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Comment by darren0 | Hacker News Reader

Is 4G/LTE connectivity also an issue? You've seen internet access brought to people through smart phones but I'm curious if the geography poses even more problems with that approach.

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Great question. I previously worked in a field where we relied upon mobile connectivity in this region for data collection, most carrier's coverage maps are low-resolution marketing bullshit based on theoretical detail--particularly in that area. That's the blunt observation from firsthand experience, I can probably name off a half-dozen areas where there is no signal to be had at all for miles. How that doesn't make it onto a coverage map is beyond me. Even when I am back in the area these days, there are several spots along highways US-19, US-58, US-23, etc., where calls will drop every single time you travel through the spot. Decent-sized towns have capable signal, but you leave those areas and the population density just doesn't support a carrier's business. I just wish their coverage maps painted a realistic picture.

The geography does pose a problem there. It's my understanding hardware on a cellular tower travels in a vertical beam, in addition to the more commonly understood horizontal beam. Altitude placement of towers is a factor as well. Altitude variance in those jagged mountains and rolling hills make for awful propagation. Radio/signals aren't my trade though, there's definitely somebody on HN who knows the specifics.

I live just a couple miles from town and have no cell phone service at my house. And it isn't even down in a valley. Forget LTE; cell service in general is really spotty in this region.

I'm currently and temporarily staying in central VA and I can't believe how bad internet access and cell service is here. I'm basically in between Charlottesville and Richmond along the I64 corridor and there is no viable broadband here. I have a satellite connection but the latency is too high to do any actual work over it. They finally put in a cell tower close enough to get 1 or 2 bars of LTE if I strategically place the phone near the window. Before I had stand outside just to make a call and even then it was a crapshoot. Now I can at least tether through my phone for internet access. But holy crap I had no idea it was like that down here when I moved. And it's not even that rural of an area. I'm only like 45min away from Richmond or Charlottesville.

OK a bit of self-promotion but this is what we help people all the time. You can either run a hotspot with external antennas or put in a booster. https://www.waveform.com

Happy to help if you want to email me.

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