Least expensive way to get internet in home?

[lorilori]

Hi all. Asking for my neighbor who does not have a telephone land line. Any suggestions as to what is the cheapest way to get her computer hooked up for basic internet? Should she have a basic land line installed and just get dial-up or is there a better way? Thanks!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Does your neighbor have cable tv or sattelite? Both these companies can do some kind of offer for internet.

We have telephone, cable and internet in one bundle and it's very reasonable.

 

[bettymae1121]

I believe in most areas you can get DSL internet service even if you don't have a land line. They charge you a bit more for it, but it's often less than the cost of having both a land line and DSL service. You also can often get broadband service from your cable tv provider, but that's usually on the expensive side (I used to have Comcast and the internet service was something like $60 a month).

 

[Maddle]

The absolute cheapest? - get a wireless computer, and piggy back off of the neighbors' unsecured wifi router. Nothing's cheaper than free. (This is why you should secure your router.)

But seriously, dial-up is probably the cheapest, but it is a false economy - it's just too slow for today's websites.

Some kind of broadband cable hook-up at a slower speed is probably the best bet - fast enough, but not blazing fast for gamers' needs.

Good luck to your neighbor.

Maddle

 

[bonoriffic]

DSL without a land line is available in some areas. It depends who your local phone company is. Also they rarely advertise that option if available.

Cable also offers economy internet that are as slow as the most basic DSL packages, which they rarely advertise on their web sites. For example Comcast has an economy internet for $24.99 a month.

Check http://www.dslreports.com/search to see what options you have in your area.

 

[crisi]

The absolute cheapest? - get a wireless computer, and piggy back off of the neighbors' unsecured wifi router. Nothing's cheaper than free. (This is why you should secure your router.)

But seriously, dial-up is probably the cheapest, but it is a false economy - it's just too slow for today's websites.

Some kind of broadband cable hook-up at a slower speed is probably the best bet - fast enough, but not blazing fast for gamers' needs.

Good luck to your neighbor.

Maddle

My answer was "steal it from your neighbors" as well.

We have business class internet through a cable modem into our house, and its still too slow.

 

[JB2K]

Should she have a basic land line installed and just get dial-up or is there a better way? Thanks!

10-15 years ago, that would've been considered an acceptable solution. But in the age of internet video and flash-based websites, dial-up providers such as NetZero simply don't cut it, anymore.

The least expensive option is what the industry calls "Naked DSL" (a DSL connection without a landline) -- while I'm not 100% sure as to whether Verizon or Qwest offers it, I do know that it is available to AT&T residential customers (it was a condition made to the government in order for AT&T and BellSouth to merge, a couple of years ago).

 

[nd5056]

If you are within the 4G coverage area, THIS could be your alternative to the basic DSL service with comparable speed and price.


Can't tell anything about this service or the company...

.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We have AT&T lowest speed of DSL and it is $19.95/mo. We switched off our landline for phone and only have it for the internet (I have NO complaints about the speed). I have tried to find it for less but haven't. We no longer have cable, not great options. Home phone is $5/mo through T-mobile@home with a wireless router.


Suzanne

 

[bonoriffic]

If you are within the 4G coverage area, THIS could be your alternative to the basic DSL service with comparable speed and price.


Can't tell anything about this service or the company...

I work for the company that makes the network that powers 4G (WiMax). If you do have their service and something goes horribly wrong, it was probably something I was supposed to have found. Sorry in advance.

 

[ticktock]

We have AT&T lowest speed of DSL and it is $19.95/mo. We switched off our landline for phone and only have it for the internet (I have NO complaints about the speed). I have tried to find it for less but haven't. We no longer have cable, not great options. Home phone is $5/mo through T-mobile@home with a wireless router.


Suzanne

Do you still have to pay the same amount of taxes on the line that you did when you had a phone line? I have a basic land line for about $10-15 a month which I don't mind too much. It is the $10-15 in TAXES on the phone line that really makes me angry. I know they have different taxes for this and that so I wonder if the internet line is taxed at the same rate?

BTW I called AT&T just last year and the lady told me you couldn't have internet only. This is the first I've heard of it. So they don't just not advertise it, they willfully hide it.

 

[Lewisc]

The absolute cheapest? - get a wireless computer, and piggy back off of the neighbors' unsecured wifi router. Nothing's cheaper than free. (This is why you should secure your router.)

+1

Do you live near a place that has free wireless? Taking your laptop to a public library may be the cheapest way to go.

 

[stm61]

10-15 years ago, that would've been considered an acceptable solution. But in the age of internet video and flash-based websites, dial-up providers such as NetZero simply don't cut it, anymore.

The least expensive option is what the industry calls "Naked DSL" (a DSL connection without a landline) -- while I'm not 100% sure as to whether Verizon or Qwest offers it, I do know that it is available to AT&T residential customers (it was a condition made to the government in order for AT&T and BellSouth to merge, a couple of years ago).

does AT&T have any date that DSL MUST be available to all customers? I had BellSouth, became part of AT&T when they merged, and STILL can't get DSL where we live!

 

[Maddle]

Slightly OT - but I have to elaborate on my "absolute cheapest/piggyback" comment...

My Mom lives in a retirement Manufactured Home Park (not a "trailor park" in case that is what you are thinking...LOL...) One of the Community Improvements they put in was wireless access to the internet near the admin office. Guests were welcome to sit on the patio or in the clubhouse and surf away. Coincidently, my mom's home was close enough that we could get coverage from the front bedroom. One day, the staff moved the router. Honestly just a few feet, but it was far enough away that we couldn't connect reliably anymore. Would you believe I had the nerve to complain? (even I don't believe it!) and they moved it back, but it was never the same. So it was back to the patio for us.

Mom's health issues required us to stay at her home for a month, and finally I just couldn't stand it anymore, we had to hook up to Comcast. They were offering a special 6 month promotion for High Speed at slow speed price. While it was a good deal if I was living there, it's too much for the intermitant use my sister and I now have. I am going to have it disconnected and go back to "Free" even if it means I have to wander over to the patio.

"Nothing beats free."

Good luck!

Maddle

 

[lorilori]

Thanks so much for all the great replies and websites! Her computer is *gasp* a desktop and is not wireless which I probably should have mentioned before so any more suggestions would also be appreciated.

 

[crisi]

Thanks so much for all the great replies and websites! Her computer is *gasp* a desktop and is not wireless which I probably should have mentioned before so any more suggestions would also be appreciated.

A wireless card could be purchased if there is free wifi in her community (some communities do have free wifi).

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Do you still have to pay the same amount of taxes on the line that you did when you had a phone line? I have a basic land line for about $10-15 a month which I don't mind too much. It is the $10-15 in TAXES on the phone line that really makes me angry. I know they have different taxes for this and that so I wonder if the internet line is taxed at the same rate?

BTW I called AT&T just last year and the lady told me you couldn't have internet only. This is the first I've heard of it. So they don't just not advertise it, they willfully hide it.

My AT&T bill is a flat $19.95/month for FastAccess Direct Lite. No other fees or taxes. I'm sure the fees and taxes are probably included in that $19.95, although I remember seeing them actualy listed when it was phone only, then phone and internet

I have had this internet only line for just over a year, April 2009.

Suzanne