Telephone/Internet/TV Connections (Portland, Bangor: home, neighborhood, design)

[Submariner]

The background noise on our land line was often so loud that you could not hear each other speak on the phone. But at least they provide DSL. Since we had to use cellphones for voice comms we canceled the the voice feature on our land line. It cut our land line bill by half.

We could get unlimited calls on our cell phone plan, if we wanted to quadruple how much we pay for our cell phone plan.

I guess it might be nice to get both voice comms and DSL from the same company but here each is provided by different companies.

In some towns they also have cable for TV. So that you can watch TV via that cable service that you pay for also. As a separate bill. On top of your voice phone and DSL bills.

I guess that we do get 'bundling', we get a bundle of bills.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by OutDoorNut

How do you know it's 100mbps--I mean, where are you getting that information?

Try running a speed test: Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test


.

That is the same website that our land line / DSL provider prefers us to use.

I just tried it again and got:
285ms ping time,
0.30 Mbps Download speed,
0.209 Mbps Upload speed.

Pretty sweet for OTC Comms based in Bangor.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by namder1

I did check Time Warner online and they offer a tv/internet/unlimited nationwide phone for $100 a month.

OK, great, good to know. Thanks.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

The background noise on our land line was often so loud that you could not hear each other speak on the phone.

Wow! Thanks for mentioning that--it would otherwise never have occurred to me that phone service being available in an area does not necessarily mean clear phone service.

Something else to check before I buy a property.

BTW, Google now has a feature that allows you to make phone calls from your compter, I think anywhere in the USA for no charge.

[Kiwiluver]

Is high speed available in the Eagle Lake area? I have one of those things you stick in the laptop from Sprint that can get on the 'net if a cell signal is present. I will need to have SKYPE access to run a business I have here in North Carolina. I can fly out of Presque Isle monthly to attend to business here, but will need to observe certain aspects of the business while in progress in real time and SKYPE seems to be the best most affordable option. I can't do what I need in a coffee shop/library as issues of confidentiality are paramount.

[kevin5098]

We had Wild Blue satellite internet here for a while. When it worked it worked great, but rain or overcast skies usually shut it down. I've heard that Hughes satellite is better. We are currently using dial-up and using the library in Houlton when we need a high speed connection.

[inthewoods]

We live out past Dover Foxcroft, a couple miles from the Guilford Memorial walking trail. First we had dialup at 26.4 Kps, then we got the Hughes (then DirecWay) satellite (ugggg... only about 90 Kps at best, and there was daily useage allowed of only 250 MB or so - can't remember exactly how much), then a couple years ago, we went to Premium Choice Broadband (speeds at my house - line of site - were about 3 Mbps). Good company, and we were very satisified with the service, but found out that we can get DSL through Fairpoint. I've had that for a little bit now, and my speeds (tested from the speed test site mentioned in earlier post) tested today at download 14.81 Mbps, and upload at .96 Mbps (that's about what our speed has been testing at). I've streamed a HD movie with my Roku player plugged into TV with HDMI, and have had no pauses or hangups (or whatever).

So, to the OP, if possible, you can look up your Abbot address (or a neighbor's phone number) online to see if you can get high speed internet through Fairpoint.

[Three Wolves In Snow]

I have Hughes Net and it works beautifully. I love it. My neighbor is about to get Wild Blue...we'll compare experiences.

For t.v, I use Dish Network so I'm satellite for t.v. and internet.

For cell, living in the Everglades I've learned that not all cell phones will work in the "middle of nowhere". You CAN use your satellite internet but there is a two second delay and it kind of sucks because of that.

If you are able to get cable for internet, you could do VOIP for your phone.

I know of one place that will show you coverage for AT&T and Sprint. You can find it on Amazon when looking at the Kindle advertisement. I'm sure there are other places to find coverage maps, it's just one that I know about.

Also, Boost works pretty good out here, might want to check them out.

From another Floridian looking to move to Maine, congratulations on your move! I will continue to dream of my turn.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by OutDoorNut

How do you know it's 100mbps--I mean, where are you getting that information?

Try running a speed test: Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test


.

I just hover my mouse over my internet icon and get the speed. When I'm wireless, my older Cysco router allows only 50mps.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by AustinB

That's only good if there is cable run through Abbott on the street you will have a house.

Exactly, I am willing to bet you haven't got it in Abbot. I'm right up the street from there.