high speed dial-up?

[fishman]

I was checking out some of the internet providers mentioned in the "all hail AOL" thread and came across the concept of "high-speed dial-up". The concept as I understand it is that graphics are compressed by the provider and delivered to your computer where they are uncompressed. Don't understand it, but that's not important or really that unusual.

Has anyone sprung the extra few bucks for this type of service out there in TBN land? Is it worth it?

Currently, dial up or satelite are my only options, and $13.95 at peoplestar sounds very attractive, particularly when I'm paying $21.95 with MSN using the exact same access number!

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm using it at home with Juno and it made a pretty big difference.

 

[DAVELR]

We use DSL at work. Alot faster than dial up. More expensive too. you can use one line to talk on and for your computer at the same time.

 

[shado]

It's just a funky method of not downloading detailed graphics, the images look like junk & if you really want to see a clearer picture, you hit another request to fill in all the details. The actual speed is not any faster than 56K (can't get that fast anyway), just let's pages load in faster. You get the same result if you just set your browser to load in text only. So there's a sucker born every minute & this deal just provides more evidence as such. Not that I'm calling anybody any names here, just quoting from the past.
J.W.

 

[OkeeDon]

It's a pretty good compromise between text only and full graphics, because most of the graphics are just junk, anyway. It's really good for RV people who want to minimize the time they are on line, but want the opportunity to selectively see more detail in the fuzzy graphics. It's included free with KOAKonnect internet service @21.95/month if I recall correctly.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

fishman,

Here are a couple of reviews on the service:

PC Magazine - review on EarthLink and NetZero versions
CNET - Editors' Choice for Propel Accelerator. Read the User Comments.

Overall pretty favorable reviews.

 

[Hambone]

I have dial up at work, it comes in around 46k.
I have direcway satelite at home and it is very fast. Sometimes I hate using net at work, just seems like so ssllllloooowwwwww.
Satelite you can download usually around 600k.

 

[OkeeDon]

If my wife and I ever get around to some serious RV'ing, where we're going to be away for several months at a time, I'll make the investment on a mobile Satellite receiver for the RV. Right now the equipment (which inludes GPS, gyros and other back box magic to keep it aimed at the satellite) is around $5K to $6K and service is around $100/month. Like everything else digital, prices are dropping.

I can sort of justify it because we won't be spending much else for entertainment, and because if things work out, I'll be running a web site that can make me some extra $$$. Plus, we can continue to download audible books from audible.com.

 

[Glenn9643]

Like your Direcway, Hambone???

Hambone,

Sounds like you are happy with Direcway. Do you have 2-way satellite? I'm using oneway (AOL-Plus DirecPC) and my service seems to be suffering lately. I considered the 2-way system but when I ordered waited two weeks for an installer, so I opted to go for oneway with AOL, as that would also give me an ISP when traveling. Now, I stay so p***ed with AOL I'm ready to change, even if it means going back to a local ISP with slow dialup. If you have the 2-way dw, are there any problems? How about "lag" time? Seems that this site is terribly slow but some of it may be my system, with up going through telephone dialup and down through the satellite???

 

[fishman]

Shado,

Hmm, I didn't realize that it didn't transmit everything in its entirety. That certainly isn't what I was hoping for. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Thanks.

 

[fishman]

Okeedon,

That makes sense now. I guess I didn't realize you could choose to download them at their normal resolution.

 

[fishman]

Bill,

Thanks for the review links. That's exactly what I was looking for. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Hambone]

Re: Like your Direcway, Hambone???

I used to have a one way sys also. I started having problems with connecting. My dial up is so slow at home, I assume because of remote location.
When one Saturday morning I got mad and ordered the two way.
Install guy did take a little while to get there. I am happy with the system now. Upload is not as fast as I thought it would be. Download is very fast. Even as slow as upload is it is still faster than my dial up service was.

 

[PBMAX]

Re: Like your Direcway, Hambone???

I heard all the one way sytems are gradually going away...Any body else. Due to all the interest in the 2 way sat systems. I have read all the specs and talked to a few folks that sell and install them. I'm a bit of a gamer so I decided to wait and see if I can get a cable modem instead. Since games don't do well with the latency of sat transmision times 3-5 sec.That and the equipment cost and install fees. Know a couple of folks that have them and they love them. But all they do is SURF the web and down load.

Having worked in the communications field a lil bit and dealing with microwave transievers(spelling) I like the no wires bit but I've read and been told they still need a land line to do the initial set up on the 2 way sat system. Which I do not have even a line run to the house the wife and I have always used our NEXTELS.

Which I have considerd adding nextels modem service (which I have used for hr and hrs and is average speed of 33,6K+) to my phone but at $55 pluse internet service well $$$$$ again.