Rural internet issues: Starlink or fiber optic?
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jeannets Posted messages 28327 Registration date Status Contributeur Last intervention -
Hello,
I'm sorry, I have to write a "wall of text" to detail the situation:
Living in a rural area, I have been experiencing frequent and long outages on the ADSL network since last year. My ISP is Bouygues Telecom.
The loan of a 4G key is not as practical for my daily use and my landline remains completely silent...
I decided to "switch to fiber" to have access to the Internet all year round without repeated interruptions.
Free seemed to be a good option in terms of customer service and network speed.
So I subscribed in October with this provider to move from ADSL to fiber.
Unfortunately..... 3 technicians sent by Free came, the connection panel being saturated, it is up to the operator in charge of fiber in the area, SFR, to make an additional connection.
In summary: I cancelled with Bouygues after subscribing with Free and it's SFR that needs to add fiber connections!!
Free's request for intervention with SFR dates back to November and to date, there has been no intervention from SFR.
Without a functioning line, I am forced to share a connection with my mobile.
Free's customer service does not want to lend me a 4G key while I wait to be connected; they only know how to offer phone plans for the whole family...
Hence my question, is Starlink a fast and reliable option that would finally allow me to connect to the world?
Could you please share your opinions or experiences on this?
Looking forward to hearing from you, I wish you a good Sunday, thank you.
6 réponses
Hello,
My opinion on Starlink isn't bad technically... it's rather the annual price that I find expensive, it's an obstacle.
I would look more into a mobile phone plan... Especially 5G if there's a relay (cell tower or building) not far from you... it depends on where you are..?
Or 4G as a backup plan, it's slower...
Both cases require an outdoor antenna for good performance...
You can find plans with a SIM card with a 5G plan for about €10/month;
with 160 GB and an unlimited phone number included... with "Red by SFR" for example, no commitment... you should keep an eye on the promotions because that's no longer current... you probably have to wait until 2026.
The speed varies, at best it's close to fiber at 500mb/s and at worst, it's close to a good ADSL, around 45 mb/s.
Here's another possible solution, if you're not too far from a relay.
It all depends on your internet usage, but if you don't use the TV much, it's better to get a 5G router than Starlink; it will always be useful for travel or in case of a breakdown.
A router allows for an outdoor antenna, which is often essential.
But temporarily, because afterwards, nothing beats fiber for a fixed connection.
And there you go....
But misery, how annoying are line spacing!!
I am responding to your answer that I can't find on the Forum (because "resolved")
In my opinion, you won't find this router in phone shops... But only online... This router is a 4G, not to be confused with 5G... The difference lies in the internet speed...
I advise you to compile some documentation and the right Forums, but with a bit of time, you should know how to do everything..
For the internet, it also works on 4G but it's slower; if you're a bit far away, it will be better, but better than your flaky and cutting ADSL...! only one question, if you're in a tourist area, there are more users in summer and you have to share the bandwidth... if your teenager is downloading, it's better to do it at night... and choose a lower video definition... 4K is not recommended, it consumes too much.
... Of course, you can download files in general and videos too, if the ISP or the TV channel does not oppose it... the software "CapTVty" is very good for that.... except for protected movies...
Generally, VPNs slow down communications...
To optimize transmissions, it is preferable to have an outdoor unidirectional antenna aimed at the nearest relay tower..
In the absence of an antenna, you must at least look for the best spot in the house for the best reception level.
this one https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B09QMR437D?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc
and/or this one https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01NBTQUAE/?tag=antenne-4g-omnidirectionnelle-conso-21&th=1
In any case, you need to take a UNIDIRECTIONAL one with two 10-meter coaxial descent cables with an SMA connector... the goal is to avoid loss with intermediate connectors and prevent water from penetrating.
These two SMA connectors plug into the back instead of the antennas.
There’s a bit of meditation to add to sleep occupations..!!
Hello,
Thank you all for your contributions that help make my decision easier.
I am closing this post and before that, I wish you a great end of the week.
Thank you CCM!!!!!!!!!
Hello Jeannets,
After months of struggles, you can't imagine how "at peace" I feel thanks to your amazing help!!
THANK YOU!!! Thank you :) :) :)
OK, it's starting to come alive even if it's not great... obviously, an antenna is necessary...
I think the Kaser will do the job, but I have technical preferences for the LowcostMobile...
it matches well...
it has 2x10 meters of coaxial cable, in one piece (less loss) and "ALSR200" cable with the lowest losses
LowcostMobile PAN5G-MIMO-2021 12dBi 2x10m Antenna 4G 5G SMA Cable ALSR200 for Huawei B818, B715, 5G CPE PRO, Asus, TP LINK, Netgear and +
SKU B01E7CWNSI
REF PAN5G-MIMO-2021-10M
EAN 3770027201113
Distributor
LOW COST MOBILE
Normal price
106.26€ ex. VAT | 127.51€ inc. VAT
Order within 40 hours 45 minutes 1 seconds and receive your package between 01/06 and 01/12 depending on the chosen delivery method.
Installation should be done at the top of a pole or on a wall, directly facing the corresponding relay tower... around 5 meters high, a bit more if possible... but you need to keep enough length to reach the router...
