working at home internet and phone

I would think you will be fine. I live on STJ and work from home also. I have DSL through Innovative and an AT&T wireless card as back up. Never an issue. Even through the recent hurricane we never lost phone. Power does go out, but is getting more and more infrequent. The services are certainly better than when I first moved here. If power is an issue, make sure you live somewhere with a generator and have some type of back up plan.
These inconveniences are tiny flaws, but they could never dampen being able to live in paradise!

I work over the internet from StX.

If your business DEPENDS on 99.99% up time like you experience in the states, you will be disappointed here.
Storms and equipment problems can cause outages anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
It's not all the time, but it happens. We've had three 'long' outages this year that I can recall. Long as in "more than 24 hrs."

Landlines are available, but cellular phone service is more reliable in terms of getting back up after a storm, IMO.
If phone access is critical for you, you'll need a backup plan...you'd be wise to investigate how you could temporarily to route incoming calls to a landline or cell, or even an internet number in a pinch. And the pinch will happen.

In my line of work, it's more critical for me to access our website and our email, than to answer the phone. When broadband went out twice on StX for several days this fall, it was a spotty outage. I switched to the internet on my cellphone for some tasks, and took my laptop to some locations where I could get online and work. I also took some vacation days.

thank you for the info. I was wondering the same exact thing. Maybe there is even an office building at the switching station in STT where the pipe comes on shore where an office can be rented where internet wont go down? Anyone know about anything like that?

We haven't really had a bad storm in the VI since cell phones became routinely available - the towers will have to survive hurricane winds and you will have to have power available to recharge the phones. It may be quicker to return to service than landlines but the power may still be a major issue.

after Omar cell service was OK until the generators at BBVI & AT&T started to go down when their back up generators ran out of fuel. You need at least two sources for internet and phone and even then there will be periods where nothing works.

Jim

Thank you so much for the info. I do work on a laptop and have some battery back up which is helpful. Jim and Exit can you tell me the service providers you use for internet/land line phone? Is the phone considered just standard long distance when calling from the island? Is it higher then calling within the states?

For voice I use AT&T nationwide plan. I can call anyone from STX to Guam at no extra charge. Weekends and nights free, roll over minutes and no charge for calls to or from other AT&T subs.

As a back up I use a MagicJack and Skype. Skype is also used for my international calls.

For Data:

Primary: Broadband VI

Back UP: I-Phone teathered to my laptop

Have tried Choice 4G and even though the speeds were higher not ready for prime time yet. Will try again in a few months.

Unfortunately all these services are co located on the same towers so if there is a problem (lightning, wind or WAPA they are all likely to be down. Only difference is BBVI has skilled people living on STX so they are more likely to be able to fix outages faster.

Jim

Wow, Jim, thanks for the info. I work out of my home and internet is crucial to my business. I have BBVI and Innovative for my backup. Never thought of using iPhone tethered to laptop. How does that work?

If your phone is running the latest version of the I-phone software 4.?? you can use your I-phone as a modem. You also may or may not need to have the latest I-phone.

The other option is to jailbreak your I-phone and then download a program such as PDA Net. Since I am on one of AT&T's original no limit data plans I can download all the data I want without worrying about limits. If you want to jailbreak and unlock your I-phone Google the topic and read the various posts regarding how to do it and where to get the software required for free or a small donation on line. If your I-phone is running the latest version of the I-phone software you may have to wait until someone hacks this version and the updated jailbreak software is available.

Jim

I have iPhone 4 and runs on the latest version so I guess I have to wait on the jailbreak. But sorry for the ignorance but how do I use it as a modem? Is there another cable I need to use?

You use the standard charging cable supplied with the phone, one end in computer's usb port the other into the phone.

You also can make the connection using wifi on your computer and wifi on your phone. It works and is supported in Pda Net, but it drains your phones battery rapidly using both radios simultaneously. In fact the phone often get so warm it won't except a charge while it is being used with both radios on.

Jim

http://www.myappleguide.com/blogs/iphone-world/2280/how-tether-iphone-3g-over-att

How to tether an Iphone

Most internet capable/plan cell phones can be used as a modem. That's how I got through Omar.
ATT charges extra for tethering. I had an HTC with Windows Mobile 6 during Omar. There was a hidden file you could start up to bypass the blocking of the phone's modem software.

That said, your iphone already browses the net and has apps to access email, etc. During an extended outage, I use my phone to access my email and database. to reroute my mail to my phone (since my laptop is offline), I access my mailserver over the phone and forward email from there to my gmail account, then just use my gmail app on my iphone to read/respond. Cramped screen, yes, but okay for a couple of days.

This has been a great topic, we have downsized our business in the states (Florida) as well - and I am now working from a home office...... we are looking to "re-invent" ourselves and possibly make the move to VI.

Keep it up, this is all great information!

Wife and I are both Realtor's in Fl as well - but our main business is in automotive retail (website parts) and a full service machine shop that will not be moving to VI!

Mike