Direc Way decision.those that us it, help me here.

[PBMAX]

The wife and I are gettting very discusted with our local dailup service... It was connecting several nights this week at 7.4kbs (NO I"M NOT JOKING /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )
It happens here and there and no matter how long you try redailing it goes to a max 12.6kbs when it gets like this. which seem to be happening more often of late.

The average speed is 24kbs to 30.2kbs. hovers around 28k

I know from talking with the tech that did the install, we are at the end of the service in our area. WE are even on what was the last pair of a 12 pair cable....the line is easliy 15+ yr old and very noisy. You can really hear it some times when dailing the net...

Was it worth the initial cost??? $99 a month or $600 up front? to no longer have to deal with dail up and all its slooooooooooooooooooow frustrations....
I know it will have its quarks I have DTV but we've only had dail up 4-5 months and it' s been slow and a pain from day one...

We are considering the direcway and then killing the land line which we only use for the net. Simply geting tired of calling the phone co once amonth to have them sweep the line. Killiing the land line and ISP(same co) would also cover 2/3 of the monthly cost of the direcway bill each month.So that helps...leave $20 diff...no biggy there...

YOU folks that have the direcway system are you really enjoying it??? I know I could not do real time gaming on it. Which has always been my one main reason for not doing it.
But if we did due direct way we could both be online at the same time easily and have smooth surfing....any time... Which we were both fusing over this winter when there was nothing on the tv or to cold /wet to go outside..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Funny thing is the wife is just now seeing it because I have stayed after the phone co to keep it up.... this time a let it go for a bit and she is now frustrated to... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif WE SHARE AND SHARE A LIKE AROUND HERE........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So we both decided to look innto it and HERE I AM at my FAVORITE RESOURCE .....

 

[Richard]

Just for kicks... have you looked into ISDN?

I know here in TN, we sort of have an advantage as (my understanding) the phone company is REQUIRED to make it available to ANYONE that wants it, no matter what the challange. (or some semblence of that decree)

It also happens to be the cheapest available in the US (so I'm told)

I have it, because DSL is not available my way and Directway was not available when we moved out.

That said, if it is available to you, and the cost not too bad, it will give you 1 or 2 (depending on setup) phone lines that are shared on 1 twisted pair. You can then have 64 or 128K access, depending on if you have one or both "B" channels.

With the advent of DSL, I was told by Bellsouth here, that they no longer mention ISDN to anyone, as they really prefer DSL. I told her, I'd prefer DSL too, if she'd like to hurry up it's availability to my remote location /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

If/when DSL DOES come out my way, the phone installer dude informed me, there will only be 25 houses that will get it as that is the most our nearby "box" can handle.

I DO intend on being one of those 25 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Absent that, I'm quite content with the overall competence of ISDN and have decided I'll probably not spring for the extra expense of Directway. I think the ISDN is about $50 (maybe $40) per month. You think I'd know as I pay the bill /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[PBMAX]

Forgot to mention I can only get SAT or dial up...
No cable or ISND OR DSL /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Thats what happens when you live out with the deer and the cows..... I guess.

The local phone co told me it would be 1-1/2 to 3 yrs before dsl is available at this time at our location.
There is a CHARTER cable line 1/8 mile down the road or so I've seen them working on it. But they refuse to even consider me and my neighbors because we can get cable over SAT and so they are not required to feed it our way becuase of this. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

But yes I would love a cable DSL hook up they are great if set up right and properly maintained...My pardner acrros town gets 2.5mbts per second since the last up grade in his area.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[DAP]

Bad News Potential ... I know that with DirecTV you are required to have a land line for your sattelite dish. They do account validation (and probably peeping) through the land line hooked up to the dish reciever.

You may just also need the land line for the DirecTWay service as well.

/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

A phone line is needed for the initial authorization of the modems if you use the old modems (Direway 4000). The new modem (Direcway 6000) uses satellite commisioning and no phone line is required. The Direcway 4000 only uses the phone line once to establish your account (5 minutes).

My Direcway is great. Of course, it's all I can get other than dial-up. I have three computers hooked to mine.

 

[fishman]

Do you know if DAP is correct regarding the requirement of a phone line for DirecTV? I know all of my boxes are plugged in. If I could dump the landline I would.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> They do account validation (and probably peeping) through the land line hooked up to the dish reciever.</font>
It's also how they download what PPV items you purchased. Such purchases are recorded on the card which serves as a staging area until the nightly connection to DirecTV at which time they update the TV schedule as well. Perhaps they can do this via a broadband connection these days.

