[PaulS]

There are a few options in the "satellite" internet/phone providers so check what you have available and see who is the cheapest with broadband. HughsNet is limited to 1Mbs unless you spend a lot of money and the weather can easily disrupt communications so the satellite phone is a good idea for emergencies. Check around to see if the locals use CB radio. You can get a message through to someone if you have enough people willing to repeat your signal - as long as you can trust them to send the message on. My second BOL has a lot of folks using CBs and we can get a message to the nearest town where there is a phone if we need to.

 

[PaulS]

The small two way radios are usually operating on the 2 meter band and the repeaters are not hardened so you may lose that ability if you are hit with a HEMP (High altitude nuclear EMP) (not the weed) but in the meantime they are hard to beat. I should tell you that some of the satellite providers do not support VoIP phone service so you have to get a different subscription for phone. Hughs is one that says it doesn't support VoIP phone service. There are probably local providers that do - at least that was what we found in our second BOL. It pays to check around - heck maybe your show will pick up the cost of it.

best wishes on your new home - winter is coming! you always have to remember - there are only two seasons - WINTER and GETTING READY FOR WINTER.