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Rural doesn’t have to mean offline. Satellite internet allows people to bridge the digital divide no matter where they choose to live.
A reliable satellite internet connection has other benefits. With an online connection, people who choose to live off-grid can take advantage of the ever-increasing list of smart appliances, lights, security systems, and energy conservation tools that make up the modern smart home.
Costs and Considerations of Satellite Internet
Rural life adds some challenges to acquiring an internet connection, but none of these potential obstacles are insurmountable. The two most obvious considerations are satellite internet costs and how to power the necessary equipment.
Satellite Internet Costs
Don’t just go with the first satellite internet provider you find. It’s a competitive market, with each provider offering different services and various rural internet options. In addition to cost, consider whether the provider offers installation services. Some companies require users to set up their satellite dish and Wi-Fi network by themselves and sell mounting equipment separately. Others, such as Hughesnet, send out a technician to position and install the dish and set up your home network.
Power Requirements
Rural homes use various power sources, including solar power, wind turbines, biomass generators, geothermal systems, hydroelectricity, and traditional gas or diesel generators. You’ll need to consider your power supply carefully for satellite internet, especially if you want to remain connected 24/7. On average, a wireless modem consumes 40-50W, while the dish itself consumes 75-150W, depending on the model and usage.
The demands a satellite internet system places on your power supply are relatively small, but significant when you rely on an off-grid power supply, especially if you lack solar batteries or other energy storage methods. Some off-grid rural folks compensate for their internet’s energy demands by cutting power to the dish and modem when not in use.
Location, Weather, and Wildlife
Your surroundings and local weather may impact the reliability of a satellite internet signal. A satellite dish with a clear, uninterrupted view of the southern sky will have the best signal connection. Trees and other vegetation can interfere with a reliable connection and may need removal.
Weather plays a role in satellite internet signal strength. While light precipitation and cloudy skies have little impact, heavy rain or snowfall can weaken satellite signals. Snow and ice can accumulate in the satellite dish and may require removal to obtain the best signal.
Wildlife is also a consideration. Large animals, including livestock, can knock satellite dishes out of alignment, while smaller animals and birds may see the dish as a possible nesting site. Keeping the dish above the reach of larger animals and periodically checking it for debris or nests helps ensure a reliable connection.
Creating an Off-Grid Rural Friendly Smart Home
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Your options for smart appliances and apps are almost unlimited. Smart products can help you improve your security, lighting, entertainment, and power usage. The last is of special importance to rural off-grid homes, which require careful monitoring of all electric devices to ensure they don’t place too great a demand on the home’s power source. Smart battery and energy sensors help ensure the lights stay on.
Many rural homes rely on well water. Well water sensor apps can track your well’s water level, inflow, groundwater level, and more, and send alerts to your phone if anything is wrong.
Smart lighting, thermostats, refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines allow you to monitor and control your energy usage. Security cameras, smart locks, and motion detectors help keep your off-grid home secure. You can control these devices through phone apps or a central smart hub like Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Home.
Tips for Off-Grid Smart Homes
Use Apps that Store Data Locally
Smart devices, particularly security cameras, often store data in the cloud. Doing so requires transferring large amounts of data that can quickly reach a provider’s data limit. Even if you use an internet plan with no data cap, you have to consider the impact continuous uploading has on your power supply. When possible, choose smart devices that store data locally.
Turn Off Devices When Not in Use
When you’re rural living, the fewer demands you put on your power source, the better. You’ll want some devices, such as well water sensors, operating full-time. You can turn off others when they are not in use to conserve power. For instance, you may want to turn off your washing machine or a smart coffee machine until needed.
Schedule Usage
If you use solar power, schedule dishwashers, and laundry appliances to run during peak solar production so they don’t draw on your solar battery or generator at night.
Use Motion Sensors to Reduce Energy Consumption
Use motion sensors to control lights and fans and ensure no one leaves the power on.
Satellite internet for rural areas is often the best choice for off-grid rural homes and is available in even the remotest of locations. Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you need to be disconnected. A reliable internet service coupled with carefully chosen smart devices helps improve your security, entertainment options, and ability to communicate with loved ones, no matter where you are.
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