Moving out of one area and into another often requires the painful process of changing Internet service providers. Even if you choose to stay with the same company after you move, it may not offer the same packages and rates in your new home as it did in your previous one. Most Internet providers offer different services in different regions, and few regions have the same services. Living in a rural area also brings its own unique problems.
Switching service providers requires some research and evaluation of what your needs will be in your new home compared to what is offered.
Types of Service
The first step in choosing an Internet provider is to determine what kind of service is offered in the area. Your first, and most basic, option is the dial-up internet. This isn't as common as it used to be, but basically this service runs very slow speeds through your regular phone line using a dialer. You’re probably familiar with it if you had Internet in the 90s and knew the struggle that often took place between using the Internet and making a phone call. Then there's Direct Subscriber Lines, or DSL service. This is broadband service that is also provided through phone lines, but won’t tie up your phone like dial-up.
Another popular way to connect is cable Internet. This service is provided through your local cable company and hardwired into your home. Many cable providers offer Internet in a “bundle” along with their cable television packages.
The final option is satellite Internet, which is often the only option in the many rural areas that don’t have hard-wired access to cable lines. Satellite Internet is just what it sounds like, providing access to a data network that’s delivered via satellite in the same way as satellite TV services like DirecTV and Dish.
Broadband Speed
The different types of service will provide different levels of speed. Dial-up is obviously the slowest and is rapidly becoming obsolete. DSL is a subscriber service, which means that the amount of bandwidth you are allowed is determined not only by your location to the nearest transfer switch but also the number of subscribers who are online at that time. This means you can experience slower speeds during high traffic times of the day.
Cable Internet generally offers some of the fastest speeds available and is pretty reliable. It is not subscriber-based like DSL and doesn't use phone lines, which allows for continual service as needed. Satellite Internet from Hughesnet and other providers varies in bandwidth capabilities and is limited to the direction of the receiving antenna. Many services are equivalent to the amount of bandwidth given by that of a 4G connection of a cell phone. The benefit of satellite Internet in rural areas is that you don’t have to worry about anything (except for the odd tree) blocking your signal like you would in urban settings.
Different Packages
Price is definitely a factor in choosing the right provider for a majority of households. Most Internet service providers will offer a range of packages that are broken down into levels of Internet capabilities and speeds. Thus, the faster the download speed, the more costly the package will probably be.
Basic Internet packages can come as low as $29 per month, but you will sacrifice in the level of broadband speed available to you. The best way to determine the level of service you need is to evaluate how much activity you anticipate. Those who do an exceptional amount of media streaming will likely want to choose a package that offers more bandwidth. Many choose a package thinking it will be fast enough, and then realize they aren’t able to use Netflix or Hulu due to slow streaming speeds. Those who simply use the Internet to access email and do simple browsing might not need as much bandwidth, however, and can get away with the cheapest options for connecting.
A common mistake is to simply go with the provider with the least expensive offer. While that low price is obviously very appealing, you could be making some big sacrifices to get that low price—some of which you may not even realize at first. You’ll find most providers want a contract, which often lasts a year, so you might end up stuck with them. Others will want you to bundle other services, which can be either a good deal or not that great a deal depending on the specifics of the bundle. No matter what choices are available, the right provider is the one that gives you what you need.
(Source: My Move)