If you need to go further into the house, it's better to extend with the length of Ethernet RJ45 cable.. Anyway, you will be able to control the TP link from your PC...
There you go, I feel the irritation coming...!!!
Hello,
What do you want us to tell you?
The satellite isn't necessarily a cure-all either; the coverage area depends on the number of operational satellites, population density, physical obstacles (trees, buildings), and internal communication can be affected by walls.
Therefore, the coverage isn't necessarily permanent either.
The download speed is better than ADSL but worse than fiber, the upload speed is mediocre, and the hardware installation costs several hundred euros.
I know nothing about "sharing" the connection (multiple devices connected).
Faced with a similar situation a few years ago in a remote area, albeit in the Île-de-France region, I only succeeded by reporting the intermediary operator who was unable to connect me and subscribing to the one responsible for the infrastructure.
Hello Brucine,
Thank you for your comment.
Since SFR is responsible for the fiber structure in the area, I did indeed consider stopping the subscription with Free, which is not active, and requesting SFR for fiber installation.
In the past, I have already dealt with their (mediocre) customer service...
Recently, technicians disconnected a neighbor to connect another.
Given the "turbulence" and buyout offer at SFR, I fear that they won't bother to add a new access point and will do the same again; this is just a supposition.
Their customer service is so dreadful that I really don't want to deal with them again (after Bouygues and Free...).
If the situation doesn't move forward quickly, I will reconsider this SFR option.
Thank you.
Hello,
All operators are fine as long as there are no problems.
They subcontract pretty much all installations to the first groomed dog, sometimes to a "self-employed" contractor paid per task who is just as competent as I am a bishop, with indeed the recurring problems that you report.
The commercial narrative seems to me like false discourse, SFR will inevitably be bought out or customers will be retained, the history of operators is full of those who have devoured others, and in any case, they never shy away from costly television advertisements.
That said, I don't have any shares.
Hello,
You shouldn't confuse the fiber infrastructure operator, apparently XPFibre where you are, and the commercial operators, including the four major national coverage ones (OCEN) that use the infrastructures.
As seen in the statistics, it is indeed true that XPFibre has more issues than the others on average.
For standard use (without heavy television usage), I would recommend the 5G router over Starlink. The router offers more mobility, can serve as a backup solution, and adding an external antenna helps optimize the signal, which is often essential. Ultimately, as soon as possible, switch to fiber for an optimal fixed connection.
Hello Jeannets, and thank you for your response.
There are no pylons or buildings near my home.
I was unaware that an outdoor antenna could be set up to improve performance; thank you.
In our household, everyone has their own PC with the use of "file sharing..." concerning my teenager (unless I'm mistaken, as I'm not very familiar with the subject, it seems to me to be at odds with the use of a router??)
Another point, in our countryside, calls on mobiles aren't really great and often force us to make calls outside the home, hence the urgent need for a landline (especially depending on the season!!).
Thank you for taking the time to share your suggestion with me,
Have a nice day.
Some answers..
-- The relay tower can be about 1000 meters for 5G, depending on the frequency used... But around 20 km for 4G, in open terrain... It's slower.
-- everyone can have their PC and share the internet connection, as well as files, like in all networks, around the "router" which is both the BOX and the dispatcher...
-- In this case, the SIM number is available on a landline phone, a Gigaset trio for example, and the quality is top-notch, thanks to the "Antenna" reception
There you go, to clarify a few ideas... I am myself a user with equipment that is my property... and not a BOX from an ISP.. No commitment.
Yes, it's actually a 06xxxx, which connects to an RJ11 at the back of the router and the continuation is the same as for the ISPs' BOX with the family of fixed devices... + SMS.
Be careful, this is not the case for all routers...
The TP-LINK NX510 (5G) and MR-6500v are like this and the HUAWEI .. E5186 too, it allows 2 outgoing lines, but in 4G.
It works at 12 volts in the car and the camper...
The SIM card plan is billed at around €10, unlimited and without commitment, with a 5G plan as a gift around 150Go, you need to watch for promotions.
In my opinion, it's amortizable... to buy, the margin is about €30/month.
Telephony works in 4G... the location is very variable.
There you go... a new taste of adventure.
OK,
The line is therefore that of the mobile operator, how is it billed, are the communications covered like on a mobile?
You are therefore using a standard mobile SIM card, not a 5G box card?
When you say 2 lines in 4G, do you mean in VoIP, via a specialized operator, like OVH?
I am flattered by your enthusiasm...!
First of all, we need to be sure of the existing connections in your area... There are also impossible cases, go read your personal messages.
In the situation I'm mentioning, the ISP is only selling you the SIM card with its plan; they are not taking care of your BOX. It’s you who buys a 4G or 5G router as mentioned in my messages and also configures it from a PC connected to it via Ethernet preferably.
This router broadcasts both WiFi frequencies (2.4GHz and 5GHz); it's possible to change the SSID name, the channel, and the WiFi key...
there is an option for "GUEST" or permission to connect for certain PCs and not others... and also to turn off the WiFi during certain time slots of your choice, like a BOX... Or even completely turn off all WiFi.
I am neither a seller nor a collaborator of advertising with these systems...