Tag: internet

Local Internet Providers for Tubac, Rio Rico, and Nogales

Posted on by jstudios_b6iyir

Local Internet Providers for Tubac, Rio Rico, and Nogales

I follow a local FB group and this was a common question there, season after season, what local internet provider is good for me? After I received the same question from a client, I thought it would be nice to put everything in one spot instead of searching through posts and recommendations. I honestly don’t know what would be good for you, it all depends on a variety of factors like location, and most important to my mind, your budget. Sometimes you have to live with a service for awhile to know if it is good for you, and if you like their customer service, too.

My list has the contact numbers or websites for residential and business aspects of a local internet provider. I included a little fact finding for any particulars about line of sight, contract lengths, phone availability, and vacation holds.

You do need to call and verify that the local internet provider services are available at your address. Some of these companies use line of sight towers or satellite. Maybe some that don’t service your area now may expand later on.

I did create a spreadsheet comparing internet speeds, calculating plans from month to month, six month, and year long terms, and …. I see you dozing off there. That got too big to share, but if you call me, I can email you some averages or even do the calling for you. 

The information was gathered at the beginning of 2020. If you’re a local provider, and I missed you or need to update something, please email me and I’ll update things.  Email: jstudiosdesign@gmail.com

Okay, here we go (in no particular order, not sponsored, and I’m not endorsing any of these).

Feeling like a baby trying to use the computer

My response to some websites. …wha??

T = Tubac     R = Rio Rico       N = Nogales

 Simply Bits (T) 

  • 520-545-0400
  • 5225 Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson 85750
  • They need line of sight to your home.
  • They use fixed point microwave towers.
  • Business services available

Contracts

  • 2 year minimum

Phone

  • Business only

Winter residents

  • The vacation hold is about $45 a month. You can cancel for $50 without a restart fee.

 

Bluespan (T) 

Contracts

  • Month-to-month, 1, 2, 3 year

Phone

  • Residential & business

Winter residents

  • Vacation hold is available on the month-to-month plan, for which you’ll be paying for all of the equipment up front, which isn’t bad if you keep it longer than 3 years
  • 3 year contract has a $15 monthly minimum charge for a vacation hold.

Sprocket  (T, R, N)   

  • 520-619-0536, Sales retailer for the area is Nicole Itule-Busboom in Tubac
  • “Point to point broadband high speed internet. Locally owned and operated.”
  • Tower is on Elephant Head, two in Nogales and a couple in Tubac
  • You do have to purchase your own router, called Netgear Nighthawk, which you can find at Walmart. I’ve seen it around $100-400.
  • Business services available

Contracts

  • It’s between a two year minimum or no contract. Website and retailer say different things.

Phone

  • Not yet, but it is in the works

Winter residents

  • Vacation plan is available, one turn on and one turn off is free, each additional on/off is $20. 
  • They don’t have a cancelation fee, but to restart is $99 since they have to reinstall their hardware.

 Hughes Net (T, R, N) 

Contracts

  • 2 year minimum

Phone

  • Rather interesting, they have international plans, it ranges between $10-23, on top of the regular bill

Winter residents

  • They do have an installation purchase, so you don’t have to lease the equipment, but I couldn’t find any mention of a vacation hold.

Mediacom (R, N) 

Contracts

  • 2 years

Phone

  • Available for residential and business

Winter residents

  • There is a fee for everything. Here is the page with all of the fees – Rate Card.

JetPack from Verizon (T, R, N) 

Contracts

  • 2 year contract or purchase the device

Phone

  • A phone can be purchased with the device, or buy the JetPack separately. You’ll be purchasing their data plan in any case.
  • They do have international travel plans.

Winter residents

  • You might buy this if you get cell phone service, but not internet service for the area you’re in.

 Viasat / Excede (T, R, N)

Contracts

  • 2 year contract or $300 fee for no contract

Phone

  • Available for residential (6 month minimum) and business (2 year minimum). The phone(s) each have its own monthly maintenance fee, installation fee, and activation fee.

Winter residents

  • They have something called a Hibernation Plan. The reduced monthly bill is about $10, not including all lease equipment and other services you might add. 
  • They have a help service that you can add for a monthly fee.

Century Link (T, R, N)

Contracts

  • I couldn’t find mention of any, so I imagine they’ll let you know once you call. Right now they’re moving towards something like a lifetime plan no matter what service you get.

Phone

  •  Available for residential and business

Winter residents

  • Vacation hold is a reduced bill. However, after 9 months and they don’t hear from you, billing will return to the normal bill.