Mobile Broadband vs. Satellite Internet

[rtimgray]

I've started looking into getting a high(er) speed internet connection at home. All we have right now is dial up (24.4 on a good day). We don't have access to DSL or cable, nor are we likely to any time in the near future.

I've done some investigation of satellite and mobile broadband services. Wildblue is not signing up new accounts in my area, but HughesNet is. It looks like their cheapest plan is something like $100 to install or buy the modem, then $60 per month for 200MB/Day of access. Most of the mobile broadband providers are about $60 per month with 5GB/month of access (and most of them offer a free usb receiver with a 2 year contract).

Does anybody have any experience with either one of these services? The advantage of the mobile broadband would seem to be access points anywhere, while the satellite service would be limited to home. However, it also seems as though I can get "overage" charges on the broadband plan if I use it too much (like a cell phone, I guess), whereas Hughes will just throttle you back and send you an email telling you to slow down (at least for the first few times).

Does anybody know how the speed of one compares vs. the other?

I would welcome any suggestions from anyone about this, as well as if there are any other alternatives that I'm not aware of.

Thanks for the help.

Good luck and take care.

 

[Chuck52]

My daughter is in much the same situation as you, and because she wants to take some on-line college courses, she's looking into the options. I'm mainly concerned with the data limits....I just have no good idea of how much you can do within the limits they give you. I have unlimited DSL at home, and it would be nice to see just how much I use for comparison. Does anyone know how to get that information? It might be a feature I could turn on or access, but since it is unlimited I've never tried. Also, if one does have limits, are there good ways to minimize usage, like turning off picture downloads and such. Things that limit the bytes without preventing access to the useful stuff? It would be helpful if the carrier supplied tools to help customers manage their accounts, and perhaps they do? I see, for instance, that at least for some plans data from international sites is charged differently from domestic sites. Some kind of pop-up warning you about impending financial disaster from accessing such data would be great.

Chuck

 

[WVBill]

I have experience with both Hughesnet and Verizon mobile broadband (3G EVDO).

I switched to Verizon 2 years ago and have not looked back.

I posted the following on another thread a while back:

My experience of differences between Hughesnet and Verizon
1) On Hughesnet every key or mouse click on a web page needs to travel from you up to the satellite and then back down to earth that's a 1/4 second round-trip even at the speed of light. It's called "latency" and it adds up to noticeable time lags when opening up screens & web pages. Latency on terrestrial systems (like Verizon and your office computer network connection) is probably less than 1/10 of a second.

2) Your Hughesnet modem will be assigned to a specific channel on a specific transponder on a specific satellite - you will be one of hundreds assigned to that spot. If something goes wrong with the channel or the transponder it will take Hughesnet time to reassign everyone to another channel or transponder on that satellite (the times it happened to me it was about 3 - 5 days each time). During that time - you have no internet.
And when you do come back up, you will probably be on an overloaded channel/transponder and your upload/download speed will suffer. If a whole satellite goes out then you either wait for Hughes to re-position a spare satellite or launch another one - - or have a Hughes technician come out and re-point your dish to another satellite.

Yes, failures do happen on Cell towers but it's much easier and quicker to climb a pole than fix something in outer space.

3) Don't listen to people who tell horror stories about "FAP" limits on Hughes and 5GB monthly caps on Verizon - UNLESS you plan to do a lot of movie downloads or real-time video streaming, or on-line gaming. In the five years combined that I have had Hughes and then Verizon, I've never been FAPed or exceeded my 5GB monthly cap. My wife and I combined do probably 5-6 hours a day web surfing, online shopping and e-mailing. We view a fair number of you-tube videos and I work from home 1-2 days a week and download/upload a normal amount of business documents. We have one XP computer and one Vista computer set up to auto-download Windows updates.

See the following for the facts
What does 5GB (Gigabytes) Get Me? : EVDOinfo.com


4) My Hughesnet used to drop out during heavy thunderstorms or when snow covered the dish. I've never had a weather-related outage on Verizon except the one time a heavy wind blew my grid antenna out of alignment with the tower (my fault - I didn't have it bolted down well enough).

5) Hughesnet requires professional installation (not that you couldn't do it yourself, they just require it). Verizon does not.


