Island Internet, the best company?

Broadband VI hands down.

There's RELIABLE internet here?? Haha! J/K....I have Innovative's DSL for about $100/mo, with my phone (maybe I should look at my bill once in a while...I have it on autopay, so I don't look at it...)...it's pretty reliable here on STT...then again, my definition of 'pretty reliable' may have been affected by my living here for so many years! Haha! It goes out a couple times a week, on average, but not for too long...sometimes only 5 minutes, sometimes a couple hours...it's been better in the last year or so. The new Choice is supposed to be good, but I haven't heard from anyone with firsthand experience...heard good things about Broadband VI, too...from their website:

Residential Service

768 kbps download and 512 kbps upload - $49.95 per month and a $199 installation fee

1.5 Mbps (1536 kbps) download and 1 Mbps (1024 kbps) upload - $99.95 per month and a $199 installation fee

Broadband VI hands down.

Any dead zones, is Broadband VI a line-of-sight or is it hard wired to the home?

I heard the Madeleine Villa area has line of sight issues with cell phones.

Thanks for the info folks.

Sundial

We just switched from Choice to Broadband VI at work on a 1 Mbps (total up and down) for $600 per month. At home we have Choice at $49.99 per month with 512k (total up and down).

The lightning strike everyone heard yesterday around 9 a.m. that seemed to travel 10 seconds was the Mt. Welcome Broadband tower. We seem to always be out every time there is lightning...and the part always takes several days to get so we won't have internet for a few days this week.

Just went into Choice office to inquire about a rumored new speed they have and were amazed that it was true. They had two shipments already of the boxes which were all gone this past Saturday for 3Mbps at $55 with $99 installation!

We placed our name on the list to get the next shipment....Tuesday! I will let you know how it is and if this is the real price.

Before this newfound speed, we were ready to go get Broadband at home.

Good to Know marlene, 2 days with out internet . . . OUCH, guess it's good to here this now.
Weehaa!! 😎 2 days off work, you know something?
I might get to like storms on the island, just as long as I don't lose a few hours of work.
I'm thinking . . . I'll slowly turn into a paranoid file backer, did that strike fry the computers
by chance, any special surge protectors you need to use?

The Mt. Welcome tower is a line of site which is a signal for most of Gallows Bay area. If you are in any other part of the island you'll have internet. I think all of St. Thomas and St. John got hit as well with Broadband towers.

Sundial, your computer and all electronics need back up batteries as well as surge protection. It is standard at any work to have several UPS devices.

We just switched from Choice to Broadband VI at work on a 1 Mbps (total up and down) for $600 per month. At home we have Choice at $49.99 per month with 512k (total up and down).

The lightning strike everyone heard yesterday around 9 a.m. that seemed to travel 10 seconds was the Mt. Welcome Broadband tower. We seem to always be out every time there is lightning...and the part always takes several days to get so we won't have internet for a few days this week.

Just went into Choice office to inquire about a rumored new speed they have and were amazed that it was true. They had two shipments already of the boxes which were all gone this past Saturday for 3Mbps at $55 with $99 installation!

We placed our name on the list to get the next shipment....Tuesday! I will let you know how it is and if this is the real price.

Before this newfound speed, we were ready to go get Broadband at home.

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH?!? Seriously? For 1Mbps? Is that a typo?

I know the infrastructure here is expensive compared to the mainland, but COME ON. That's outrageous.

*sigh*

The Choice prices/speeds are for real. It's new, so whether the service is reliable remains an open question, but good GOD does BBVI def need the competition if those are their going rates.

IT

The Mt. Welcome tower is a line of site which is a signal for most of Gallows Bay area. If you are in any other part of the island you'll have internet. I think all of St. Thomas and St. John got hit as well with Broadband towers.

Sundial, your computer and all electronics need back up batteries as well as surge protection. It is standard at any work to have several UPS devices.

UPS Devices?

Never heard that term, is that an island thing? And more importantly what does it mean?

Thanks all for the insights.

Sundial

An uninterruptible power supply, also uninterruptible power source, UPS or battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically the utility mains, fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary or emergency power system or standby generator in that it will provide instantaneous or near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions by means of one or more attached batteries.

