
Now, right after I post, I do it again: Ping: 822 ms Download: 21.66Mbps Upload: 2.01 Mbps I can’t figure it out either. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/86 "2012-08-14T23:15:55Z")
And (not to bore anyone, but this thread is about rural performance) I wait five minutes, re-run the test and get: Ping: 922 ms Download: 20.61 Mbps Upload: 1.99 Mbps ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/87 "2012-08-14T23:34:37Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Just ran another one: > > Ping 24ms > Download 18.55 Mbps! > Upload 1.79Mbps > > The clouds have parted, but I haven’t got anywhere close to 18.55. Yes, it’s satellite. Maybe someone more technically saavy can explain. Something is getting pulled from your local cache to get times like that, or there is a caching proxy in between you and the speedtest server that is what is actually being tested, and you are just seeing the results page as delivered by the proxy. IE, the speedtest is either going through your own computer, or it is going speedtest\<-\>proxy, and then result page in proxy cache-\>you ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/88 "2012-08-15T02:16:39Z")
I’m not bored. Just to clarify: this is Exede? What does it cost-- installation and monthly. Are their data download limits? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/89 "2012-08-19T22:08:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m not bored. > > Just to clarify: this is Exede? What does it cost-- installation and monthly. Are their data download limits? > **[Satellite Internet - Fast, Unlimited Service](https://www.viasat.com/satellite-internet/)** > > Viasat provides essential, easy-to-access home satellite internet service for people living in rural or remote areas where cable companies don’t go. Lightning outside…Raining and wind. Ping: 851ms Download: 3.93Mbps Upload: 1.33Mbps Hasn’t missed a beat. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/90 "2012-08-19T23:25:54Z")
What’s the monthly cost? What are their data download limits? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/91 "2012-09-02T02:29:19Z")
Update: During one storm this last month, I was out of internet service for 17 minutes. The Directv was also out for about 10 minutes. Very happy so far. ThelmaLou: I pay $49.99 ($62.50 with tax and modem rental) for 7.5 GB per month. They have tiered plans for higher download limits. Streaming video is pretty much a no-no for that limit, but everything else is fine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518/92 "2012-09-13T21:59:17Z")
I’ve solved my problem, sort of. Thanks to a nudge from a Doper on another thread, I got out the router I bought last year and hadn’t set up because I was feeling cranky, found the manual online, and _mirabile dictu_, I have wifi in my house. 😃 I’m able to use my laptop and my BlackBerry Playbook, and tomorrow I’ll be able to use my new Kindle Fire! Yay! I even hooked my TV up to it… not so sure about that. I feel like I’m piling anvils on top of a very small donkey. The card DOES get quite warm after a while. I get 1.5-2 mbps with my aircard, which is at least as fast as what Hughes Net promises, and-- big plus-- I already own the card. AND I’m already paying the monthly charges. [This is the router I got](http://www.amazon.com/CradlePoint-MBR95-Cradlepoint-Wireless-Router/dp/B00535CWN0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347573357&sr=8-1&keywords=cradlepoint+router), and apparently, although I bought it in innocent ignorance, it’s a pretty kick-ass instrument and does everything except make coffee (and that’s coming soon). Don’t need to move to no stinkin’ city. I can web surf in my underwear while picking my teeth and spitting off the porch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsl-options-for-rural-locations/612518.md?page=4)