You will need to be close enough to a Cell tower to get the mobile broadband.

How close are you to the area where they show service? Check out the coverage maps for 3G or High speed for your area from all of the cell providers. (Usually on their web sites)
The coverage maps show no service where I am, but I'm pretty close to where they show coverage so I checked it out. You can get specialized antennas and amplifiers that may allow you to get service. I'm over 5 miles from the cell tower, over rolling hills and I need a separate antenna. But I got coverage.

When I got mine set up, Verizon offered a 30 day no obligation return, and 3gstore offers a 14 day return policy on equipment.



If you're close to a coverage area on the maps it may be worth a try.

 

[rtimgray]

From what I've looked at, a couple of the providers show some of the "garden variety" uses and how much you can do certain things. AT&T shows on their pages that you could watch 1700 video clips per month, of 30,000 web page views (which is says uses 150kb per use). It shows that downloading a 2 hour movie from iTunes would use 1.5GB.

My real curiousity, like yours Chuck (I think) is if there is a way to track your usage (like a decling balance or something) so you know when you are approaching your limit. Based on what I've read off of AT&T and Verizon and some others, 5GB per month is pretty standard and it would probably be sufficient for most of my needs - I just don't want to get blindsided with overages, but I don't want to be afraid of logging on the internet either.

Good luck and take care.

 

[WVBill]

My real curiousity, like yours Chuck (I think) is if there is a way to track your usage (like a decling balance or something) so you know when you are approaching your limit.

With Verizon, yes there is a way to check your usage. It's not accurate enough to track it down to the fration of a Megabyte but it's close enough.
This is available on the Verizon Wireless website.
Following is mine:

Domestic Data Used
339.137 Megabytes Used
Estimate as of 04/21/10 12:15 AM
Monthly Allowance: 5120 MB
Cycle ends 05/12/10


Usage Type My Usage Allowance Megabytes 339.137MB 5120 MB View Data Details


View Data Usage in Megabytes

Data UsageClose

Data Usage

( 04/13 - 04/21 ) For your reference, your data usage is also shown in Megabytes. In Kilobytes

347,277 KB​

In Megabytes*

340 MB​

* Rounded up




I also get an e-mail from them when I've used half of the monthly allowance.

 

[budgie9]

Take a look at this site you will gain some useful information here.
DSL ? Cable ? VOIP ? Security ? Satellite ? Fiber ? News ? Tips ? Reviews ? Community ? Tools - dslreports.com

I had Hughes satellite service through a Canadian supplier. I don't know if it was more the supplier or Hughes. But the service was expensive and the service was terrible. Twice they shifted my transponder on the satellite and twice it caused nothing but trouble for days on end. What speed they promised was never delivered in fact it was less than half the speed promised most of the time. Limits were terrible, there was often a massive slow down in the service due to others taking over the transponder with their larger downloads. There is something like a 6 second delay in reaching the satellite from here. This causes trouble with programs like Skype and video links.
Personally I was glad to get away from the service and sell the equipment. taking a large loss on that.

 

[Chuck52]

As it happens, I just got a new phone from AT&T after frying my old one with the wrong charger. If I'm reading it right, one can call a number to get info on current phone usage, so it sure seems likely there is something similar for the data plans. Aside from coverage, are there major differences between the carriers on the data plans?

WVBill, thanks for the input on the usage and that link. Sounds to me like daughter could do what she needs to do within the 5GB limit, assuming she can convince SIL it is worth it. Since she has a practical application, the on-line course work leading to a degree, I suspect she'll win the argument.....and then he'll find all kinds of other uses for himself!

Chuck

P.S. Thanks again Bill....you sent that further info as I typed.

 

[oldnslo]

I have been using Verizon 3G service for the last 5 months with no problems. My biggest complaint is that I rarely use more than 1 GB and have to pay for 5 GB. I could not find any service that offered a program with 2 to 3 GB.

When i signed up I also had the 30 day trial period.

Very simple to install myself. They send you a modem that plugs into a USB port on your computer. Their is a CD that does the rest.

Speed does seem to vary from time to time but have never lost the connection.

ATT did not have service in my area at the time or I may have considered them.

Never had Satellite ISP service, but my Direct TV is very flaky in bad weather so would suspect the same from ISP.

