Internet in the Boonies when cell phones do not have service.

One thing that I have noticed is that you can get the internet in some decent-sized cities. And just about always at a cell phone store if you can talk them out of the Password. I have always found web access at a Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, McDonald's, Burger King. Public libraries, truck stops, Denny's. Now some of these will want to charge you and if they do just get a receipt and you have another deduction for taxes. If you do use a public Wi-Fi have a VPN on your phone, tablet, or laptop cause you never know when someone is going to cause you harm and there is another tax deduction. Oh, and before I forget if you shop hotels, motels they will usually have a loyalty card that should allow you access to their wi-fi network.

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Great tips 2stepps, thanks!

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
McDonalds is always a good bet cause, they are usually one of the few places that has wifi and is located throughout small towns in the boonies. Worst comes to worse hotel lobbies usually have free wifi to connect to. These are helpful tips from veteran road warriors.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2020 10:41PM by BuffaloNY101.
Sometimes, weather interferes with connectivity. In some places, lack of connectivity interferes with connectivity. Once, during a phone gig, a customer from the early job told me that they have only one option for cell service where they live. Their neighbors have a choice. But what do you do? If you add too much, you lose rural America...

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I have never seen a JITB in the boonies, a Starbucks maybe but it is not really the boonies. That would qualify as a few miles up the road from the boonies. Although some of you will think that Tulsa OK is in the boonies.

@kenasch wrote:

Starbucks and Jack in the Box as well.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2020 07:44PM by 2stepps.
@2stepps wrote:

I have never seen a JITB in the boonies, a Starbucks maybe but it is not really the boonies. That would qualify as a few miles up the road from the boonies. Although some of you will think that Tulsa OK is in the boonies.

@kenasch wrote:

Starbucks and Jack in the Box as well.

Maybe JITB in Ukiah, Tehachapi, Wasco, Calexico or Thermal? They are all fairly "out there."
Local government offices are often a good bet. Sometimes with a password, sometimes without. Subway restaurants are good too—always a password but staff will usually share. High schools (outside of school hours) also an option

I’ve often find the McDonald’s to be so slow uploading photos that it’s in unusable in small towns. Too many people using it at the same time
Libraries! Even if they're not open, the wifi is usually on and can be accessed in the parking lot or near the building.
@2stepps wrote:

I have never seen a JITB in the boonies, a Starbucks maybe but it is not really the boonies. That would qualify as a few miles up the road from the boonies. Although some of you will think that Tulsa OK is in the boonies.

and here I thought the entire state of Oklahoma was the boonies LOL.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
For pretty basic needs (email, simple reports), I've found the most any fast food place or coffee shop works well. However, when I need to upload larger files (especially video), libraries seem to have the best internet speeds around.... I also find it worthwhile to invest in a cell phone plan with very good coverage and a strong network in the areas I am most likely to shop.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
You use the word, "Boonies." Your definition and my definition aren't the same. Libraries? Lowes? Fast Food? Hotels?

smiling smiley


In rural Iowa and parts of Missouri, Caseys stores are a good source of free wifi. Many smaller towns have that brand of convenience store.

Hospitals, outside the ER, often have free patient wifi that will be good.


@2stepps wrote:

One thing that I have noticed is that you can get the internet in some decent-sized cities. And just about always at a cell phone store if you can talk them out of the Password. I have always found web access at a Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, McDonald's, Burger King. Public libraries, truck stops, Denny's. Now some of these will want to charge you and if they do just get a receipt and you have another deduction for taxes. If you do use a public Wi-Fi have a VPN on your phone, tablet, or laptop cause you never know when someone is going to cause you harm and there is another tax deduction. Oh, and before I forget if you shop hotels, motels they will usually have a loyalty card that should allow you access to their wi-fi network.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2020 09:43PM by heartlandcanuck.
@SoCalMama wrote:

@2stepps wrote:

I have never seen a JITB in the boonies, a Starbucks maybe but it is not really the boonies. That would qualify as a few miles up the road from the boonies. Although some of you will think that Tulsa OK is in the boonies.

@kenasch wrote:

Starbucks and Jack in the Box as well.

Maybe JITB in Ukiah, Tehachapi, Wasco, Calexico or Thermal? They are all fairly "out there."

Depends on what you mean by boonies. I'm in the Pacific Northwest, and even some of our most rural areas have them. Some Starbucks are even in towns of 2000 people or fewer.( I think the smallest town I've known to have a Starbucks had a population of like 800-1000, but that went out of business.)

If it's like a 45 minute to a few hours' trip between you and your nearest neighbors, then that's a totally different story.

Starbucks is one of my go-tos for free Internet connections. Fortunately, I usually don't need to use it because of the carrier/plan I have.
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