Direcway Internet

Jaeger · Apr 27, 2005

Does anyone have experience with Direcway?

I'm looking for highspeed but cable and DSL are unavailable.

How reliable is the direcway, and how fast is it.

Any info would be great!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif .......J

Dickey · Apr 27, 2005

I've been using Direcway for about a year since Modem speed here is so slow (26.6) I think its great once you get past the setup fee. It's very fast but you will lose connection on cloudy overcast days. That includes where the signal goes up as well as down.

mathey · Apr 27, 2005

see the thread here: Satellite Internet

carrerascott · Apr 28, 2005

I have used Direcway for a few years now.

Bottom line is: If there was an alternative, I would dump Direcway in a heartbeat.

Surfing is "OK" -- streaming videos and the like are pretty decent, about 1/2 the speed of DSL downloading. However sites that are Secure or that have data going back and forth are pretty bad -- almost modem speed. The lag of outbound data really slows secure sites down, and sites that send lots of little bits of data back and forth.

Uploading is slow -- if you are lucky you will get a couple times modem speed on outbound data -- so don't expect to send big files out quickly -- not gonna happen.

As for reliability, its not bad lately, they had some outages that lasted all day a few months ago, and it does go out in heavy rains just like DirecTV.

But it is better than a phone line . . .

anthonyk · Apr 28, 2005

I agree. I used to have cable, which was smokin'.
Now, out here in the country, it's either satellite or phone.
My download speeds are pretty fair, actually a bit faster than DSL. I can download a meg in about 10 seconds.
But upload is the same as dial up. That's the real drag.
I've only lost the signal on the most overcast stormy nights. Other than that, it's been great.

DougM · Apr 28, 2005

Can any one say BAD E MAIL
Can any one say NO FAX>>

I wish for DSL EVERY DAY>>>

DougM /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

rcrcomputing · Apr 28, 2005

It is better than a phone line. That said, it's the worst alternative there is. But out in the sticks, it's the only game in town.
You can not access it from work with pcanywhere etc.
You can not do online gaming with your friends (latency)
They do not tell you about FAP (fair access policy) Fap means you are limited on your downloading. For instance, you can not download a copy of mepis linux or knoppix or any other big download. If you try, they will slow you down slower than a modem for a duration of thier choosing.

Browsing is slower than dsl. If you use thier proxy it's pretty quick though. Again, anything that can not be proxied, https, pcanywhere TO work, things like that are slow to the point of possible failure.
I doubt you could vpn into work as well, though I haven't tried. If you use IMAP for email, it's SLOW because of the latency. Sending a picture etc via email takes a LONG time because upload speed is terrible.

If you get the unit that does not hook straight to the PC, it's even slower since it cannot use the compression software.

Fortunately, I will soon need to expand some of my services at work and rather than order more bandwidth there, I will be installing a T1 at home and moving some servers here...

In short, 2-way satellite is to expensive, sucks, and is my only alternative for the moment.

BTW, we used to be an autherized distributer/installer of the system and I dropped them because of all this. My name will NOT be on such a system. It's difficult to explain to someone paying 600.00 installation and 70.00 a month why they can't download a big file onces every 6 months or whatever.

If it's your only choice, I recommend it. Though I definately do NOT like it.

Rodney
RCRnet

PBinWA · Apr 28, 2005

Check out these guys (hat tip to Bob Skurka for the SkyCasters link):

http://www.skycasters.com

They are more expensive but offer better upload speeds and service over the same satellite system that Direcway uses.

The VSAT service is pricey but looks like you get really good quality:

www.vsat-systems.com

Both of the above links have their prices and set up fees on their sites. They are the same company but offer different products based on different technologies.

I just need to find a way to justify spending $2600 to get the VSAT system. I think that might be easier to get past the CFO than the backhoe.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You might also want to call your local telephone company and see if they have good old fashioned ISDN (128Kbps) available. Usually this is available through their business services and not residential. It's not DSL or Cable but it's much better than dial-up.

EddieWalker · Apr 28, 2005

I've got it and agree with the other posters. DSL and Cable are much better if you can get it. If not, then all I can say is it works, but not 100% of the time. For me the most annoying aspect is the ocassional times it cuts out when sending an email or uploading a post on this forum. Everything disapears and I have to start over again. I've resorted to typing in MS Word first for important emails, then copying and pasting.