Roy

 

[rekees4300]

I've started looking into getting a high(er) speed internet connection at home. All we have right now is dial up (24.4 on a good day). We don't have access to DSL or cable, nor are we likely to any time in the near future.

I've done some investigation of satellite and mobile broadband services. Wildblue is not signing up new accounts in my area, but HughesNet is. It looks like their cheapest plan is something like $100 to install or buy the modem, then $60 per month for 200MB/Day of access. Most of the mobile broadband providers are about $60 per month with 5GB/month of access (and most of them offer a free usb receiver with a 2 year contract).

Does anybody have any experience with either one of these services? The advantage of the mobile broadband would seem to be access points anywhere, while the satellite service would be limited to home. However, it also seems as though I can get "overage" charges on the broadband plan if I use it too much (like a cell phone, I guess), whereas Hughes will just throttle you back and send you an email telling you to slow down (at least for the first few times).

Does anybody know how the speed of one compares vs. the other?

I would welcome any suggestions from anyone about this, as well as if there are any other alternatives that I'm not aware of.

Thanks for the help.

Good luck and take care.

Avoid HughesNet like the plague! Their service sucks and their customer support is even worse! I switched to Verizon 3G EVDO 2 years ago and have been pleased with its reliability. The 5GB monthly limit isn't a problem unless you watch alot of videos or do massive downloads. The speed of Verizon is much better than Hughesnet (which during peak hours is actually slower than dialup). Also Verizon plans a new 4G technology called LTE within a few years. LTE Information Center

Also avoid Wildblue which is even worse than HughesNet. There are many horror stories posts on the forums ranging from very poor service to outright fraud!

 

[deepNdirt]

the wife just signed up for the Data plan with her 3-G cell phone she has almost instant upload/download speed, way way faster then the home DSL service, been think of doing the Data plan myself although I cannot type on them small Q-pads on a cell phone. I'm still doing research if can connect wireless Blue tooth laptop through the use of 3-G network.. if so this is the way to go because the Data plan use only cost extra 10.00 per month as long as you already have a wireless service, and its unlimited use....
-verses 29.00 month cost for the slowest land line DSL :thumbsup:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have both hughesnet and Verizon 3G wireless access.
Hughesnet - I get FAP'd at least a couple times a month, there is no warning, once you exceed the limit they shut you down to around dialup speeds for 24 hrs. Hughesnet is faster than the Verizon 3G, and still way faster than dialup. I can really tell the difference watching video. Overall, Hughesnet sure beats dialup any day. I have a neighbor on Wildblue that likes it. Latency is not a problem for most web browsing. I don't notice it at all, I wouldn't use that as a qualifier.

Verizon 3G - I got this for travel, can't carry my sat dish in a car. My monthly usage does not allow me to ditch the dish. If you think you won't exceed the 5GB amount, this is a good way to go. I wouldn't go this route just because of future LTE, as you will need a new device to receive LTE (4G) in the future.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I tried to do a side by side speed comparison with dslreports, but right now my verizon service is almost nonfunctional, my hughesnet blew it away on download speed.

 

[arrabil]

I've got WildBlue right now. Its a LOT better than dialup. You will not notice latency issues after switching from dialup. Now, if you use a lot of DSL/Cable and then come home to Satellite or 3G you will be really pissed off....

When it hits you that you pay twice as much for half the perceived speed, you'll hate WildBlue, HughesNet, Verizon, AT&T and every other company that decided you weren't worth their time.

The best part about satellite internet is that the download speed is really fast once the download kicks in (the latency becomes irrelevant after a data stream is started to you).

WildBlue and HughesNet both have REALLY crappy tech support. More than half the people who answer just started using computers yesterday. They are only good at putting your problem into their search box and reading the canned answer. Which I imagine works for 95% of customer problems. Neither will send you to 2nd level support. If your case warrants higher level support, it will be done through the 1st level person who doesn't even understand what they are repeating to you.

Once you get used to having fast internet and your usage increases, you will be upset by the FAP limits. The HughesNet limits are easier to hit but come off in a day. The WildBlue limits are much tougher but take weeks to come down. The 3G limits are unusable to me as I can't install Windows and upgrade it a couple times a week at 5GB. I'm at 5GB all the time on WildBlue.

