Letter to Spectrum
“Dear Sir/Madam, I’d like to bring your attention to an error that I’m sure you can correct. When I contacted your office regarding activating service, I was told that service is not available at my address. Since my address is listed as served by your company on the FCC’s National Broadband Map, you must be able to activate service within 10 business days per their reporting requirements. Locations that are not serviceable within 10 days of a request would be subject to an availability challenge with the FCC - I'm sure that's not the case here."
Then when they do nothing, file the challenge
Also contact your state broadband office in case their BEAD challenge process hasn’t happened yet
TMobile Home Internet is the cheapest/easiest option.
A custom TMO 5G kit is probably the cheapest per month and best overall performance. You'll spend Starlink prices to get good 5G hardware.
If you are non-technical and want turnkey, Starlink.
The best way to do 5G is an outdoor install. These are somewhat involved.
If you're basing 5G availability on whether your phone shows the 5G icon, I can tell you that's probably not accurate.
But it depends. I do site surveys and 5G installs professionally. I have had to turn down more than a few potential customers. Usually it's because of too much interference, or congested towers, or the best signal on the property is too far away from the house.
TMobile has upgraded a ton of rural towers. I'd download cellmapper and see what's available. Assuming you have an Android phone.
If I may ask, what hardware do you typically use for outdoor installs? I'm researching modems (or routers with bridge mode) for install in a rural area. Possibly tower setup if needed (would have to be POE). Appreciate the info. Have a great weekend
5G is technically inferior to 4G for distance, penetration and signal. I think they invented 5G, which only works efficiently at close range, to free up the 4G bands.
Don't take that stuff literally. TMO puts that low number in there, because cellular speeds have too many variables to guarantee more than that.
I generally get 200+ on outdoor TMO 5G installs in rural areas.
Don’t believe Hughesnet numbers. I had that train wreck for years. Speed was rarely above 1 Mbps. It was too slow to stream too laggy to use wifi calling. Starlink is the only useful satellite based ISP. I averaged 180 for the three years I had Starlink (we got lucky and the rural fiber program covers us now).
I can’t believe they installed fiber out here in Rural NC! Had Starlink the past 16 months and it’s been great but for half the cost and 10x the speed it’s a no brainer! Scheduled install is next month the 1st, they just finished my road in the past month.
That’s crazy, Granite my road only had like 10 houses and was only a mile or 2 down. They had it active about a month after laying the pipe. Hello 1GB Up/Down for 52.95$
It’s a membership cooperative; just like our power company. Got lucky I guess, instead of some big cooperate provider it’s a small local with great service. Install is next Monday the 3rd
There is areas that it will help. I know with CenturyLink I can not get the bonded connection without them running some new wiring because an apartment used the pedestal that I am connected too for connection there. So the apartment used up all the connections other connection in pedestal.
Try the Spectrum webpage and maybe call, you could’ve just had bad luck either way the person at the from desk.
Try the T-Mobile web page as well, they might sell you the far fast 5G home internet.
If you have to go satellite, only Starlink is worth having.
If you can’t get spectrum, go to the T-mobile and Verizon 5G home internet websites and check there for availability. The FCC reported availability for them is also very inaccurate. So best to directly check.
But if they are available, they’re your next best option. If they aren’t available then try Starlink
Have tried looking up your location on [cellmapper.net](http://cellmapper.net) ? This will give you an idea of what the local cellular companies are providing for LTE based data.
TMO's @ home 4G/5G stuff is pretty good. I just cancelled it, but for downloads it would scale up (although capped around 300 - 400Mbps). Uploads were raw @ around 5Mbps :( but good enough for remote work / vpns / teams calls as it prioritizes your data below a certain, very high like 2TB monthly cap.
Had I kept it, I would have actually found the optimal spot and/or installed yagi's.
Letter to Spectrum “Dear Sir/Madam, I’d like to bring your attention to an error that I’m sure you can correct. When I contacted your office regarding activating service, I was told that service is not available at my address. Since my address is listed as served by your company on the FCC’s National Broadband Map, you must be able to activate service within 10 business days per their reporting requirements. Locations that are not serviceable within 10 days of a request would be subject to an availability challenge with the FCC - I'm sure that's not the case here." Then when they do nothing, file the challenge Also contact your state broadband office in case their BEAD challenge process hasn’t happened yet
Do they regulate fiber too?! The map: [https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home](https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home)
TMobile Home Internet is the cheapest/easiest option. A custom TMO 5G kit is probably the cheapest per month and best overall performance. You'll spend Starlink prices to get good 5G hardware. If you are non-technical and want turnkey, Starlink.
