Small Local church... highspeed internet?

Brackis

Banned
Nov 14, 2004
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Basically the church down the street is hoping to get internet acess for the office computer, they have dialup and it is so painful to work with.
DSL is not availible, and Comcast claimed that they would have to charge them the going buisness rate which was going to be around $100/month. Any ideas for alternatives or cutting the prices?
Their needs are so basic, but with such a small church they aren't going to want to spend $100 a month for service that they use for basic web-browsing and email.
(and no, zero houses within range for leeching wireless :))


Edit: This is to get something faster and more reliable than dial-up on a basic office/church computer
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
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Normally I would never recommend satellite due to the horrid latency, but a church is not likely to care about ping times so a basic satellite DSL connection might be worth looking into. If nothing else, it would be a good comparison point for the Comcast business line.
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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"(and no, zero houses within range for leeching wireless)"

Would be an incredibly stupid and dickhead thing to do anyway so I guess it's good there's nothing close.

I agree with the satellite suggestion. Either that or terrestrial wireless. Point to Point microwave. You'd have to check your area for that possibility. Satellite sounds like it would work well for a one computer office, especially one in a church where download limitations probably wouldn't come into play.
 

Colebert

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2000
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NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER SATALITE.


suggest calling comcast corporate and begging for a discount charity/non-profit rate.
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
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satellite would be almost as expensive if not the same

What about a wireless ISP? Probably not but there may be one. Other I too would be begging for non business cable. Thats horrible that they want to charge you that much.
 

Carazariah

Senior member
Aug 11, 2003
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Brackis,

:( I feel your pain. My church is the same way. . . Less than 15 miles from a major metropolitan area and absolutely no inexpensive broadband available.

The microwave option is one that might or might not be available in your area. We do have that available, a little less expensive than sattelite, but prices vary based on the provider. Here the company is Hill Country Wireless and they charge $325 setup and $50 a month. Hey its better than $100! Of course everytime I see SBC's political ad for $20 internet available throughout Texas, in support of the Telecommunications bill rewrite I get a little :| . . .

For reference
http://www.hillcountrytx.net/

Good Luck,
C
 

Brackis

Banned
Nov 14, 2004
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Originally posted by: Carazariah
Brackis,

:( I feel your pain. My church is the same way. . . Less than 15 miles from a major metropolitan area and absolutely no inexpensive broadband available.

Exactly, we are 15 minutes from Boston and they want $100 a month.
 

Carazariah

Senior member
Aug 11, 2003
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Originally posted by: Brackis
Originally posted by: Carazariah
Brackis,

:( I feel your pain. My church is the same way. . . Less than 15 miles from a major metropolitan area and absolutely no inexpensive broadband available.

Exactly, we are 15 minutes from Boston and they want $100 a month.

:D oh well maybe Wi-Max will roll out sooner rather than later and we can all get online fast. . .

C
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
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I don't see why the Church cannot get an ordinary Residential account.

What if the line is installed in say a living quarters area of the Church, the cable Co wouldn't know it's an Office.
 

carpenter

Platinum Member
May 31, 2003
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Manager of our trailer park tried that because his home is attached to the office. No go.