Best Internet Options for Semi-Rural Home

LJakeGGG on 28/04/2021 - 21:14

Hey all,

I have just purchased a home in the Southern Highlands outside Sydney. For those who know - the southern highlands is semi-rural and usually the properties are larger. Before I move in properly I need to organize internet but the problem is that the NBN doesn’t reach my house (NBN literally didn’t make its way down the street) and even if it did - I would need to set up a cable that would run up my driveway. Keep in mind that the driveway is about 150m long so running a cable would be way too expensive. So I have established that cable internet isn’t an option.

Another idea is to put a 4G modem inside the house but this brings 2 issues…

  1. Being semi-rural, the 4G service isn’t good. It works on my phone in parts of the house but in others - there are dead zones. I’ve checked the Optus and Telstra website and visited the stores which brings me to issue number 2.

  2. Optus and Telstra have both told me that 4G isn’t an option because 4G on my phone and “4GX” on the modems are different and the staff at both stores don’t like my chances of it working. I don’t really understand this but they know more than me.

So my fellow friends, what do I do?

All answers are appreciated and thank you in advance!

Internet

Comments

    • JakeGGG on 29/04/2021 - 00:16

      This sounds great. I hope Elon doesn’t let me down with this.

      Thanks!

      • Hybroid on 29/04/2021 - 00:23

        It's literally made for use cases exactly like yours. Let us know how it goes, good luck!

      • iDroid on 29/04/2021 - 09:47

        I'm in the same boat, struggling with a 4G connection that's both expensive and temperamental (to say the least).

        I've signed up for Starlink and am hoping it'll come through soon (they say mid-late 2021).

  • Twix on 28/04/2021 - 21:43
    +3

    Southern Highlands has nbn satellite. Don't bother with it. Go with Starlink if you choose satellite.

    Ask nbn for a FTTP quote and you will get a build cost email within seconds.

    • JakeGGG on 29/04/2021 - 00:17
      +2

      Unfortunately my address is “too complex” for a quote. Thank you anyway!

  • iamherenow on 28/04/2021 - 21:45
    +1

    Shop staff have no idea. You could use a phone to permanently create a wifi hotspot if you wanted. But a mobile broadband modem is better.

    • JakeGGG on 29/04/2021 - 00:17

      I may just get the 4G modem anyway and take the gamble. It’s probably worth the risk.

      • iamherenow on 29/04/2021 - 06:59

        make sure what you choose covers the important 3g/4g bands that are used by Optus/Telstra.

      • ESEMCE on 29/04/2021 - 09:00

        Yeah, the tale about 4G for phones being different to Modems is bullshit.

        Do some research on the location of and what bands the towers you can connect to use.
        https://oztowers.com.au/Home/Query

        Optus 4G relies heavily on Band 40 for 4G home broadband speed. If you can get direct line of sight to the tower, you should get a good signal and good speed and reliability.
        Their 4G modem is the best you can get and their 500Gb plan is excellent value if you have good signal. Go on "contract" for the "free" Huawei B818 modem, cancel any time and pay out the discounted price of the modem.

        Roof mounted external antennas can help to achieve direct line of sight.
        Alternatively roof mounting the entire modem is a cheaper option ala
        https://forums.overclockers.com.au/threads/build-log-bye-bye…

        There's a Telstra 5G plan currently in trial phase 500Gb for $85, currently invite only though.

  • AndyC1 on 28/04/2021 - 21:59
    +1

    Head on over to the https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/18 forum and have a read on people who have installed 4G directional antenna in the country in order to get internet. You will get allot batter answer's there.

  • triviums on 28/04/2021 - 22:17
    +3

    I wouldn't trust optus/telstra staff on 4G. They seriously don't know a thing.

    First thing to do to find out whether or not 4G is possible for you is to go to RFNSA and find the nearest tower to you. What is the topography like between you and the tower? Are there large hills or lots of trees?

  • This Guy on 28/04/2021 - 22:20
    -4

    You spent 4+ million on a property but can't afford $20k to put in fibre? NBNCo aren't your employees. When you say jump, they say in six months. By then you should have more than enough to pay your connection fee.

    • JakeGGG on 29/04/2021 - 00:15
      +5

      Thank you for your contribution. I’m impressed by your ability to somehow twist this on me. Good night and be happy!

      • This Guy on 29/04/2021 - 06:54
        -5

        If can can afford a mortgage on a house in the Southern Highlands with a 150m driveway you can afford to order fibre and pay the bill in six months when it is due.

