Direcway Internet

[Jaeger]

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]

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]

see the thread here: Satellite Internet

 

[carrerascott]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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....