NextDNS and similar services basically host the pi-hole on your behalf. Pi-hole setup involves installing packages on a device that will handle your ad content filtering and related network configuration; NextDNS involves getting a URL to copy-paste into your phone, computer, or network’s DNS configuration settings. The latter is far less labor-intensive. The trade-off is that you have less control over how things get blocked. Pi-hole is more of a local solution than NextDNS, but if you don’t want to fuss with the tech and just want to start blocking more ads, go with NextDNS (or similar).
Here is an article that covers info about how to set this up on an Android phone and several private DNS provider options: https://www.theupdatebox.com/how-to-enable-private-dns-on-android/
I have been using Calyx for the past few months, which is a 1 year pre-paid connection through the T-Mobile network for $750 the first year. No data caps, have used it in the Southwest, South Central, and Midwest parts of the country with fairly good results. I measure up/down occasionally and get anywhere from 30Mbps - 250 Mbps up / 1 - 25 Mbps down. Lots of variety in the signal based on location and time of day, which is my main complaint, but it should be expected with a mobile data connection. Not fancy, but I go through a lot of data at my job and generally don’t have much problems streaming video.
To be honest, I will probably try to switch over to a fiber connection when my year is up because I’m not longer working from the road, but it really hasn’t been the worst solution by far.
Exactly. If you’re someone who engages in piracy, you should be quite used to putting in this type of effort.
Can find some great deals at thrift shops if you’re not too picky about resolution!
This was a nice analogy, thanks for the write-up.
Optimization feels a lot less optimal when it leads to enshittification. I have worked on the tech side of accounting systems in the US for the last 10 years and can say that American companies have largely embraced this category of innovation as well.