Living far out in the country has its perks: quiet, fewer neighbors, and more privacy. The flipside is that modern amenities like TV can be challenging, but I’ve found creative solutions to stay entertained despite limited internet and cable access.
The Challenge of Living Out “In the Sticks”
Here’s the thing. I live in what many would consider “Nowhere, Texas,” which means embracing rural technology’s limitations. The local cable provider is practically nonexistent, meaning we were stuck with about ten channels, most of which are boring at best and unreliable at worst. In addition to that, our internet connection was about as fast as a snail on a lazy Sunday, so something like streaming Netflix was a pipe dream.
So, how do I get my daily fill of TV?
Solutions? Streaming vs. Satellite
Faced with these challenges, I had to get inventive. First, I looked into satellite TV. It was the perfect solution, promising over a hundred channels with crystal-clear reception (most of the time). However, it comes with its own problems—specifically, the threat of bad weather and rain fade. Since we get frequent storms in our area, I don’t want to deal with this.
Next, I explored different streaming services, which I’m sure many of you would have guessed. However, our slow-as-heck internet means spending hours of buffering for a 30-minute show, in a simple yet harsh reality. Now, that’s not all bad, as it means we download our favorites during off-peak internet usage times to speed things up a bit, in turn allowing us to watch our shows buffer-free.
It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s better than nothing.
Satellite Wi-Fi Is the Real Winner
Luckily, in recent years, internet tech has evolved, even in our small, sleepy town. High-speed internet options are becoming increasingly accessible, no matter how slowly it is happening. My family was one of the first in the area to get and use Starlink, which allowed us to sign up for Netflix, Disney+, and Sling for live television shows that don’t go down with the weather as satellite TV does.
Another game-changer has been streaming devices like Amazon Fire Stick and Roku. These compact gadgets are designed to optimize content streaming, even on slower internet connections. Pair that with strategic downloading, and we can enjoy most of our shows without any problems.
Living out in the middle of nowhere has taught me quite a bit about resourcefulness, especially when it comes to watching the shows I enjoy. Those who live in the city can just press a button and have instant access, but we rural folks have to battle everything from the elements to tech and more. Luckily, it is usually worth it. Not always, but usually.
