2018 Spring & Garden

Page 4 2018 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 2, 2018 Many people who are shopping to rent or buy a new home in the country find their dream home with trees, ponds and acreage, quickly snatch it up, only to find that there is no internet service available at their new address. Home shoppers need to ask their realtor what specific internet services are available for that address, and include in the purchase contract a clause that if internet is not available, the contract is null and void. There are two categories of internet service: wired and wireless. Wired internet comes in three flavors: fiber optic, cable internet, and DSL. There are also three flavors of wireless service: satellite, cell service and terrestrial wireless (often called WISP). All of these choices are usually available in towns and cities of size, but in rural areas there are fewer choices. All of these provider-types are capable of dependable service, and home owners need to shop to determine which choice makes the most sense for their needs and their location. Internet service is now a home essential I nternet service at home is no longer the service that you casually use once a day or so to check your email. Now everything is connected: appliances, phones, tablets, computers, weather stations, game consoles, security cams and smart-tv. The internet has become so integrated into our lives that when it goes out, it is just like when the electricity goes out: we don’t know what to do! By Jim Youngquist Continued ■ ■