No internet; is there a way to get VRS?

Foxrac said:
Be aware about high latency (ping) so videophone require low latency to be smooth without lag. All satellite internet have much higher latency, even worse than dial up.
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Does that mean you don't recommend satellite?
 
Reba said:
I have a Deaf friend who lives in a very remote rural area with no Deaf community. This friend has no internet service. This friend is really cut off from communication with family and friends except for face-to-face contact. This friend had TTY but it didn't work out as a feasible means of real communication.

The state will provide free video equipment and VRS but there has to be high-speed internet service and TV in the home first.

This friend has no computer or internet service.

Do you have any suggestions?
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I'm really irritated about our neighborhood because we only have DSL that capped at 3 mb/s and hardly to hit 3 mb/s with extreme slow at most nights. I called Windstream and told that need to be upgrade to faster internet because our family could share a enough bandwidth so they have no plan to upgrade at all. We don't have cable service in our neighborhood and we are not in rural area but just suburb. Alabama Broadband (cable company in our city) told me that they cannot put service in our neighborhood because Charter bought them and will takeover in July. It means we have to wait until Charter kicks the service in our area. I know some families in our neighborhood complained about slow internet and limited bandwidth.

I had to configured my router to put videophone as high priority to take more bandwidth.
 
Foxrac said:
Be aware about high latency (ping) so videophone require low latency to be smooth without lag. All satellite internet have much higher latency, even worse than dial up.
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Deaf person has Exede sat to work with Sorenson VP. See vlog

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJeyqv2ufcI&feature=youtube_gdata_player]Sorenson VP200 work with EXEDE High Speed Internet Satelittle - YouTube[/ame]
 
Like I was trying to say earlier in my first post, there are only two realistic options I can think of and that is satellite or mobile signals. But nobody can really know what's the latency like until they have the actual product in their hands or be able to test it from someone nearby them who owns the same service.

Do any nearby neighbors of that deaf family have some form of internet? Can you find out which they use?

Can a SC OVR help them pay for the internet service? It shouldn't really run more than 30-80 a month depending on how much they use.
 
Foxrac said:
Ok but satellite internet isn't up so well in rain, just like Directv and Dish Network, there are a lot of interference during rain or bad weather.

They have bandwidth cap as well and up to 7.5 GB isn't enough for me because I usually download much as 100 GB in one month.
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Have you ever tried looking into the Verizon Jetpack/MiFi hotspot units or Sprint WiMAX modems?

I've seen the Verizon units have 5-12mbits/s with LTE speeds, if there is LTE signal in the area. Lots of people said decent pings like 50-90's average, but I felt it depends on location. That's good enough for video.

Not sure about their data cap though maybe have unlimited plan.
 
naisho said:
Have you ever tried looking into the Verizon Jetpack/MiFi hotspot units or Sprint WiMAX modems?

I've seen the Verizon units have 5-12mbits/s with LTE speeds, if there is LTE signal in the area. Lots of people said decent pings like 50-90's average, but I felt it depends on location. That's good enough for video.

Not sure about their data cap though maybe have unlimited plan.
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Verizon and Sprint has data cap for personal hotspot.

Sprint doesn't have 4G in my area.
 
naisho said:
Like I was trying to say earlier in my first post, there are only two realistic options I can think of and that is satellite or mobile signals. But nobody can really know what's the latency like until they have the actual product in their hands or be able to test it from someone nearby them who owns the same service.
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I'll have to find out who services that area.

In SC, each cable company is given a geographic area of control. For example, my area is covered by Time Warner, and the next town over is covered by Comcast. AT&T has recently somehow gotten permission to cover both areas. It's confusing (I suspect there's some politics involved.)

Do any nearby neighbors of that deaf family have some form of internet? Can you find out which they use?[/quote]
I have my doubts but I'll ask.

Can a SC OVR help them pay for the internet service? It shouldn't really run more than 30-80 a month depending on how much they use.
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I'll put the family in touch with the state organization.
 
Reba said:
In SC, each cable company is given a geographic area of control. For example, my area is covered by Time Warner, and the next town over is covered by Comcast. AT&T has recently somehow gotten permission to cover both areas. It's confusing (I suspect there's some politics involved.)
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When I was in WV/VA/PA/MD area, I saw the same thing as well in the sprawls outside of the metro cities. It's all corporate monopolies and I am sure there are politics involved. Comcast was the only major landline service provider in my area and there were no alternatives at all.

