There are times when we want to get away from the exhausting life of living in the city. Going to a place where you can relax and enjoy life while working can be a godsend. Many of us prefer the solitude of the woods while others prefer mountains or hills. But the best part about the current era is that we can work from anywhere using Wireless Internet, even in isolated locations.
The last two years have shown more and more people that they don’t need to be tied down for work. Remote working is a real possibility nowadays and you are free to work from wherever you want to. There were 16 million people working remotely in the US pre-covid. Recent data suggests that this number will double by 2025.
However, there is still one major problem with working from remote areas. The internet infrastructure is very poor compared to major cities. This can make your internet experience a horrible one. For instance, foilage in the woods and other barriers prevent access to high-speed internet. In times like these, high-speed internet for rural areas can only be accessed through wireless means.
What exactly is high-speed internet?
In cities, high-speed internet is easily accessible thanks to fiber optic cables. These cables can transmit information very quickly. Users can get speeds of at least 25 mbps (megabits per second). It’s why you won’t face issues with video calling, remote learning, or buffering of videos.
However, remote locations, especially the middle of the woods, will be too far for these cables to reach. Service providers would usually only provide DSL connections. This involves using telephone lines and a modem to transmit information at much slower rates. Or people can use a satellite connection which is accessible from anywhere but still quite slow.
Not having a stable and decently fast connection will definitely complicate your workflow. You won’t feel as productive and you’re going to be constantly irritated with your equipment. This has the potential to make your ‘escapade’ or ‘life amongst nature’ an unpleasant experience
What is fixed wireless internet?
Unlike DSL or fiber optic, the internet connection is provided using radio signals. These are sent wirelessly from a nearby tower. You don’t have to deal with the installation of cables or satellite dishes to receive the internet connection. This makes it a great alternative for the internet for rural areas. It works in the exact same way once connected.
- Fixed wireless internet is different from satellite internet, even though they share a similar concept.
- Satellite internet signals bounce off of the satellites located in space around Earth.
- Fixed wireless internet signals simply bounce from one cell tower to the next on Earth.
- This way, people can expect a more stable and high-speed internet connection than compared to satellite internet.
Technology has also grown at a rate where faster data transmissions wirelessly is now achievable. Just think about mobile phones. We were only able to get 2G and 3G data speeds just a few years ago. But that has now changed and we are receiving 4G and even 5G signals with much faster data transmission rates.
Pros of fixed wireless internet
1. Is now available in more rural locations
Internet service providers (ISP) don’t provide fiber and cable internet to rural areas for a simple reason – investment. The cost of building the infrastructure for this purpose is quite high. However, fixed wireless internet infrastructure costs far less and requires fewer resources to set up. This makes it a more appealing option for ISP’s to provide.
2. The setup is very easy
Once you contact your ISP to set up the internet connection, these are basically the steps you will have to take:
- Make sure there is line of sight between the tower and the receiving device
- Install the receiving device in an appropriate location
- Set up a wired connection from the receiver to the router
3. External conditions are not as much of a problem
When you’re using other types of connections, poor weather can disrupt the connection. Satellite signals have to travel a long way down and are easily affected by external conditions. Cables can get damaged when using cable internet. However, a fixed wireless connection should stay about the same even during bad weather.
Cons of fixed wireless internet
Limitations to the line of sight
For high-speed transmission, the radio signals from the tower need to have a clear line of sight to the receiver. If there are too many buildings, trees, or hills in between them, you might not be able to get a connection. There are certain workarounds in most situations, but it is something to keep in mind.
Fixed wireless internet is definitely one of the best internet options available to you. But, without a good service provider, the experience can still be unsatisfactory. Make sure you choose a good ISP like Wireless Solutions LLC to get stable, high-speed and affordable internet for rural areas.
