"don't count on future fiber as a guaranteed windfall."
That's solid advice. When we moved rural, I figured fiber would be a game changer too, but honestly, the peace and quiet ended up outweighing any internet hiccups. Funny how priorities shift once you're settled in...
Totally agree with this. A few things to keep in mind from my experience:
- Fiber plans can stall or get delayed for years—seen it happen firsthand.
- Even if fiber arrives, monthly costs might be higher than expected, especially in rural areas.
- Satellite internet has improved a ton lately; it's not perfect, but it's decent enough for streaming and remote work.
Honestly, I'd prioritize affordability and location over potential fiber access. Peaceful living beats buffering Netflix any day...
"Satellite internet has improved a ton lately; it's not perfect, but it's decent enough for streaming and remote work."
I'd be cautious about relying too heavily on satellite internet for remote work, especially if your job involves frequent video conferencing or large file transfers. From my own experience, even with recent improvements, latency can still be a noticeable issue. I tried satellite for about six months when we first moved out here, and while streaming Netflix was mostly fine, Zoom calls were often frustratingly delayed or glitchy.
Fiber delays are definitely real—been there myself—but sometimes it's worth considering properties that at least have reliable DSL or fixed wireless as a backup. Peaceful living is great, but consistent connectivity can really impact your daily workflow and stress levels if you're working remotely full-time. Just something to think about before committing fully to a spot based solely on affordability and location...
Satellite internet's definitely gotten better, but yeah, latency can still bite you during video calls. Had a client once whose Zoom froze right as we were discussing their budget—awkward silence, then me asking "Still there...?" 😂 Always good to have a backup plan.
Haha, I feel your pain on the Zoom freeze—been there, done that. Actually, your story reminded me of when we first moved into our rural place. We were so pumped about finally escaping city life and snagging our dream home (thanks to those sweet rural loan perks), but we totally underestimated the internet situation.
Satellite was our only option at first, and honestly, it wasn't terrible... until I had an important work call. Picture this: I'm trying to impress my new boss, mid-sentence about how reliable and detail-oriented I am, and boom—frozen screen, awkward silence. By the time it unfroze, I'd apparently been talking to myself for a solid minute. Not exactly the best first impression.
Anyway, after that fiasco, I looked into alternatives and found out about fixed wireless internet providers. They're not available everywhere yet, but if you can get it in your area, it's a game changer. Way lower latency than satellite and pretty reliable overall. It saved me from more embarrassing Zoom moments at least.
If fixed wireless isn't an option yet, another trick that worked for me was using my phone's hotspot as a backup during important calls. It's not ideal for everyday use (data caps are brutal), but it's perfect as a safety net when satellite decides to act up at the worst possible moment.
Either way, congrats on finding your dream home! Rural living has its quirks for sure—but totally worth it in my opinion... even if it means occasionally talking to yourself on Zoom calls.
