Inexpensive Internet?

[GoStumpy]

Does it exist? I am perfectly fine paying $45/month for mine because I play online games, enjoy speed, etc...

My older neighbor just got an older laptop and wants to be able to look up bike parts, maybe go on facebook/POF, etc... He thinks it's absurd to pay $40/month to use it maybe 15 minutes, and I can't really disagree.

Is there something out there like dialup these days?

Thoughts?

[Bsuds]

Charge him $15 a month to use yours.

[LoneWolf_53]

Yeah what Bsuds said. If the person is next door, and you have a router with wireless, all it would require is your password and a cheap inexpensive USB wireless adapter that you can grab on eBay for like $5.

[GoStumpy]

Our homes are too far apart, I can barely get his PC to log into my wireless at all, and it's slow and not reliable.

Maybe there is some way to boost my wireless?

-edit-

Even his next-door neighbors only show 1 bar of wireless strength, I think the metal walls kill wireless pretty quick...

[Atomoa]

Pressure your local MP to pass a bill/enact a way for Canada Post to provide cheap, reliable high speed access to the internet.

Canada Post was part of the social contract ratification that you got when you submitted to the government and agreed to pay them taxes. They provided you with a infrastructure to cheaply and effectively communicate within your own country. Business was not possible without a postal service before the internet was around. Home delivery is gone and prices have gone up.

You cant do anything now-a-days without using the internet. Job applications, government programs - and not every Canadian has internet access.

In the UK, Royal Mail is a ISP for cheap, awesome internet.

IMO internet access is at a point of being a "guaranteed right". The government doesn't buy you a car but it provides you with roads - and in today's age you are not going anywhere without a internet connection.

[LoneWolf_53]

Our homes are too far apart, I can barely get his PC to log into my wireless at all, and it's slow and not reliable.

Maybe there is some way to boost my wireless?

-edit-

Even his next-door neighbors only show 1 bar of wireless strength, I think the metal walls kill wireless pretty quick...

I don't know your situation as to distances and such.

In my case I have a router with wireless, but I noticed when I was out tinkering in my shop, the signal was weak and sketchy, as the router was at the complete other end of the property.

I cured it by running 50' of CAT5 cable and added a second router with basically the same settings, so that I'm broadcasting a signal from two areas and get great coverage everywhere outside now. I used this guide.... http://www.hanselman.com/blog/Configuri ... aming.aspx

As I say though, I don't know your circumstances, or distances involved, so my method may be of no use to you.

On the other hand if you have a shed or something that's closer to the neighbour, with power accessible for the router, then that might be an option.

[oneh2obabe]

Our homes are too far apart, I can barely get his PC to log into my wireless at all, and it's slow and not reliable.

Maybe there is some way to boost my wireless?

-edit-

Even his next-door neighbors only show 1 bar of wireless strength, I think the metal walls kill wireless pretty quick...

Not sure about the walls. Just checked and I have 16 connections showing near my place. 6 are listed as good, 5 as fair, 3 as poor, and 2 unsecured networks listed as fair.

[Bsuds]

If it's an older laptop it is probably using a "B" or "G" wireless.which has a shorter range.
Pick up an "N" adapter and he will probably get better reception.

[matai]

I find it funny when people take Europe as an example and how cheap everything is compared to Canada.

In Europe, they fit 60 million people in countries the size of Okanagan Lake. In Canada, we have as many people as California, but extending from one Ocean to another.

As such, it would be delusional to ask the government to provide cheap internet to each and every citizen in this country!

[Captain Awesome]

Yeah, let's get Canada Post involved in Internet business. Cause we want our emails arrive as slow as letters!

About original topic.

Dial up still exist. You can get it for $10-15/month, check http://www.netzero.net/, also http://www.juno.com/.

[StraitTalk]

He thinks it's absurd to pay $40/month to use it maybe 15 minutes, and I can't really disagree.

That's because he thinks the cost of delivering a service/utility is based solely off the degree of use. (No different than the power company charging a minimum for being connected and maintaining the service.)

Just a thought.

[kgcayenne]

He can also look into a mobile key starting at $10/mo.

[Atomoa]

Yeah, let's get Canada Post involved in Internet business. Cause we want our emails arrive as slow as letters!

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/broadband-p ... dbroadband

42 bucks a month (top tier package), unlimited data, 25+mbps, phone line, free calling on evening and weekends.

[Danielson99]

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/broadband-phone/broadband?intcampaignid=MNbroadbandbroadband

42 bucks a month (top tier package), unlimited data, 25+mbps, phone line, free calling on evening and weekends.

But what does that have to do with Canada Post?

[Danielson99]

I find it funny when people take Europe as an example and how cheap everything is compared to Canada.

In Europe, they fit 60 million people in countries the size of Okanagan Lake. In Canada, we have as many people as California, but extending from one Ocean to another.

As such, it would be delusional to ask the government to provide cheap internet to each and every citizen in this country!

Yes but that has completely changed now that US internet providers will be taking over in Canada. It's no longer delusional and about to become reality. Prices will definitely be coming down, which is why our current suppliers are trying to stop it from happening.