PBMAX · Apr 28, 2005

DITTO on what every one else said... We have had dway for lil over a yr. It's been down once or twice while i was there to notice. But until now I had no chance of any other source besides dial up which was 28kbs on a good day and 4k on the bads mostly bads... I happen to know for a fact that I'm 3.5 miles from the last access (sory forget the tech term. switch?)point to get DSL from the local phone co. That and we are also on the last pair at the end of the line and no chance of any new lines unless some move in next door and they need a new pair of wires... to qote when it comes to DSL- "if there is brite center of the universe-we are on the planet that it's farthest from." now there are signs on the way up and the website says it is available in are town ship but as I said we live on the end of the line so don;t think I'll count the chickens just yet. all that said it's so-k for what it is... would I drop it if I could? LIKE HOT TATTER!!! even though DSL requires a local phone line it and DSL would be $10 bucks less a month at least.... hey every bit helps....

PineRidge · Apr 28, 2005

For me the most annoying aspect is the ocassional times it cuts out when sending an email or uploading a post on this forum. Everything disapears and I have to start over again. 

Eddie I don't think that problem is specific to DirecWay. I used DirecWay 4000 myself for a few years and it was satisfactory.

Now I'm on DSL connection and still at times when I hit the post button stuff mysteriously vanishes at times.

I think it's directly related to how long your post is. If it's really long them I find that I have more of a chance of losing it. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I learned the hard way to copy the text into Note-Pad before I hit the post button. It can save a lot of cussing if you do.

FL_Cracker · Apr 30, 2005

(
In short, 2-way satellite is to expensive, sucks, and is my only alternative for the moment.

If it's your only choice, I recommend it. Though I definately do NOT like it.

)

I could not have said it better......

AMEN To THAT

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

MikePA · Apr 30, 2005

I learned the hard way to copy the text into Note-Pad before... 
No need to copy it into Notepad. Just select all the text, Ctl-C then post. If it gets 'lost', Shift-Insert will copy if from the Clipboard into the new Reply.

NewHollandOwner · Apr 30, 2005

Where in PA are you? I live in Cecil County, MD. We are stuck with Direct way also. Better than dial up, as everyone else has already stated. If you are in Southeastern PA, you may want to look into Bay Broadband. It's a wireless service that boasts speeds that smoke DSL. Now, I don't have it (yet) but the signal is VERY close to me. It is super reasonable in set up and subscription costs. This is supposed to be the "new" frontier in Internet Access. I'm not exactally sure how it works, but sounds like signal is similiar to a cell phone and is picked up by something like a router.
Check out the website, you may contact them about availability. (if you are out west I mayjust have wasted our time).
I would imagine that in the next few years we will ALL be wireless, it makes sense. I'm out in the sticks, we are wasting our time waiting on the local cable compay to "upgrade" the lines, we have just faced the fact that they are NOT going to. Who would, most people are using Direct TV (or insert other provider) and cell phones are taking over land lines daily, so DSL is NOT going to happen here either............
I have also heard some crazy talk about ISP's using the electric lines for Internet, some say it's how the Army used to transmit info years ago??

Westonium · May 2, 2005

NOTE TO ALL USING DIRECWAY:

Are you positive that you can't get WiFi of some sort instead of Direcway? I thought I couldn't either because the WiFi providers tend to be pretty poor at marketing, but sure enough I was in a great zone of 900Mhz WiFi signal. I went through 2 other companies first trying to figure out if there was an alternative to Direcway.

I would just make absolutely certain you've covered all your bases. A WiFi signal doesn't always need line-of-sight. I am surrounded by trees and have great signal. Different providers use different equipment, so YMMV.

I had Direcway and broke the contract on it to get the WiFi. As tech professional I could justify the added cost of breaking the contract. The new service is CHEAPER and FASTER than Direcway by a country mile.

Direcway price for me: $104/month 15 month contract for 768KBPS down/56KBPS up

Local WiFi price for me: $89/month no contract for 1500KBPS down/ 1500KBPS up (T1 equivalent) with static IP (their small business plan).

Local WiFi residential price for me would have been: $49/month no contract for 768KBPS down /768KBPS up

Also, satellite service has a serious delay effect as your conversation goes to-from space. Sure the downstream is quick, but because it has to travel so far, there is a large delay before the information starts coming back to you.

The WiFi access has been outstanding.

PS> Direcway was pretty rude when I called to tell them I wanted to cancel my service

newcountry · May 7, 2005

First, Ditto on Dway. It is OK and a necessary evil because dial-up is just unacceptable. But for $100/month I should have no problems and I do. Trouble with connecting specific sites and e-mail is down about 30% of the time I try to connect. Doesn't play well with ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus too. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Now, as far as WiFi, does anyone have web sites to find local companies. I've checked a couple and come up empty. I would change if I could.

Glenn9643 · May 7, 2005

Global Listing of Wireless ISP's (Kansas)

Another Kansas area list

DSL Reports Wireless Forum might be of interest too.

Another thread on this site with some wireless discussion...

newcountry · May 17, 2005

Thanks Glenn!!

Now, if only I can type this before I lose my connection /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif