# How to find ISP for a secondary residence?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 10, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613 "2012-12-10T16:43:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613/1 "2012-12-10T16:43:59Z")

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[The recession has enabled us to invest in a “re-po” residence at a ridiculously low price. While playing handy-man doing fix-up on this place an ISP would be handy.]

Carson City, NV, BTW. We can always run off to Starbucks a couple of block away but it would be handy to find an\* inexpensive ISP **without long and burdensome contracts** or land landlines\*.

Do such things exist? What would you guess to be the\*\*\* cheapest contracts and or land lines?\*\*\* How does one start shopping for such things?

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**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613/2 "2012-12-10T17:07:33Z")

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You might want to check out Clear Wireless. It’s an internet provider which uses cell service. You can take the device with you to different locations. So you could use it at your main location and then take it with you when you go to the other house. If you buy the device, I don’t think you need a contract. You could leave it at the other house and have it enabled whenever you need it.

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613/3 "2012-12-10T17:15:39Z")

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> [@janeslogin](#):
>
> How does one start shopping for such things?

First, I’d go to the nearest Starbucks and ask them and some patrons.

It’s only a few blocks away.

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613/4 "2012-12-10T23:08:01Z")

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> [@Musicat](#):
>
> First, I’d go to the nearest Starbucks and ask them and some patrons.
> 
> It’s only a few blocks away.

All local businesses I know about including Starbucks that have public wifi hot spots use AT&T but I thought there was a start up fee and a contract. I will recheck on that. Thanks .

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-isp-for-a-secondary-residence/643613/5 "2012-12-10T23:12:23Z")

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Consider a mobile hotspot from whichever carrier is the best value. You can use it as a fixed point if you like, or take it with you anywhere you need to go. Shop intensively; many resellers (like Clear) piggyback on one of the major carriers and may be a better or worse deal than the carrier itself.