An uninterruptible power supply, also uninterruptible power source, UPS or battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically the utility mains, fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary or emergency power system or standby generator in that it will provide instantaneous or near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions by means of one or more attached batteries.

Ahh, and are they device specific, as in something that hooks up to just one computer or can you have other things such as monitors, modems, printers, ect. ect. running off them and what is the typical cost for a small to average size UPS?

Thanks,

Sundial

We just switched from Choice to Broadband VI at work on a 1 Mbps (total up and down) for $600 per month. At home we have Choice at $49.99 per month with 512k (total up and down).

The lightning strike everyone heard yesterday around 9 a.m. that seemed to travel 10 seconds was the Mt. Welcome Broadband tower. We seem to always be out every time there is lightning...and the part always takes several days to get so we won't have internet for a few days this week.

Just went into Choice office to inquire about a rumored new speed they have and were amazed that it was true. They had two shipments already of the boxes which were all gone this past Saturday for 3Mbps at $55 with $99 installation!

We placed our name on the list to get the next shipment....Tuesday! I will let you know how it is and if this is the real price.

Before this newfound speed, we were ready to go get Broadband at home.

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH?!? Seriously? For 1Mbps? Is that a typo?

I know the infrastructure here is expensive compared to the mainland, but COME ON. That's outrageous.

*sigh*

The Choice prices/speeds are for real. It's new, so whether the service is reliable remains an open question, but good GOD does BBVI def need the competition if those are their going rates.

IT

From the horse's mouth:

768 kbps download and 512 kbps upload - $49.95 per month and a $199 installation fee

1.5 Mbps (1536 kbps) download and 1 Mbps (1024 kbps) upload - $99.95 per month and a $199 installation fee

512 kbps upload and download - $99.95 per month and a $199 installation fee

768 kbps upload and download - $199.00 per month and a $199 installation fee

1 Mbps (1024 kbps) upload and download - $249.00 per month and a $199 installation fee

1.5 Mbps (1536 kbps) upload and download - $349.00 per month and a $199 installation fee

2 Mbps (2048 kbps)upload and download - $600.00 per month and a $199 installation fee

3 Mbps (3072 kbps) upload and download - $1200.00 per month and a $199 installation fee

Up to 45 Mbps available. Please contact us for rates.

-DD

Choice Communications 4G internet service 1Meg $45 or 3Meg $55 no contract
St Croix, St Thomas, and St John

Cell phone service too.
http://vi.choice-wireless.com/

So can anyone explain UPS more in depth?

How many things can hook up to them, are the portable, what size are they, costs, and where on the island sells them?

Someone even mentioned a battery/flywheel, is that the same device? And what "Brand" should I look for?

Thanks,

Sundial

Depending on the size of UPS, you can plug in multiple devices. Infact if big enough (and there are big ones) you can power lights as well as computers... the amount depends completely on battery size, and how much $$ you want to spend. For typical application, the unit would be the size of a toaster, costing $100 to $300. cost is usually proportional to capacity. Some even have software to automatically safely power down a computer safely when the battery is getting low. Best to buy one stateside and bring with you. Check any Computer outlet store.

Excellent information thanks much,

One question, do they trickle charge while not in use, then when the power goes out, they're ready to go?

Sundial

APC is one of the leading UPS producers. The unit will automatically kick on when there is a power outage, brownout, or surge. We have numerous power interruptions here and a UPS will give you enough time to shut down your computer, or get your backup generator started.

Wherever you decide to rent make sure there is a backup power solution, and someone to activate it day and night.

Not to be mean, but the answer to some of your basic questions are just a "Google" away.

http://www.apc.com/corporate/index.cfm

http://tinyurl.com/RockyDock

Not mean at all, ever Google "UPS" *wink* - 20 pages of you got mail!

I needed to ask more questions to do a better Google search.

But thanks for the info.

UPS sort of fits with the saying: " If you don't know where you're going, you won't know when you get there".

I know you are asking easy questions, but after you get here December 1 you will see that there are no easy answers for best cell phone; wifi; place to live etc.