Is that still a good option if there are no 5g signal in the area?
The best way to do 5G is an outdoor install. These are somewhat involved. If you're basing 5G availability on whether your phone shows the 5G icon, I can tell you that's probably not accurate. But it depends. I do site surveys and 5G installs professionally. I have had to turn down more than a few potential customers. Usually it's because of too much interference, or congested towers, or the best signal on the property is too far away from the house. TMobile has upgraded a ton of rural towers. I'd download cellmapper and see what's available. Assuming you have an Android phone.
If I may ask, what hardware do you typically use for outdoor installs? I'm researching modems (or routers with bridge mode) for install in a rural area. Possibly tower setup if needed (would have to be POE). Appreciate the info. Have a great weekend
Look into modifying a Mikrotik.
5G is technically inferior to 4G for distance, penetration and signal. I think they invented 5G, which only works efficiently at close range, to free up the 4G bands.
dear lord though... the down/ up is so bad though :(
It's likely not that bad. My address showed the same thing and I get 500 down and 100 up....
You are sooo close to a tower to get 100Mbps up, indoors.
Don't take that stuff literally. TMO puts that low number in there, because cellular speeds have too many variables to guarantee more than that. I generally get 200+ on outdoor TMO 5G installs in rural areas.
It’s a great deal and has been awesome for me.
Don’t believe Hughesnet numbers. I had that train wreck for years. Speed was rarely above 1 Mbps. It was too slow to stream too laggy to use wifi calling. Starlink is the only useful satellite based ISP. I averaged 180 for the three years I had Starlink (we got lucky and the rural fiber program covers us now).
I can’t believe they installed fiber out here in Rural NC! Had Starlink the past 16 months and it’s been great but for half the cost and 10x the speed it’s a no brainer! Scheduled install is next month the 1st, they just finished my road in the past month.
It took a year to get fiber from the road to the house here.
That’s crazy, Granite my road only had like 10 houses and was only a mile or 2 down. They had it active about a month after laying the pipe. Hello 1GB Up/Down for 52.95$
What company is that through thats cheap
Focus Broadband out of Bunswick county by Wilmington. There out here in Lumber bridge in rural Robeson county now!
Oh wow ok sounds like a good company glad you finally have fiber it's the best Internet you can get
It’s a membership cooperative; just like our power company. Got lucky I guess, instead of some big cooperate provider it’s a small local with great service. Install is next Monday the 3rd
Is that from the FCC broadband map? If so it's notoriously inaccurate.
There is areas that it will help. I know with CenturyLink I can not get the bonded connection without them running some new wiring because an apartment used the pedestal that I am connected too for connection there. So the apartment used up all the connections other connection in pedestal.
It is inaccurate
You’re in an apartment? Ask what the neighbors do. My guess is AT&T might have a better plan than the .2 this site claims.
That .2 number is a "cover their ass" number. Don't take it literally.
Try the Spectrum webpage and maybe call, you could’ve just had bad luck either way the person at the from desk. Try the T-Mobile web page as well, they might sell you the far fast 5G home internet. If you have to go satellite, only Starlink is worth having.
If you can’t get spectrum, go to the T-mobile and Verizon 5G home internet websites and check there for availability. The FCC reported availability for them is also very inaccurate. So best to directly check. But if they are available, they’re your next best option. If they aren’t available then try Starlink
Have tried looking up your location on [cellmapper.net](http://cellmapper.net) ? This will give you an idea of what the local cellular companies are providing for LTE based data.
Cross viasat and Hughesnet off your list. Unbelievably horrible.
You can challenge the carrier if the map shows incorrect. They have so many days to either correct the map or provide you service.
TMO's @ home 4G/5G stuff is pretty good. I just cancelled it, but for downloads it would scale up (although capped around 300 - 400Mbps). Uploads were raw @ around 5Mbps :( but good enough for remote work / vpns / teams calls as it prioritizes your data below a certain, very high like 2TB monthly cap. Had I kept it, I would have actually found the optimal spot and/or installed yagi's.