 

[DAP]

Mike, when I realized that's what DTV was doing, I IMMEDIATELY unplugged the R jack.

The next time I tried to order a movie via the phone, I was informed that all orders over the phone had a $5 fee.

MAN DID THAT PEEEEISSSSSS ME OFF. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[PineRidge]

I have the original DirecWay 4000 system in place. I have used it for a little over 2 years with no complaints. We currently have 4 computers running off of it and we love it.

My only peeve is the normal snow build up that knocks my service down till I can get it cleaned off. Because the dish is on the roof sometimes that is no small task in the dead of winter. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I found out about an inexpensive cover that prevents this situation and I will be adding it shortly.

Compared to dial-up you would really like the new DirectWay 6000 system.

 

[Mrwurm]

I'm not sure about DirecTV, but my Dish Network requires a phone line. The phone line is used once or twice per month around two am. The receiver calls in and tells that what PayPerViews we watched for billing.

 

[PBMAX]

Fishman no you do not have to have a phone line for DTV unless u buy pay per view that way or have a tivo and want them to have data. I ran my self installled DTV dish and 2 receivers for almost 3 yr with no phone line ran to the house at all.

A phone line was required at 1st ( I asked when installing mine) but do to complaints the stopped requiring it. but even then you could do it. We had one at the lake hooked up for a couple yrs before that with no phone either.

But I was told by DirecWay fellow at last yrs Home and Garden show you do need a land line for intial hook up as some one said. But he said he could cheat if I was really interested. (No he didn't tell me how /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ) so I let it drop at the time.

 

[PBMAX]

PineRidge, if I were start getting that much snow that regular. I would have to move further SOUTH.
LIKE LA (Lower ALABAMA /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ).... as it is I've had one snow of 7'" in 3 yrs and a few dustings of an inch or less..... and reaching it would be easy were I plan to have it mounted of the corner of my deck rigth next to the DTV dish.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My only blockage is really heavy rains at the end of the mountain. I'm up AT 1300' according to GPS and my dish is almost level.... IT's were I get the best signal level 98 on their scale..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I notice they had a couple diff. versions of the "modem" put have not checked specs yet.
I would asume the new ones are more like a router. Such as they now sell for cable dsl.
To allow multiple PC's direct access. Rather than building/using one pc as a server or such...

 

[PBMAX]

For those that have not hit on it. I used to order pay per view from the office off the DTV web page before I had a land line. No extra charge like the phone and you can manage your acoounts as well... uncluding changing programming choices...(packaging)

 

[TheKid]

I don't have Direct Way, but I do have Starband. Yes it was worth the up front cost of the equipment. I saved some money by going with a three year contract. I pay $49 a month for internet access. My wife made the decision easy. She said "get faster internet, or get a new wife." It's taken me 27 years to train this one so a new one was out of the question.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

Kid,
It sounds like she has trianed you well in the 27 years /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[fishman]

PBurns, that would be a good way to order PPV, I'd expect. It seems like they'd build the connectivity in with the broadband connection as stated earlier. It's a given they will in the future, phone jacks are on the way out.

 

[PBMAX]

I don't know if my old DTV receiver has one but my new Tivo receiver has a usb port on the back and you can get a USB to Ethernot adapter on line at pricewatch.com for under $10.

2 fellows at work have done this with their Tivo's one has DTV and one Cable and both connected right up to their home net work no problem. I'll inquire further and let you now if you'd like as to how well it works...

 

[GareyD]

I just had DirecWay installed about 3 weeks ago....used the $99 month for 15 months, then $49 a month there after...they installed the dish, the new 6000 modem and had it running in about 2 hours....I have 6 computers (5 macs and 1 PC) hooked directly to an eight port hub/switch...haven't had a minutes problem, in fact, clouds/overcast seems to bother this system way less than the DTV...TV goes out with heavy cloud cover....the DirecWay doesn't seem to care /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

GareyD

 

[bebster]

How about the bandwidth you get with DirecWay? I understand the downlink speed is pretty good, but the uplink speed is not that fast. I have DirecTV with Tivo and considering adding the internet connectivity.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Your Direct TV must work slightly differently from ours. With ours your main receiver box doesn't need to be connected to the phone line after initial set up but any additional receivers have to be connected. It seems that they check, using the phone line, that the secondary receiver is connected at regular intervals and if no confirming signal is received, they cancel the card number in the receiver and you lose service to that box. Believe me, I found that out the hard way ... TWICE. I had to run additional line and jack just to keep the darned thing connected.