bobcat698
Pure Diesel Power
join:2000-12-11
Plover, WI
clubs:
1 edit | Has Satellite Internet gotten any better in the last 5 yrs?
Satellite internet & I go a long ways back.. I used it back when DirecPC came out.
It sucked, I spent more time on the phone with tech support than actually utilizing the service.
I've watched DirecPc change to DirecWay, and now to Hughesnet.. (name change to confuse people into thinking its a new service maybe??)
Anyways, we just moved into our new house. They tell us we have to put up a 50-60 ft tower to get wireless internet.. Sucks
We don't have the computers hooked up yet as they are useless without internet access.
I don't game, the most I will do is check email, watch youtube videos, upload videos (to youtube on occasion), and just plain browse. Nothing super high bandwidth.
Those that have been on satellite for a few years, has it gotten any better?
Also, not sure if this is OK to ask on the Wildblue side, but what are the pros & cons of each service brand, Wildblue vs Hughesnet.
Any input is appreciated, thanks!
BTW, I do have Dish Network already, so I can probably get some package deal with that.. |
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zalternate
join:2007-02-22
BC
 ·TELUS
2 edits | Well lets see.
If the Wireless company has a good reputation for fast speeds, go for it, even with the tower. But don't get gouged by the installer charging many dollars extra for the parts of the tower.
WildBlue will have to wait until sometime in later 2011 for a new satellite(see ViaSat1) and finally new bandwidth for the masses. But they are going to be leasing some EchoStar satellite bandwidth starting soon.
Hughesnet SpaceWay3(KA band). Good for at least a couple of years depending on location.
And YouTube can be considered high bandwidth. FAP policies on both systems will kill that idea fast. But at least with Hughesnet, you get a FAP free period from 2am to 7am eastern every night.
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Consumer Rights is more than just a suggestion. |
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ChrisN
@direcway.com
| reply to bobcat698
I have had a satellite since DirctPC days with phone line and sat download up to now with my DW7000 business satellite (same as personal, but bigger dish...not sure HN does this now). As you said, you spent more time on tech support back then rather than using it. My HughesNet now works fairly well. I havn't called tech support in 2 years and its usually up and running. I actually use mine occasionally to work remote via terminal server (VPN sometimes works, but I wouldn't count on it).
So yes, I think they have come along way over the last 10 or so years.
-Chris |
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grohgreg
Dunno. Ask The Chief
join:2001-07-05
Dawson Springs, KY
4 edits | reply to bobcat698
Not quite sure why you didn't post this on the Hughesnet forum, but I'll respond as if you did. If you use old hardware, all bets are off. But if you subscribe as a new customer - and get all new hardware - there will be a significant improvement from when you last used.
Tech support however has gotten worse since you last subscribed. Use your old savvy in conjunction with the more advanced hardware, and I think you may be pleasantly surprised - as long as you don't have to call India for help.
If it carries any weight with your decision, I personally wouldn't pay for Wildblue service unless Hughes said they didn't have an installer/dealer available to my area
//greg//
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HN7000S/98cm Prodelin/2w Osiris/ProPlus - G16/1250H/Germantown - NAT 66.82.187.152/Gateway 66.82.25.10/DNS 66.82.4.12 and 66.82.4.8 - Firefox 3 - AV/Firewalled by NIS2009 |
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DrStrangeLove_
| reply to bobcat698
said by bobcat698  :Those that have been on satellite for a few years, has it gotten any better? >50-60 ft tower
Channel Master has a guyed tower: CM-1650 @ 50' tall
If you live close to distributor, you might luck out and get one cheap.
Wildblue works for me....downtime in several years amount to peanuts...essentially, 24x7x364 online.
For your needs, the intro package should suffice for you, and you will same some bucks when compared to Hughes.
But, if you can put up a guyed tower, this may work better for you...just make sure you feel comfortable with this WISP.
We had two local ones, and one went bellyup.... |
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Island Jeff
join:2005-07-18
 ·WildBlue
·TDS
| reply to bobcat698
quote:
hey tell us we have to put up a 50-60 ft tower to get wireless internet.. Sucks
Look at it this way - you are a lot closer to decent Internet than a lot of people who don't even have that option.
See what your local zoning is like and how difficult it would really be to put up such a tower. Here for example if one is attached to your house it falls under a "tv" tower which people used to use for old tv antennas and is pretty easy to do, but a larger tower requires a lot such as a $20/foot deposit that has to be maintained as long as the tower is up with the govt.