        If you find it an insult to interact with a government owned company, pay your bills or direct your employees that is on you.

        • JakeGGG on 29/04/2021 - 11:21
          +1

          When did I say it was an insult to deal with the government? What are you talking about?

          I didn’t come here to be berated by someone who clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I’m here to ask about my options as people know better than me.

          Please leave this thread alone as I have people here who are genuinely here to help.

          Thank you.

          • This Guy on 29/04/2021 - 19:36
            -2

            @JakeGGG: Grow up.

            If you want rubbish internet, use 4G/5G or Sat. Starlink would be worse as each connection services a large area. It's made for remote connections, not country estates.

            You need fibre. And if you were sweet and asked around your new town, I am sure you could find a non ACMA licenced cabler to hook you up for ~$5k cash as those hills hate taxes.

            Or dismiss me again and work on your gas lighting game. You do you.

  • spackbace on 28/04/2021 - 23:35
    +8

    Go knock on neighbours' doors and introduce yourself, and then find out what they're doing

  • smashman42 on 29/04/2021 - 00:47
    +2

    Do speedtests outside the house on your phone - if it is good to go outside no matter what and was only spotty indoors, you can go fixed wireless BUT you'll need an external antenna, which means you need to get a router that supports that.

    So basically combine the responses from iamherenow and AndyC1, and look at the map triviums posted to get an idea of the band/s in use in your area. Telstra's own map is garbage and just has 3G, 4G, and 5G with no bands specified, which is not helpful at all.

    "4GX" is just marketing bullshit for the frequency 4G runs over (700MHz), so it is possible there is no 700MHz coverage at your new premises, but the "4GX" modem/router will (or at least should) support other bands as well, just like your phone does (even without 4GX written on it, if it is within 2yrs old and not a grey import it almost certainly supports 700MHz). If the router they supply doesn't work well/support an external antenna, buy one with the bands you need and whack the SIM into it (make sure it has a physical SIM cause if they're eSIM that could be a nightmare).

    spackbace's suggestion to talk to neighbours is pretty solid too - if all your neighbours are using Telstra and/or Optus 4G, you should be pretty safe doing what they're doing. They might even tell you who to see about installing and cabling the antenna locally.

  • Platinumtelecom on 29/04/2021 - 05:49
    +1

    I just moved to Bowral. I myself have a telecommunications business and am getting enterprise Ethernet installed. But if you are not willing to spend $400pm on internet then contact ACE internet, they are based in Bowral.

    They have their own tower installed up the hills in the southern highlands. If your house has line of sight with the tower, all you need is a receiver on the roof.

    https://acenet.com.au/internet/airstream/

    Setup cost $199

    25/5 plan: $149.95pm
    50/10 plan: $220pm

  • bazingaa on 29/04/2021 - 09:56

    it works on my phone in parts of the house but in others - there are dead zones.

    Fixed Wireless (4G) should work. You can even get an antenna.
    Initially, check your address (or nearby) with Optus Fixed Wireless, there are number of resellers on top of Optus as well (like Spintel )
    Alternatively, you can borrow a router like Huawei B315s or B525 from a friend and check by using a Optus/Telstra sim. There are 2 antenna ports if you can find and connect external antennas as well. May be you can find an used one for low price (mostly ex-vivid wireless)

    What is the sim in your phone ? If you have an android phone, try Net Monior lite and check what are the avaiable bands which are RSSI (Note: you can only see bands supported by your phone). Routers mentioned above may support different bands.

  • kfcfatfat on 30/04/2021 - 00:30

    I have a rural property just on edge of the 4GX (700MHz) reception. I did a bit or research and found there are signal booster, similar to the one people fit in their 4WD for bush bashing.

    Telstra sell a kit for $1000 so i got a cheap booster kit from ebay instead. And works very well.

    What is your usage? 4G can be very expensive if your usage is high.

    Are you qualify for Skymuster NBN?

    Or do what this man did in US

    https://hackaday.com/2018/09/20/one-mans-journey-to-become-h…

  • JakeGGG on 17/01/2022 - 22:50
    +1

    Hey everyone, this was long forgotten but I thought I’d give an update. The Netgear Nighthawk 4G modem performed really well in the city when I tested it but was too slow for Bowral. I ended up contacting “Ace internet” who supply internet locally using their own towers and it’s faultless. I’ve hooked it up to a D-Link mesh system and it’s unreal.

    Thanks everyone!

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