[AT] OFF Topic: 4 month Verizon WAR

[Grant Brians]

In our case, although we are in the same valley as Silicon Valley we are 
not near any cable and are at least 7 miles away from DSL or other 
similar services. Lots of people did buy Razolink service and 
Dish/DirectTV internet service in our area, but the former does not work 
in lots of locations and may be closed to new customers. What I did and 
this option may be available in some places is to sign on to a local 
wireless provider. He placed antennas for microwave class type 
radiolinks on the mountain behind his place and repeaters in various 
places. At home and the ranch the link by radio is fast. No cell or 
other service out at the remote mountain valley though. Where we farm 
there, the total population of the valley is now up to about 50 people! 
That is nearly double what it was when i started there 10 years ago. All 
four sides have mountains that cut off cell services from both 
California's Central Valley and our Santa Clara Valley. We are the only 
large patch of green on the Google aerial photos year round for 14-50 
miles in every direction....
            Grant Brians - Hollister,California farmer of vegetables, 
herbs, edible flowers, seed, nuts and fruit
On 8/30/2015 5:20 PM, Spencer Yost wrote:
> First, an obligatory tractor reference. I installed the cable using a subcontractor but did the final grading and planting behind them with an antique tractor.
>
> Full story is, a neighbor and I installed the underground cable from the nearest access point down to our houses.  Because the cable company would pick up some more customers in addition to us, they gave us a break on our first years bills and took over ownership and maintenance.  That was substantial in the old days when commercial grade internet speeds were very expensive and maintenance was expensive(access boxes were upgraded three times in quick succession).
>
>   We bought left-over cable from a commercial installer and found a trenching company employee who was allowed to use his bosses equipment after hours. So he gave us a very, very good price on trenching the cable.
>
> I did not come out ahead but I didn't lose any money on that deal and I got cable 10-20 years sooner.  Splitting it with a neighbor was key though.  The cable company was very receptive about expanding service and was very willing to work with us.
>
> I am not sure how much sense that makes in today's world, but maybe that might work for some of you?   We only had to trench about 1/2 mile though.  Some of you sound much farther than that.
>
> This message traveled over that cable 20 years later....
>
> Spencer
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>