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Internet options in the Round Valley Area

Updated list with new information found on my latest post.  CLICK HERE!

Updated: February 21st, 2016.  

Your current Internet options in the Round Valley area: (new recommendation of AirMax.  Scroll down to see why).

1 – AirMax (Microwave) – AirMax offers a number of plans that cater to different groups of Internet users.  Most common plans are $40 per month (6Mbps down/2Mbps up) and $55 per month (10Mbps down/4Mbps up).  This technology relies on line-of-sight to the tower.  The link provided above has a map of locations of towers in our area, and the AirMax team continues to build out the network to provide more coverage to more addresses.  I have performed extensive testing on this service since September of 2015, and have been satisfied with the over-all service levels in various weather conditions.  My concerns about it being a wireless technology, and having latency has been minimized the longer I have the service running.  Streaming content as well as on-demand needs such as online gaming are not hindered over this Internet connection.

  • For the gamers reading, NAT level 2 is provided for this connection.  This allows you to host games from your Internet connection.
  • As of 2/21/2016, the updated date of this post, there is no public IP/static IP option with this ISP.  It is the only big caveat I have found with the service that makes it limiting.  I have found workarounds for my own needs, but have also engaged AirMax to begin conversations in expanding their service to provide this as an option for their customers.  It would enable more businesses to make AirMax their primary Internet connection if they have hosted services at their location.

2 – Verizon LTE (3G/LTE) –  I’ve seen ~50Mbps down and ~15Mbps up. The obvious downside to this is that unless you have a grandfathered “unlimited” plan, you will find your data cap rather quickly.  Since the upgrade to LTE, I have seen these speed be consistent.  I also use Verizon’s data services through my iPhone or iPad when traveling.  It is a much safer option while traveling when your other option is the Hotel’s free/pay wireless Internet.  Public WiFi in general is a great way to contract a virus or malware.  It is ZNET’s recommendation to avoid public WiFi when transmitting personal information of any kind.

3 – Frontier Communications (aDSL) – My provisioned 6Mpbs connection usually runs in the 3.5Mbps range with a constant .36Mbps up. It is aDSL so you upload speeds will be affected by the amount of your current downloads. The service appears to be oversold and saturated in local markets, which cause speed issues or total unavailability of service to certain areas.  Frontier has also placed a new WAN link between the Springerville C.O. and Show Low.  This was anticipated to increase and stabilize existing provisioned speeds for aDSL users.

  • Frontier Communications offers dry-loop or “naked” DSL for those not wanting a “home” phone service coupled with their aDSL connection.
  • Frontier Communications offers dedicated circuits as well, but these are not covered in this post as they are not a typical solution for most residential/business users.

4 – Wi-Power (Microwave) –

Wi-power now offers a “media” plan offering a 10Mbps bursted service with dedicated speeds of 5Mbps if you have line of sight to that particular tower.  Pricing is ~$100 per month as of late 2015 for the media plan.

I have called and spoken with their local and regional staff. They will sell “bursted” data, but will only guarante 1.5Mbps up and down.  While discussing my options with Wi-Power they asked what I used the Internet for and how many devices I had.  At the end of our conversation they recommend I stay with my current ISP because they couldn’t guarantee the speeds I was requesting.

5 – DishNET (Satellite) – Offering allowance-based Internet similar to Verizon and other cellular data plans.  The difference is, once you download/upload your allowance your speeds are “significantly reduced for that data allotment period for the remainder of the billing cycle.”  When I installed HughesNET in the early 2000s, this equated to around dialup speeds.  This is also not a good option for any real-time data needs such as stocks and online gaming.  The sheer distance the data is traveling causes latency.

6 – CellularONE (3G/4G being built out). Cellular Data Plan similar to Verizon LTE. Pricing available per GB of traffic.  CellularONE is currently working to build out their 4G network.

7 – Various dial-up services. Do we really need to discuss these? Synchronous 56Kbps connections dependent upon the quality of the cable ran between the C.O. and your computer.

UPDATED Recommendation:  The all-around best choice is AirMax.  I have always looked for a faster, more reliable option for my Internet connection.  I rely on it professionally for work as well as personally for media streaming.  Finding AirMax, meeting their team, and beginning to use it in Q3 of 2015 resulted in me dropping my previous ISP.  I have also became the direct reselling agent for AirMax in our area.  It is both the product I have in my home, and the product I recommend for almost every residential and business Internet need.

