Off-Grid Internet: Connectivity Solutions for Remote Locations

Living off the grid, Eric Mac shares how to access high-speed internet using solar-powered broadband and fixed wireless connections in remote areas.

### How to Get High-Speed Internet Off the Grid
* 🏜️  Living off the grid in the New Mexico desert involves setting up a system with a **modem or router**, **wires connected to a dish or antenna**, and an **independent energy source like solar panels**.
* 📡  Off-grid broadband connections are typically made through a local internet service provider via fixed wireless, with **Starlink and 5G hotspots** becoming popular alternatives to **legacy satellite providers**.
* 🌐  The key consideration for quality off-grid internet is the **physical distance between the receiver and the satellite or tower**, with **clear line of sight** being important for fixed wireless connections.
* 🛰️  Legacy satellite systems like ViaSat and HughesNet have higher latency due to connecting to satellites in **high orbits over 20,000 miles above the Earth**.
* 🛸  Starlink, with its constellation of satellites in low earth orbit, offers **higher speeds and less latency**, making it a **game changer for off-grid internet**.
* 🔋  Once set up, off-grid broadband provides a **more reliable internet connection** than city living, as it is **not affected by power outages**.
* 🌞  With solar panels, battery backup, and a generator as a backup to the backup, there's always a **reliable power source** when living off the grid.

I'm Eric Mac, and for the last four years, I've been living off the grid. Today, I'm going to tell you how you can still get high-speed internet even way out here in the New Mexico desert. So now I'm here in the house, and getting set up online involves probably the same things you have anywhere else: there's a modem or a router, and then you probably got some wires coming into the house from somewhere. But chances are that the other end of those wires are connected to some sort of dish, your antenna, and the whole system is probably powered by solar panels, wind turbines, or some other independent energy source. In our case here in the high desert of New Mexico, our broadband is powered by solar panels, although there was a brief period of time while I was installing the panels that I actually stayed online by connecting my system to this 12V battery and a small inverter. Not ideal, but a good temporary solution. So our connection is through a local internet service provider via a fixed wireless connection using this

receiver. This has been a top choice in this area for years, but Starlink is also now growing in popularity. And increasingly, some people are able to stay online by using their 5G hotspots. These are all big improvements over what used to be the only option to get internet in many remote or off-grid locations, which was the older legacy satellite providers. See, when you're off-grid, the key consideration for a quality internet connection becomes the physical distance between your receiver and the satellite or tower that you're connecting to. If you're connecting to a tower via fixed wireless, like us, you're typically going to want a clear line of sight to the tower. This is why we put communication towers on top of mountains or ridges or other high points if we can. The one I'm connected to is actually a straight shot across the plateau to a tower in the nearest town about 15 mi away. It works great even during rain or snowstorms. Satellite connections are a different story. Legacy satellite systems like ViaSat and HughesNet connect to larger

Telecom satellites in high orbits over 20,000 Mi above the surface of the Earth. This gives them a view of the whole planet, making the service available practically anywhere. But it comes at a cost of higher latency. Data signals travel at or near the speed of light, but would they have to travel tens of thousands of miles to space and back to reach you. It can still mean noticeable delays that affect things like gaming and video conferencing. So that's starlink has been a game changer for many people off-grid, as its constellation of thousands of satellites operate in low earth orbit, usually less than 400 mil over our heads. Higher speeds and less latency are the result. And once it's all set up, Broadband off-grid has actually meant a more reliable internet connection than what I had living in a city. And that is solely because I no longer deal with power outages that are out of my control. So between the solar panels and then backup power being stored in batteries and a generator is a backup to the

Backup. There's really never any reason to be in the dark or offline when you're off-grid. [Music]

4 Years Living Off the Grid with High-Speed Internet - Here's How!

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Getting High-Speed Internet Off the Grid in the New Mexico Desert

Living off the grid in the New Mexico desert doesn driven by solar panels for high-speed internet.

The top choice for internet connection in the area is a fixed wireless connection using a receiver, but Starlink and 5G hotspots are becoming increasingly popular.

When off the grid, the physical distance between the receiver and the satellite or tower is a key consideration for a quality internet connection.

The Impact of Satellite Orbits on Internet Service

Telecom satellites in high orbits provide global coverage but result in higher latency, affecting activities like gaming and video conferencing.

Starlink's low earth orbit satellites, on the other hand, offer higher speeds and less latency, making it a game changer for off-grid internet access.

The reliability of off-grid internet is significantly improved by combining satellite internet with solar panels, battery storage, and a backup generator.

Having a backup power source is essential for staying connected off-grid.

It ensures that you never have to be in the dark or offline, providing a reliable energy solution.

Whether it's for emergencies or outdoor adventures, a backup power source is a must-have for continuous access to electricity.