Still, I'd definitely look at the option of putting up a tower to get wireless. It would provide a night and day difference to satellite in terms of how fast the service feels and how responsive it is.
quote:
BTW, I do have Dish Network already, so I can probably get some package deal with that..
My personal experience with dish network has been gross incompetence and unhelpful customer support. (the same has unfortunately been true for DirecTV.) If you have a good local installer, than never mind (because it all comes down to how good the person actually doing the install is) but in general I would try and get a satellite internet installer who focuses on satellite internet. When I got my wildblue installed I got it through an NRTC co-op and I appreciated how well they did the install compared to the tv-installers who do not seem to pay much attention to the details and their customer service who seem not to care. This has just been my personal experience, so I do not mean to insult the installers here who install both internet and tv -- just seems the tv giants have too many installers on their payroll who don't give a darn if the customer is happy when they leave.
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Very happy TDS DSL user | Wildblue in Lake Michigan |
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Yogibear722
@spcsdns.net
| reply to bobcat698
Have had Starband, Then Wildblue. [ Now using Sprint PCS EVDO]
Satellite service has always taken my $$$ promised me good service & a contract for 2 years and only did I get fine service for 1 of those years in each contract. They will promise you anything to get you to sign, but then you find out they have a TERMINATION FEE if you cancel, You are forced into ARBITRATION so you cant SUE them . The equipment you get is NOT under warranty if you want a warranty you must pay a month to month fee. It warrants only the equipment, not the services and YOU have no rights in a contract they designed in their favor from the word GO.
Have learned NOT to expect Anything from a Wireless provider. Their only reason for being in this is for the $$$$, Not your satisfaction. Good Luck To All. |
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mikefxu
join:2004-10-05
Titusville, FL
2 edits | reply to bobcat698
Just read up on the FAP (Fair Access Policy). We are a business with 2 sites that have 6 computer on each WildBlue "residential" satellite systems. Both systems have been upgraded to the fastest "residential" plan. One of our sites was FAPed for 2 weeks so we upgraded that one to a mid level "enterprise" plan, basically same speed categories but more bandwidth is allowed.
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6 Wireless Workstations: WildBlue Satellite:WildBlue-1 Gateway:Laredo Beam:123 on 1.5Mbps/256Kbps plan at Knob Noster, Missouri.
5 Wireless Workstations: WildBlue Beam: 32 on 1.0Mbps/200Kbps plan at Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico. |
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Island Jeff
join:2005-07-18
·WildBlue
·TDS
| Agreed. I just hit the fap for the first time myself (have three test computers on the wildblue connection unattended).
I find the wildblue FAP great compared to the hughesnet FAP if you're not close to it -- i.e. if your normal use is 1/2 the fap it's liberating compared to hughesnet in that you don't have a usage-nanny standing over your shoulder and interrupting what you're trying to do.
On the other hand, if you're close to it and hit it the wildblue fap pretty much takes you offline completely for a good deal of time.
So if your normal usage is close to the FAP limits on wildblue, I think you'll be miserable.
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Very happy TDS DSL user | Wildblue in Lake Michigan |
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zalternate
join:2007-02-22
BC
·TELUS
| reply to Yogibear722
said by Yogibear722 :
Have had Starband, Then Wildblue. [ Now using Sprint PCS EVDO]
They will promise you anything to get you to sign, but then you find out they have a TERMINATION FEE if you cancel, You are forced into ARBITRATION so you cant SUE them . The equipment you get is NOT under warranty if you want a warranty you must pay a month to month fee. It warrants only the equipment, not the services and YOU have no rights in a contract they designed in their favor from the word GO.
One thing with Arbitration is that the Arbitrator is supposed to be a dis-associated third party.
Judges have slapped a couple of companies lately for trying to screw the consumer with an in-house Arbitrator. As an in-house Arbitrator will, of course, see nothing wrong with a one sided contract and will rule in favor of the company. So a company having an in-house Arbitrator does open up the grounds for a lawsuit.
Termination fee's are another issue. Pro-rated is the more friendly way. If you have two or three months left in a contract, should you have to pay the full $300 termination fee?(provided you did not receive a perk gift offering). Instead of paying two months of the lowest usage plan.
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Consumer Rights is more than just a suggestion. |
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bobcat698
Pure Diesel Power
join:2000-12-11
Plover, WI
clubs:
| reply to bobcat698
I have done some research about the wireless company I mentioned in my original thread.
They don't have the best reliability I guess..
I am currently trying out Alltel AXXes. Its working OK, but not consistent. I may need a cell phone amplifier for a stronger signal, not sure.
Thanks for everyone's input thus far!
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Check out PureDieselPower.com for all your diesel performance parts needs. |
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