No internet; is there a way to get VRS?

Reba

Reba

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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?
 
Is there a reason they can't get internet service? Many rural areas do provide it. If they are getting the video equipment free, do they need a computer?
 
Bottesini said:
Is there a reason they can't get internet service. Many rural areas do provide it. If they are getting the video equipment free, do they need a computer?
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They are very poor.

Not that they need the computer. It's just to explain that they have no cable or internet of any kind.
 
Other than satellite or mobile data I am not sure what other opportunities your friend might have to be able to use the internet/VRS in the comfort of their home. If there is a mobile data signal available, at the expense of fees they can get something like Verizon's 4G LTE hotspot modem or Sprint's WiMax hotspots. It's not exactly cheap, but the connectivity saturation is much better and higher than local broadband companies.

Generally to watch streaming video (like Hulu) it is recommended to have 2+ megabits or higher (256kb/sec) and the same should hold theoretically true for uploading/transferring video back. Depending on the strength of the CDMA/LTE signals in your friend's area, you might be able to receive 4G (LTE or WiMax) speeds of up to:

- Verizon's LTE network boasts speeds from anywhere of 10-70 megabits/sec (1280-8960 kilobytes/sec) depending on the location, if 4G-capable which is more than enough for streaming VGA.

- Sprint's WiMAX network is considerably slower than Verizon's LTE service, but still more than adequate for transfers. It's generally considered to be anywhere from 3-10 megabits/sec (384-1280kb/s)

If your friend does not have WiMAX or LTE data signals in the area, the fastest they can receive is standard WCDMA data transfers which are often anywhere from 0.20 - 1.x megabits/sec, which is too slow for video conferencing. A latter part that is more important but can only be determined when you have an actual product, are ping/latency tests that determine how "smooth" content is transferred. You can read more about that here.
 
VacationGuy234 said:
The public library..
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They have VRS?

If so, I can mention that to them. The other problem is transportation, so I'm not sure how far away they would have to go.

If they lived closer to me, I would have more information but they live about 200 miles from me.
 
naisho said:
Other than satellite or mobile data I am not sure what other opportunities your friend might have to be able to use the internet/VRS in the comfort of their home. If there is a mobile data signal available, at the expense of fees they can get something like Verizon's 4G LTE hotspot modem or Sprint's WiMax hotspots. It's not exactly cheap, but the connectivity saturation is much better and higher than local broadband companies.

Generally to watch streaming video (like Hulu) it is recommended to have 2+ megabits or higher (256kb/sec) and the same should hold theoretically true for uploading/transferring video back. Depending on the strength of the CDMA/LTE signals in your friend's area, you might be able to receive 4G (LTE or WiMax) speeds of up to:

- Verizon's LTE network boasts speeds from anywhere of 10-70 megabits/sec (1280-8960 kilobytes/sec) depending on the location, if 4G-capable which is more than enough for streaming VGA.

- Sprint's WiMAX network is considerably slower than Verizon's LTE service, but still more than adequate for transfers. It's generally considered to be anywhere from 3-10 megabits/sec (384-1280kb/s)

If your friend does not have WiMAX or LTE data signals in the area, the fastest they can receive is standard WCDMA data transfers which are often anywhere from 0.20 - 1.x megabits/sec, which is too slow for video conferencing. A latter part that is more important but can only be determined when you have an actual product, are ping/latency tests that determine how "smooth" content is transferred. You can read more about that here.
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The main goal is to get VRS service. They aren't interested in watching Hulu programs.

Maybe I should be trying to find a source for paying for the connection.
 
Wirelessly posted

" Maybe I should be trying to find a source for paying for the connection."

Yes, that sounds like what would be most helpful. Local or state Deaf advocacy might help w/ guidance for getting funding.
 
Reba said:
The main goal is to get VRS service. They aren't interested in watching Hulu programs.
Click to expand...

The example with Hulu is to give you an idea of how fast of a connection is mandatory for streaming videos one way, depending on what service you are looking into for your friend. Assuming if being able to see videos is the end goal. Since video conferencing relies on both incoming and outgoing transmissions, you get an idea of what service is required at the minimum to be able to experience it adequately.

I apologize if you are already aware of this.
 
naisho said:
The example with Hulu is to give you an idea of how fast of a connection is mandatory for streaming videos one way, depending on what service you are looking into for your friend. Assuming if being able to see videos is the end goal. Since video conferencing relies on both incoming and outgoing transmissions, you get an idea of what service is required at the minimum to be able to experience it adequately.

