Internet Access Options On Guemes Island

February 05, 2009 at 10:49am • Created by: LineTime

Cable access will no longer be available at the end of the year.

Startup costs vary: Cable, cellular, Clearwire and DSL all require modems  to access their networks, ranging in cost from $30-$130. Most services carry activation fees and require long term contracts.

DSL is only available to a very few households west of the ferry landing along the south shore because of old phone equipment and the distance (under the channel) to the switching station in Anacortes. Some of our telephone gear goes back to the party line era. DSL has a maximum range without repeaters of approximately 3 miles.

Cellular reception varies by carrier and location. Carriers allow a three-day grace period in which the card can be returned and service cancelled. Satellite reception is not available everywhere.

For more information:

Satellite

DirecTV  :  HughesNet  :  Wild Blue

Cellular

Verizon Wireless Card • Verizon Wireless Data Plan

AT&T Wireless Card • AT&T Data Plan

Sprint Wireless Card • Sprint Data Plan

Clearwire

A wireless internet access system. Even though Clearwire has a tower on top of the hill, coverage is limited on Guemes Island to a narrow band along the southern edge. Reception requires line of site to the tower and can be degraded by obstructions and weather. You can obtain a modem from Radio Shack to test reception or order one from www.clearwire.com and return it within 30 days, if not satisfied.

DSL

Verizon DSL Since DSL operates over your existing telephone line, you can enter your telephone number to test availability.

StarTouch

Wireless (microwave) access requires site evaluation. Installation $324. See Stacie Scheffer's comment below.

We will continue to update this information. Please add your comments (below) and let us know what system works well in your location. Click here to test the download speed of your current connection.

 

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comments:
Holiday Matchett: 3:54pm - 10/5/08
add your comment here- I have a comments and questions: We have been using cable so that we could have television, (radio), and internet access. Will any of the solutions above give us both? How complicated would it be to "switch" from the cable system to another system? We are on the west side of the island. I spoke to the owner of CompuMatter in Anacortes and he appeared very surprised by the knowledge that Index Cable was leaving Guemes. He even seemed interested in some alternative that he might be involved in providing (spontaneous reaction?). Is it possible he could provide access? Has anyone spoken to him? Holiday
Edith Walden: 4:58pm - 10/5/08
There will be a meeting on Sunday, October 12, at 3:00 at the Community Hall (not the Church, as previously announced) to meet with Irene and Matt from Index Cable to discuss the withdrawal of services and alternatives. One alternative to be discussed is for Islanders to form a cooperative to run the Internet services ourselves. We will have other information about services for both TV and Internet, but the focus will be on providing Internet services, since so many people depend on it for their businesses here on the Island. By the way, the upload and download speeds in the above graph are incorrect. According to Clearwire's brochures, it should be 768/2000.
LineTime : 8:06pm - 10/5/08
The upload and download speeds are correct for the Clearwire plan listed, according to information on Clearwire's web site.
Anthony Maggi: 9:11am - 10/6/08
I've recently spoken with cablerocket about the possibility to continue their services as a cooperative and they thought it a viable solution.... just more discussion had to be held there. I hope to hear back from them this week and will keep you informed if anything positive arises. I'll also bring any results to the Sunday meeting.
Dana Bettinger: 10:08am - 10/11/08
Will someone be posting detailed notes from the meeting on LineTime? I am up on the island this weekend, but won't be able to make it to the meeting! It would be greatly appreciated (as we depend on Index not only for internet access, but also for our Verizon phone service). Thanks.
Edith Walden: 12:37pm - 10/11/08
I will post a summary of the Index Cable meeting on Monday, since there are many people who cannot attend. It is looking more and more positive that we may be able to have Index Cable continue services for the Island. They do not want to go out of business and we do not want them to, so I think we'll be able to come up with some creative solutions that will allow them to earn a living and keep us connected to the rest of the world.
stacie scheffer: 4:20pm - 10/11/08
add your comment here I represent StarTouch Broadband Services and wish to notify residents of the island that our wireless microwave Internet service is available to more than 50 percent of the homes. A review of the island was conducted in person by our staff on Saturday, October 11. Startouch wireless Internet Service is by line of site only at this time from all nearly all outer edges or higher elevations of the island...making service available if a waterview is accessible . Our web site has service details at www Startouch.com under our SOHO plan for small home office services. We offer a 1.5mbps symmetrical plan fpr $99.99/mo and a $324.00 basic set up fee. No latency like sattelite, use your existing voip phone , static IP address included for telecommuters Please feel free to email or call for additional discussions. 1-888-733-0203.
Jacob Schmidt: 3:29pm - 10/14/09
Have you folks considered creating your own wireless internet network capable of servicing the entire island?
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