AgriStar satellite internet svc

[Treed_in_TX]

I have an offer accepted on a 25 acre place near Lockhart TX. There is NO cable or DSL service out there. I shudder at the thought of returning to stone age (dialup) connection speeds after having been spoiled with Broadband for several years. Does anyone use AgriStar - the two way satellite service? Any problems? Connection speeds okay? It's pricy- 599.00 to purchase the equipment and get it installed and 69.00 per month. Is it worth it? Does it stop working when it rains?

Thanks for any reply.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

They resell Direcway. It IS better than Dialup. It really has to be pouring to block the signal. I usually wouldn't recommend going through a reseller, if you need direcway, go straight to them.

Be sure and check on Wireless, if it is available, it can be far better

 

[GaryM]

I've got Starband in East Central MO. $49.95 a month. Not as fast as my DSL was, but I wasn't going back to dialup, no way. About $700 for equipment. Same dish handles my Dish Network TV.

 

[PBMAX]

Been using DWay for a few months now and it has been pretty great. I did go down for about 1.5hr a few weeks back for SAT problems.... Leave it to me to be on the only SAT with ATTITUDE....
But as mentioned it takes pretty heavy rain to interupt it...

I can't do real time gaming as the latensy(?) 800 to 1200 mls (time delay) is to long compared to DSL/cable... 600 -800 mls
Nor do they recommend streaming audio or video and VIOP or live video such as web cams...

For downloading and surfing its works very nice.....Which is what we do 98% of the time. Upload speed is limited to I think 128K It's been I bit since I read the specs.

Over all we have been very happy with it. Especially compared to max dialup of 28k on good days and 7k on bad days....

The local phone co was not to thrilled to hear it, when the wife called to cancel...the IP service and the phone. at $48 for both verses $64 with taxes and fees for DWay. We said what the heck... the only thing that hurt, was the equipment and install fee as others mentioned of $500.

Install took about 2hr, but I already had the modem location setup and all the cable(s) run and terminated at each location for the cat5. I used a 4port switch with the Sat/modem to connect multiple locations for use with a desktop and a laptop...

 

[PineRidge]

I'm also out in the country and the good cable folks wanted over a grand to trench the cable to my home. So I have been with DirectWay for the past 4 years and we love it. A very heavy rain will knock it down till the storm passes and snow can accumulate on the dish making you break out the broom, but other than that it is pretty trouble free.

Check around as there are some deals to be had if you want it.

 

[jinman]

Treed, do you have coop electric power? In my last bill, they were taking a survey of Texas Electric Cooperative customers about providing high speed internet service. It will probably be awhile, but I'm hoping I can get off dialup in the near future. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[fishman]

Yeah Jim, I got that questionaire on high-speed too, but 8-12 months ago! I'm not going to hold my breath. It sure would be nice though.

 

[DCRC]

I sell both Starband and Dish Network. I was a beta test costomer when starband first came out, except for a few issues with customer PC when first setting them up they run very smooth. There been talk for a few year of a new cheaper and faster satellite internet service coming out call www.wildblue.com.

Normal pricing on the starband is $699 installed $69.99 /mo. I believe the direcway montly pricing is $59.99/mo.

What alot of customers are choosing to do is purrchase refurb starbands and pay starband a $200 buy down and get the montly service for $49.99 /mo. Starband has also just released an auto tracking system for RV's, as well as complete WI FI system for RV parks , marines etc...

 

[PBMAX]

oooooooohw, Jinman I saw something about that on Tech Tv... sounds great. I mean who doesn't already have power lines...... Plus they where talking some realy high speed possiblities if it works....... and how long till we see it.....


Snow is no problem here in BAMA at least not often on Sat. Dish's....
Besides if it snows that much WE all stay home and play in it... as most of us wouln't know what a snow plow is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think some out hear mintioned a Cover for them on an older thread....

 

[Ozarker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Snow is no problem here in BAMA at least not often on Sat. Dish's....
Besides if it snows that much WE all stay home and play in it... as most of us wouln't know what a snow plow is )</font>

That reminded me of when I was stationed at Ft Stewart, GA back in the 70's. We lived in Savannah and I drove the 40 miles to an from the Fort.

One morning I got up and it had actually snowed. There was about 1/2 in of dry snow on the ground. I got up and headed in for PT as usual but when I got there is was like a ghost town on the PT field. Nobody was there. I went to the orderly room to see what was up and was told that they closed the Fort for a snow emergency. Everything was canceled for the day. I could not beleive it.