ViaSat (Formerly Exceed)

[TheMan419]

Does any one have this satellite internet service? We only get 2mb DSL where I live. We need better speed. The latency would not bother me as we will not use it for gaming or phone. Trying to get an idea of how the speed is as they tout "Up to" so many MB depending on what plan you buy. Also if/when you exceed your data cap how is the throttling?

Thanks for any insight!

Also interested in any other options for us rural folks. Sadly the $20 plan from AT&T is not available to new customers.

 

[RNeumann]

I’ve never heard of anyone who wasn’t doing everything they could to ditch satellite internet. They typically limit the data per month on top of the other issues you describe.

Have you looked into a wireless type service? We are rural but have a wireless dish type device that picks up WiFi. Also check into cellular data. LTE4 is plenty fast and LTE5 is supposedly going to really open things up for rural (and non rural) high speed internet.

 

[mddorange]

Sadly the $20 plan from AT&T is not available to new customers.

Sorry to her that as that is what I am using and it is great. Sure a lot better than the .75 mb from DSL around here.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I gave up exede for the $20 AT&T deal.

 

[wimpy525]

I just switched to ViaSat. The Verizon DSL here was not dependable, slow as and they had no intentions on fixing it, so I tried Verizon Wireless which was the same speed as the DSL and when you reach the data max its $15GB and that adds up quickly. The unlimited wireless typically have data caps of 5GB for 4G then switch you to LTE until the next billing cycle. I work form home so having good internet is pretty important.
So about 3 weeks ago I called ViaSat and selected the Silver 25 plan, which is 60GB of data per month at 25MBPS, once I exceed 60GB they don't cut off or charge more your data just gets prioritized which results in slower speeds. Currently getting 31.4 MBPS down load and 2.56 MBPS upload. I have not met my data cap so no idea on the speed when that occurs but 60GB is a lot, I used between 40-50 when I was with Verizon.
I have been through a few storms and only had interruption due to power loss so I'm pretty happy. And 60GB for $109 a month is pretty good.
So far so good.

 

[FatTire]

We've had Excede/ViaSat for about 5 years. Couple months ago we couldn't even get up to 3MB/s so they sent us newer type of modem which got us up to 8 or 10 MB/s during the day or about 4 MB/s during the evening. At least we can stream video again. We are also on the "Unlimited" Silver 25 plan, which of course is not unlimited. Looking forward to seeing how Space X's new internet service does, or at least ViaSat's new satellite if we can get on that.

 

[dfkrug]

How about the new Hughes GEN5 25M satellite service? Any experience with that?

 

[TSO]

We have Viasat here (Excede/WildBlue). We can't get cable OR DSL at our house, so it's our only viable option. We tried HughesNet first but it was really bad. That was about 6 years ago, but we dumped it before signing directly with Viasat. Note that at that time, HughesNet actually leased space from the Viasat satellite to provide service... Not sure if they still do or if HughesNet actually has their own satellite now.

We are grandfathered on an older plan which gives us 150GB for $109/mo. It's expensive, but since we need it for business and for the kids, we don't have a choice. It's definitely better than it used to be (have had it for about 5 years) and like another poster mentioned, the newer modem made a big difference.

Here's a SpeedTest I just did now (with the SpeedTest Android app): 14 MB/s Down, 3 MB/s Up.

 

[oosik]

I've had satellite internet service forever. Now its called HughesNet. I have Gen4 - fast enough for my needs.

Never heard of ViaStat or Exceed.

 

[TheMan419]

I致e never heard of anyone who wasn稚 doing everything they could to ditch satellite internet. They typically limit the data per month on top of the other issues you describe.

Have you looked into a wireless type service? We are rural but have a wireless dish type device that picks up WiFi. Also check into cellular data. LTE4 is plenty fast and LTE5 is supposedly going to really open things up for rural (and non rural) high speed internet.

The only cell service we get out here is att. Their plans are expensive. Satalite is not cheap but I am looking at all options.

We currently have dsl. Att basically has said they are keeping that working with bubble gum and bailing twine. When something major fails they are not going to fix it. It is also slow and unreliable.

Of course no cable or other wired high speed options or I would use them.

 

[RNeumann]

We have Viasat here (Excede/WildBlue). We can't get cable OR DSL at our house, so it's our only viable option. We tried HughesNet first but it was really bad. That was about 6 years ago, but we dumped it before signing directly with Viasat. Note that at that time, HughesNet actually leased space from the Viasat satellite to provide service... Not sure if they still do or if HughesNet actually has their own satellite now.

We are grandfathered on an older plan which gives us 150GB for $109/mo. It's expensive, but since we need it for business and for the kids, we don't have a choice. It's definitely better than it used to be (have had it for about 5 years) and like another poster mentioned, the newer modem made a big difference.

Here's a SpeedTest I just did now (with the SpeedTest Android app): 14 MB/s Down, 3 MB/s Up.View attachment 554772

The ping speed is tough. Typical wired speed is <50ms. 150GB is good.

 

[oosik]

I laugh - TSO, you can't get cable or DSL. I can't get cable, I can't get DSL, I can't get ANY land line type service. Including telephone or TV. Everything I have is via satellite & cell tower. When we first move here in 1982 - I contacted the telephone company for service. They would provide service if I ran the underground cable from the county road to my house - at that time the estimated cost - $28,000. I had two complete years of total bliss - NO PHONE. Then along came the Motorola bag phone and my coefficient of irritation skyrocketed.

Fortunately - the electric utility co-op was reasonable and we, at least, have electricity.

 

[TSO]

Yeah, ping speed definitely sucks. Something about how the transfer system is idled until demand is present, which is what causes the latency

 

[TSO]

I laugh - TSO, you can't get cable or DSL. I can't get cable, I can't get DSL, I can't get ANY land line type service. Including telephone or TV. Everything I have is via satellite & cell tower. When we first move here in 1982 - I contacted the telephone company for service. They would provide service if I ran the underground cable from the county road to my house - at that time the estimated cost - $28,000. I had two complete years of total bliss - NO PHONE. Then along came the Motorola bag phone and my coefficient of irritation skyrocketed.

Fortunately - the electric utility co-op was reasonable and we, at least, have electricity.

The cable company offered me a similar deal for $16000 !

 

[3Ts]

You all are getting off cheap, our cable was offered at $38,000 about 20 years ago. We still don't have it. We have electricity and a basic land line. Our cell phones don't work out here, we have to go into town about 10 miles to get a signal, nor can we get DSL. Satellite is the only option here and we pay for 15 MB down and typically get 1 to 3 MB down with an occasional trip up to 5 MB. This is with Hughes net. I know they have a higher speed offer now, but if I'm at 10% of what I'm supposed to get, why pay more for no improvement in speed?

 

[TheMan419]

Our cable company did not even give us an offer to bring the cable down the road! Att repair man basically admitted they hope we terminate service so they don稚 have to maintain equipment.

Likely going to sign with Viasat in June. Too many projects going on in May to baby sit an installer.