Reba said:
I have my doubts but I'll ask.
I'll put the family in touch with the state organization.
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Great, that should probably find an answer quicker if any neighbors are hopefully using some kind of internet.
I hope OVR can come up with something. I'd like to think having a VP should fall under a high necessity for any deaf person.
 
What was the problem with the TTY when it was working? They would need assistance for the first cost but the basic cell can work with a TTY.

What I used was the Krown PocketComm (a hand held unit about the size of a Droid 2 smart phone) which has been discontinued probably because of too many having the problems I had which was it being delicate compared to a cell phone with repairs being needed about yearly. I connected it to a LG 3280 from TracFone and it did work well when in good condition. My use was with our state relay service and VCO.

BUT . . . Krown makes full sized TTY's that can be connected to a cell phone if the option is ordered at the time of original purchase. I don't know if any other TTY manufacturers off these or not.

What is available, of course, varies from state to state but Illinois offers a selection a equipment free with just certification from doctor or audi of need. Unfortunately, here the TTY with cell connection is not one of them because the cell companies (like ATT, Verizon, Sprint etc.) don't pay into the state like the landline companies do.
 
Jane B. said:
What about speech? You haven't mentioned if they are strictly voice off or not. VCO with Relay Service may be the answer for at least some communication.
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Practically speaking, voice off.
 
Reba said:
I have a Deaf friend who lives in a very remote rural area with no Deaf community. This friend has no internet service. This friend is really cut off from communication with family and friends except for face-to-face contact. This friend had TTY but it didn't work out as a feasible means of real communication.

The state will provide free video equipment and VRS but there has to be high-speed internet service and TV in the home first.

This friend has no computer or internet service.

Do you have any suggestions?
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If you are talking about a videophone such as ntouch VP, it is provided by Sorensen for free. Why don't you ask the company about it? Maybe they can help. As for VRS, FCC pays for it.
 
CrazyPaul said:
If you are talking about a videophone such as ntouch VP, it is provided by Sorensen for free. Why don't you ask the company about it? Maybe they can help. As for VRS, FCC pays for it.
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Yes, that's what I meant. The state provides certain equipment for free, and the VRS companies provide their equipment and services for free. The only glitch is the user has to provide his own internet or phone line connection. That part still comes out of the deaf person's pocket.
 
Reba said:
Yes, that's what I meant. The state provides certain equipment for free, and the VRS companies provide their equipment and services for free. The only glitch is the user has to provide his own internet or phone line connection. That part still comes out of the deaf person's pocket.
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Lifeline and/or Safelink? I just Googled it and there seem to be very different programs in different states. Here is a FCC site about it Lifeline: Affordable Telephone Service for Income-Eligible Consumers | FCC.gov
 
Better hurry, their grant is going to deplete soon. Right now they have limited offering and lucky it is landline High speed too.

I really see very limited option for this person. Satellite isn't good option due to latency (It all depends on how many people are using satellite at particular times. If it was low, perfect yes but if too many people are using it, it will slow down which will affect the video quality. Other issue with satellite is only 7.5GB cap. That would mean for VP call last about 4 hours a month before they start to throttle speed. Once throttle the speed, the VP will show poor video easily.

Chevy57 said:
Project Endeavor about landline high speed Internet discounting rate price?
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In order to get free Videophone from any VRS companies

One that is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
And knows sign language
and HIGH SPEED INTERNET (minimum is 256K)

That is three requirements needs to be met, I am sure this person met two of them but failed to meet third requirement.

I personally have seen many Deaf people in this very same situation. Most of them live far in rural areas or up in mountains where ISP isn't willing to laid cables that would cost them over tens of thousands dollars just for few customers. It is not their own economically viable. This does not mean ISP is greedy, they need to have revenue to keep themselves running rather going broke and going out of business.

One of my good friend who happens to live up in the mountain, his house happen to be about 2,000 feet from the ISP cable end. ISP refused to add another 2,000 feet for him because it is way too expensive for them(ISP). Just think this way, add 2,000 feet would cost ISP maybe 10,000 dollars, how long does monthly of 50 dollars pay off that 10,000 dollars installment (for ISP)? Don't forget the maintenance. That is why ISP isn't willing to go that way.

Finally, if that customer has wireless Internet service available in their area, like Clearwire, Cricket, etc THEN maybe it is worth the try. It may have issue with Video quality. I have seen some Deafies have success with these Wireless Internet Services. It is not a guarantee with Wireless Internet service. (Depends on distance from the tower and speed availability)
CrazyPaul said:
If you are talking about a videophone such as ntouch VP, it is provided by Sorensen for free. Why don't you ask the company about it? Maybe they can help. As for VRS, FCC pays for it.
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