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Mommy’s “Sticky” Popcorn

Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn

• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. butter
• 9-10 marshmallows
• 12 c. popcorn
• Microwave brown sugar and butter for 2 minutes, add marshmallows & microwave until melted.
• Pour over popcorn.

 

Source: Liz Bevan Horsley

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Eagar Trek 2014 Kids

I didn’t realize it would be this hard to return to life, and get on with my life after the Trek.  I really do miss my family, and hope they are all doing well.  The best of McBride Shamrock luck to all of them.  While wallowing in my sadness this morning, I started writing in my journal and drew parallels of my kids at home and my kids on the Trek.

MY KIDS

I LEFT MY KIDS, SO THAT I COULD MEET MY KIDS.
I SHOWED UP WITH THE MEMORY OF MY KIDS, PREPARING TO MAKE MEMORIES WITH MY KIDS.
MY KIDS GREW UP A LITTLE WITH OUT ME, AS I GREW WITH MY KIDS.
I TRY TO TEACH MY KIDS THE VALUE OF HARD WORK, AS MY KIDS LEARN THAT HARD WORK IS VALUABLE.
I WOKE UP KNOWING I WAS GOING TO SEE MY KIDS, BUT WOULD BE SAYING GOODBYE TO MY KIDS.
I EAGERLY AWAITED THE HUG OF MY KIDS, AS I HUGGED MY KIDS GOODBYE.
I DROVE HOME TO MY KIDS, AS I DROVE AWAY FROM MY KIDS AND OUR HOME.
I EMBRACED MY KIDS, AS I MISSED MY KIDS.
I MUST NOW RETURN TO LIFE WITH MY KIDS, AS MY KIDS RETURNS TO THEIR OWN LIFE.
I LOVE MY KIDS, I LOVE MY KIDS.
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Honey Wheat Bread

This recipe uses both wheat and bread flour.  If you like your bread more dense, you’ll want to increase your wheat flour.  If you prefer it fluffy, reduce your wheat flour and add a bit more bread flour.  I make mine in my Bosch mixer, if you’re using a KitchenAid you might want to half the recipe.  I’m not sure how much dough those machines can handle.

Ingredients

4 cups warm water (110 degrees or so)
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp active dry yeast

2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup honey
4 tsp salt
6-8 cups wheat flour
4-6 cups bread flour (you can use all purpose too)

Directions

  1. Add the tablespoon of sugar to the warm water and then add the yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes
  3. Meanwhile, add 2/3 cup sugar to mixing bowl.  Next add oil and then honey (use the same mixing cup – the oil residue will help the honey slip out easily).  Add salt and yeast mixture (it should be foamy) and blend lightly.
  4. Add wheat flour one cup at a time and mix well.  I don’t really measure, I just keep adding wheat flour until the dough is thick, sticks to the beaters and starts to look like this…
  5. Change to a dough hook attachment.  Add bread flour to the mixture half a cup at a time until it cleans the sides of the bowl and is no longer sticky to the touch.  Increase motor speed and “knead” the dough for 6 minutes or so (you could also do it by hand on the counter – just increase the time to 10-15 minutes).  Continue to dust with flour as needed.  It will look something like this…
  6. Turn your oven to it’s lowest temperature (I use my warm setting) and move the rack down to a low position.  Grab a large bowl and coat it lightly with oil.  With floured hands, form a smooth and elastic ball with the dough and drop it in the bowl.  Flip dough ball once to coat the entire surface of the with oil.  Cover the bowl completely with plastic wrap.  It should look something like this…
  7. Turn your oven off, then place the bowl in warm oven (if you can’t touch your hand to the inside of the door, it’s too hot – open the door to allow it to cool).  Let it rise until doubled (about 45 minutes).  It should look something like this when it’s finished…
  8. Lightly grease 4 standard size bread pans (I prefer glass because it’s easy to see when the bread has cooked through by checking the browning on the bottom).  Punch down the dough.  Divide it into four even chunks.  Shape the sections into loaves by tucking the dough under itself.  Place the sections in the pans and return them to the warm oven (you may want to warm it up again – just be sure to turn it off before you put the loaves in).
  9. Let the loaves rise until they double in size or are about 1-2 inches taller than the pans (about 30 minutes).
  10. Pull loaves out of the oven and preheat to 365.  Place loaves back in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  If your loaves start to brown too quickly, cover the tops with aluminum foil (I use a disposable oven liner because it’s faster and easier to work with).

Posted by  on May 17, 2009