Satellite internet

rekees4300 · Jan 27, 2012

Verizon doesn't have a FAP policy like Hughesnet. They just charge more money if you go over the monthly limit.

creekbend · Jan 27, 2012

We purchased Hughes Net almost a year ago because due to our location, it was the only service available in our area. We also have had DirectTv for over 6 years. DirectTv did not offer the ISP service that we wanted at the time. We still don't have land line phone service available. We rely on our cell phones for daily communication and possible emergencies. I have only had problems with Hughes Net one time, and after a call to the installer, the problem was addressed and fixed. I tried contacting the Company via the 1-800 number, and after struggling to understand "broken English", I called the installer. Severe weather conditions do interfere with reception at times. Even the speed provided by the ISP is more than adequate. After hearing about all the negativity associated with Hughes Net, I suppose that our case must be a rarity.

phiferpharm · Jan 27, 2012

I'm forced to use satellite service out here, and only have sporatic cell service if the signal spirits are smiling. I have WildBlue and it has gotten better in the past year. It's not as good as my DSL was in Miami, but at least it's liveable for now. I went over and got new cable from the local installer and he said they are rolling out an upgrade in the next few months that should increase the speeds, so we'll see.

Now my next item is getting a Wilson Cell Booster fo the house. Hope that works!

DirtRanger · Jan 28, 2012

We were on Wild Blue and while it was much better than dial-up, it's definitely not perfect..we got more than one e-mail from them telling us we were getting close to the limit

Anyway, we set up our own system with 4 of these from a buddy's house where we got a dsl line hooked up..it's taken some fiddling around to get it to work but it's awesome...$50 a month unlimited...6gb/s at the source, 4+ here, and that's with 2 of the GS2400s acting as a repeater on the mountain above us..just need a kid every once in awhile if something goes wrong.

Barnone · Jan 28, 2012

We are on WildBlue satellite when we are in the mountains of Western North Carolina in the summer and they have gotten better in the last year or so but it is slow and very subject to weather interference at our location and also at the return to earth site. We have DSL in Florida in the winter and it is very fast and reliable.

We are in a cove so don't get very good cell phone service unless we hike up the mountain a bit. I'm need to look into getting an antennae and cell booster in WNC. Anyone here on that type of system to boost their cell signal? I'm thinking it would be more convenient to just go cell for the net and phone and get rid of the land lines.

TripleR · Jan 28, 2012

creekbend said:
We purchased Hughes Net almost a year ago because due to our location, it was the only service available in our area. We also have had DirectTv for over 6 years. DirectTv did not offer the ISP service that we wanted at the time. We still don't have land line phone service available. We rely on our cell phones for daily communication and possible emergencies. I have only had problems with Hughes Net one time, and after a call to the installer, the problem was addressed and fixed. I tried contacting the Company via the 1-800 number, and after struggling to understand "broken English", I called the installer. Severe weather conditions do interfere with reception at times. Even the speed provided by the ISP is more than adequate. After hearing about all the negativity associated with Hughes Net, I suppose that our case must be a rarity.

We haven't had problems in the five years we have had ours.

Kyle241 · Jan 28, 2012

We've had Hughes satellite for about two years now and I will say if you have ANY alternatives, explore them first. While the internet works, the latency is the issue as someone else mentioned. One has too keep in mind the distance travelled between the dish on your roof to the satellite and back down to the server (wherever that is) and then return back the same way. When you think of that distance, the 'speed' is not bad but it's not speed, it's latency that is the issue. If you can, look at 4G wireless but that usually is line of sight and may require a tower that can cost a lot to install or if you do it yourself, not too bad but still expensive unless you already have one or can get a used one. My issue this year with Hughesnet was I could not VPN for work which meant I could not connect to any databases that needed to. I looked at going to the 4G wireless however after analysis, determined I needed a 50ft+ tower and the cost was prohibitive. So I upgraded my package with Hughesnet for a dedicated IP and increased daily allowance (500mb) and it has been a lot better but still not ideal. The latency kills me no matter what I do so again if you're considering, look at alternatives first as cost, latency and FAP are major cons to satellite internet.

Oaktree · Mar 1, 2012

I agree with Kyle241...go with satellite only if you have no other options. I've had Wildblue for the last 6 years. It's either that or dial-up. The fastest d/l I've ever gotten was around 280K, and the latency makes any sort of VPN use very frustrating.

Wildblue does have a new service called Exede which (theoretically) offers "up to" 12Mb speeds, it requires buying/leasing new equipment and a 2 year contract. Also got an email from them recently implying that existing speeds will improve with no equipment to buy. We'll see.

Supposedly cable is coming thru here sometime this year...not really interested in overpriced tv packages, but it would be nice to have "normal" internet.

phiferpharm · Mar 1, 2012

Barnone said:
We are on WildBlue satellite when we are in the mountains of Western North Carolina in the summer and they have gotten better in the last year or so but it is slow and very subject to weather interference at our location and also at the return to earth site. We have DSL in Florida in the winter and it is very fast and reliable.

We are in a cove so don't get very good cell phone service unless we hike up the mountain a bit. I'm need to look into getting an antennae and cell booster in WNC. Anyone here on that type of system to boost their cell signal? I'm thinking it would be more convenient to just go cell for the net and phone and get rid of the land lines.

I think you may want to look at Wilson Electronics. I am waiting for my barn to go up, then I'll get their booster system. When I went to the dealer a few weeks ago, he said it was around $450.