Wireless internet FAQ
How do I get standalone internet?
Although many ISPs offer discounted plans when bundling with phone or cable, all of these plans are also available as standalone plans. If you’re currently getting your internet through a 4G or 5G phone plan but you don’t want the phone part, you can switch over to a home internet plan, which uses a Wi-Fi router instead of your phone. If portability is important to you, you could also look into getting a dedicated mobile hotspot.
How do I get Wi-Fi at home without a cable?
Any wireless internet plan can be used to set up a home Wi-Fi network using a Wi-Fi router. To do this, you simply need to take your Wi-Fi router and connect it to your modem or receiver using an ethernet cable. It’s also important to note that many modems come with a built in Wi-Fi router, so the device you got from your internet provider can probably be used to set up your home Wi-Fi network without purchasing any additional equipment.
To find out more about what makes a good Wi-Fi router, check out our recommendations for the best Wi-Fi routers.
Can cutting the cord save me money?
Cutting the cord and switching to a wireless internet plan can often save you money. This is especially true if your current plan is bundled with other services that you don’t need. Fixed wireless, 4G home internet, and 5G all average around the same price or cheaper than a cable connection.
Before cutting the cable, make sure that your new plan can give you the speed that you need. Both 4G home internet and fixed wireless are often cheaper than cable, but don’t offer the same speeds. 5G can match or beat cable in almost every way, which makes it a serious competitor to older cable networks.
What alternatives are there to cable?
The best alternatives to cable internet are fiber and 5G. Fiber has faster download speeds than cable and much faster upload speeds. 5G is on par with cable speeds and might soon overtake them. It also has the advantage of being wireless. Both 5G and fiber are better at dealing with high volumes of traffic than cable networks, which means your speeds won’t drop during peak hours.
Can I get satellite internet if I live in a city?
Yes, you can get satellite internet even if you live in an urban area with other options, though we suggest choosing another type of connection. Satellite has a lot of downsides. High latency makes video chat and online games difficult, while low data caps make streaming video impractical. It’s also much more expensive compared to other plans with similar speeds.
Because of these factors, we highly suggest going with another option (including other wireless options) over satellite unless it is your only choice.
Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about satellite internet, rural connectivity, livestreaming, and parental controls for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