You will lose satellite connectivity during heavy rain, heavy snow, or heavy thunder/lightning 50 miles away.

 

[jinman]

Get the mobile broadband from AT&T or Verizon and a Cradlepoint MBR1000 wireless router for your house. You'll have full wireless connectivity in your house with the modem. Plug the modem into a laptop and you can surf the internet as you cruise down the highway (if you're not the driver, of course).

 

[kf4uda]

As others have said, I would go with mobile broadband. It may not be the greatest but it will beat satellite and certainly dialup.

I was in the same boat as you except I got a staggering 26.4k connection over dialup (on a good day). I got lucky and found a WIFI provider several miles away. They did not have service where I live but we worked out a deal where I put up a 60' tower and they put a WIFI repeater on it. Basicly a signal is beamed from their main tower to my tower and redistributed to my surrounding area. This worked out great for me as I get my service for free and also made some neighbors very happy.

My point is that you might want to do some investigating and see if there are any WIFI providers close enough to you to do something like this.

 

[mburke121]

Lots of good information posted thus far.

I'll add that Verizon's download speeds average around 700kb/sec, and is adequate for most common uses. I can also suggest that Verizon offers a product called MiFi mobile broadband, which is available on certain handsets. For example, you can get a Palm Pre or Pixi (mobile smart phones) for next to nothing, and the device doubles as a WiFi router for up to 5 PCs, if I remember correctly. They are running a deal offering this service at no additional monthly charge, above the normal service plans for the device (with the 5GB data plan).

 

[powerpace]

My wife and I both have Verizon on our laptops. I had Wildblue and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I was set up with a temporary install with the promise of a free move when the house we were building was complete. Well I was without service for two months because I was lied to by the installer and Wildblue help desk. I was talking to those people for hours every week. What they didn't tell me was that the original installer was no longer in business and they didn't want to loose me as a customer.
I went to Verizon and have had excellent service. The wife was taking online college courses at the time. We drove from Oregon to Virginia and back while she was online for two to three hours at a time. The only time we lost service was down in a canyon in Arizona. Lost it for a short time.

 

[Atlas]

If exceeding the monthly usage limit is/may be a problem you may want consider establishing a LLC and getting an unlimited business account.

 

[Fug1000]

One word: SPRINT

I live in rural Southwest Ohio. I am in the same situation as you.
I got mine 3 years ago under an unlimited plan and then 2 years ago they put a 5GB cap on but I was grandfathered.

EVEN THOUGH they kept a running tally of my usage per month on my account and I could check it at any time online, they never limited me to 5GB. I have used 50GB in a month and they haven't so much as flinched.
Even now...2 years after my contract has expired and I can reup and get a free modem if I want, they have never limited me.

Then early this year I noticed there is no longer a running tally and it says UNLIMITED again in my account.

If it's possible to buy an unlimited account today....Sprint 3G/4G is the way to go.

As I understand it, all sprint 4G accounts will be unlimited and it just makes sense.
A 5GB cap is just silly and when they increase your speed with 4G..what good does all that speed do you if you can't use it everyday?

With 4G you could download 5GB in LESS than 1 day.

Anyway...I'm ranting..sorry. :laughing:

Check out Sprint.

 

[ronjhall]

I have a AT&T air card. Works well in many places. With it I also have a external antenna and amplifier. All of the suppliers may need the antenna and amplifier.
Its hard to determine which company will work the best. You need to make sure what ever company you choose has good service in your area. My AT&T phone shows when I have 3G. If it is available in your area it will out preform Verizon. If it is not then Verizon may be the best choice. Although my AT&T card can work as good as a Verizon on 3G on Edge mode. It all depends on signal strength. I recently visited a fellow TBNer who has Verizon. My AT&T was comparable to his Verizon on TBN. But file downloads were faster on his Verizon.
Here is a link to Wilson Electronics. All my antennas, amplifiers and siginal booster come from them. Cell Phone Antennas and Cell Phone Boosters at Wilson Electronics
I also use a CradlePoint router to link my air card to more than one computer. Extending and Protecting 3G/4G Networks Wirelessly | Cradlepoint Technology