I apologize if you are already aware of this.
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I understand that the connection must be that fast; I'm just trying to figure out how to get that connection without paying a lot of money for it. Right now, they have no connection at all. :(

They had an Ojo a few years ago but it quit working and the service stopped, so I was wondering about something such as Sorenson VRS but it requires that the person have high speed internet.
 
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?
Click to expand...

no internet... no cable.... no computer.... TTY's no good... no transportation... very poor... wow extremely difficult to come up with even couple of suggestions. in fact - probably non-existent unless there is somebody out there kind enough to donate a computer or pay for basic internet service.

does he have a cellphone like smartphone? if not - oye... I don't know what else to suggest... maybe I'll ask derek to donate a bicycle so he can ride to public library.
 
Reba said:
Good idea but I don't think they can afford that. :(
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Priced from $49.99/month!

Exede Broadband takes users far past what satellite internet could do before. Before this, satellite internet was seen primarily as the faster alternative to dial-up internet. Now rural internet options are no longer limited as they were before. ViaSat's new Exede Internet Service also changes the landscape for rural business owners and those who need remote internet access for mission-critical purposes (think disaster relief). Those users now have a real broadband internet option now. Exede Broadband high speed internet will also surely be used for internet connection redundancy for many businesses.
Exede Internet Service - Pricing


exede12-small.png


exede5-small.png



duh 7.5 gb data cap for $50 month lol
 
Jiro said:
no internet... no cable.... no computer.... TTY's no good... no transportation... very poor... wow extremely difficult to come up with even couple of suggestions. in fact - probably non-existent unless there is somebody out there kind enough to donate a computer or pay for basic internet service.

does he have a cellphone like smartphone? if not - oye... I don't know what else to suggest... maybe I'll ask derek to donate a bicycle so he can ride to public library.
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No smartphone. Hearing family member has a basic cell phone. No immediate family members have a computer. I thought about a computer donation but I don't know if anyone in the family could operate and maintain it. :dunno: But that would still require the internet service.

My friend used to have a TTY but it wasn't really effective for good communication. I don't think they have the landline anymore.

I'll try to find out more info about local resources but it's hard to do. I'll send a letter to them tomorrow. (Yes, snail mail.)

When the family has to travel out of town, they use the train.
 
Reba said:
No smartphone. Hearing family member has a basic cell phone. No immediate family members have a computer. I thought about a computer donation but I don't know if anyone in the family could operate and maintain it. :dunno: But that would still require the internet service.

My friend used to have a TTY but it wasn't really effective for good communication. I don't think they have the landline anymore.

I'll try to find out more info about local resources but it's hard to do. I'll send a letter to them tomorrow. (Yes, snail mail.)

When the family has to travel out of town, they use the train.
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based on that, I'm afraid there's really no good suggestion for him. The only viable suggestion I see at this point is a bicycle so he can ride to public library to use computer.
 
Jiro said:
based on that, I'm afraid there's really no good suggestion for him. The only viable suggestion I see at this point is a bicycle so he can ride to public library to use computer.
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Even that might be difficult, for various reasons that I can't go into.

I hate to say this but in America there are many poor deaf people who are out of the modern technology communication loop. :(
 
Does he have any other disability than deaf? if so he should get more help from the deaf service or some kind of help from there. I know several deaf people with low function gets help by putting in a proper living such as section 8 and food stamps like that.
 
Frisky Feline said:
Does he have any other disability than deaf? if so he should get more help from the deaf service or some kind of help from there. I know several deaf people with low function gets help by putting in a proper living such as section 8 and food stamps like that.
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Only deaf.

Full-time steady worker, married, and spouse works.

I'm going to put a hearing family member in touch with the state Association of the Deaf to see if there are any more services they can either provide or connect them with.

I would love to have the Deaf friend have direct contact with the association but without a videophone that's hard to do.

For any older Deaf AD members, think back to the 1960's. That's how it is still is some communities. To make it more difficult, imagine being the only deaf adult in your rural community.
 
Chevy57 said:
New high speed broadband satellite now be launched in any rural and urban country. That s Exede. Charge about $50/mo.


WildBlue Exede | Exede Internet Service | Exede
Click to expand...

GuySmoke420 said:
Priced from $49.99/month!

Exede Broadband takes users far past what satellite internet could do before. Before this, satellite internet was seen primarily as the faster alternative to dial-up internet. Now rural internet options are no longer limited as they were before. ViaSat's new Exede Internet Service also changes the landscape for rural business owners and those who need remote internet access for mission-critical purposes (think disaster relief). Those users now have a real broadband internet option now. Exede Broadband high speed internet will also surely be used for internet connection redundancy for many businesses.
Exede Internet Service - Pricing


exede12-small.png


exede5-small.png



duh 7.5 gb data cap for $50 month lol
Click to expand...

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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