Loy, there are two satellite options for relatively high-speed internet 
available to rural dwellers if they are willing to pay the high price.

I had Direcway, which has changed its name to Hughes something or other.  It 
costs about $99/month for about 18 months (this info is not current) until 
the hardware and installation is paid for.  Then it drops about $30/month. 
Direcway has had many customer complaints, but it always worked well for me.

The other is Wildblue, which might be available from your R.E.C. if you have 
one, but is also available directly.  You pay for the hardware and 
installation (probably about $500) then it is $50/month for 500 
kilobits/second up to $80/month for 1500 megabits/second.  Wildblue has been 
out for about a year.

Both use a dish about the size of a DirecTV or DISH antenna, but it is 
two-way, with the upload 256 kilobits/second.  Neither provider is suitable 
for online gaming because of the signal latency to the satellite.  Both are 
subject to blackouts caused by heavy weather, but this has rarely been a 
problem.  Getting out on a cold morning and brushing snow or melting ice is 
more of an issue! :(   Both providers have a fair access policy which makes 
it difficult to share large volumes of files - such as music and videos - 
with others.  These are not the answer for music sharing on a massive scale.

I got Direcway from my R.E.C. for about two years.  Then they switched over 
to Wildblue (I got free hardware and installation on the switch) and have 
the $80/month contract.  My connection is about one-eighth as fast as my 
friend in the city with Cox cable (who pays half what I pay).

I really enjoy having the high-speed connection, and I can afford it, so it 
is worth the price to me.

Dean Kukral

www.direcway.com
www.wildblue.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Loy Pressley" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 1:02 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Wireless Network Help


<snip>

Having the capability for the laptop to access my internet connection
over the wireless netowork is not a high priority. I live in a rural
area and am restricted to a dial-up connection that runs, most of the
time at 26,400; occasionally at 28,800 baud.  I'm not sure that DSL or
anything like it will ever be available here within my remaining
lifetime.  Verizon, our "local" phone company, doesn't seem very
motivated to provide anything other than the world's worst phone lines.

<snip> 

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com