WOW what a difference in my internet

[mlinnane]

I just installed a satellite for internet WOW my response time has speeded up by about 30 times and I feel like I died and went to haven. I was too far out for DSL, leased line and we will never see a cable company so this was the only answer. And what is the best part is it is offered by an agr company.
if any people interested email and I will give you company name.

 

[EddieWalker]

What company did you use?

I'm using Direcway for my satellite internet connection and I'd be hard pressed to recomend it. When it's working properly, it's wonderful. But every now and then, it's totally worthless.

Saturday night the weather was clear and cool. Not a cloud in the sky and we couldn't lock in on a signal. It lasted all night long and even Sunday morning it wasn't opening web pages every time.

At $60 a month, I'd expect better service. My options are bringing in a phone line and going back to those days or waiting for something better to come along. I'm sticking with sattelite for now, but sure wish I had another option.

Congratulations and good luck,
Eddie

 

[rox]

I totally think that the way to go is Wi-Fi with the Counties and local governements doing the job. The cabel companies and phone companies are operating in a monopoly or, at bestvery little regulation. They are sticking it to the consumer. If Wi-Fi internet is built by municipalaties the cost would be to benefit the consumers and not the cable companies. I only pay 15 Euros a month for DSL 1.2mgs a second.

I tried to get my mom on Broadband but the only option was the cable company at $50 a month. That is a rip off (IMHO). If municipaliets built and owned the infastructure, like they do the roads, service could be offered for much much cheaper.

I feel sorry for the high rates most Americans pay for high speed Internet, and even more sorry for people who only have satelite service, which is usually priced even higher.

 

[PBinWA]

I just got Direcway last week too. The new DW7000 satellite dish seems to be pretty good. Takes some getting used to the latency but boy do pictures and video load fast.

Better than dial-up, and even ISDN (which is what I used to have).

They have a pretty good promotion right now so you don't have to pay the huge install fee up front if you don't want to.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have had WildBlue for a couple of months now, and have been very pleased. Eddie, I have had about 2 hours in two months when I could not acquire a signal. A little less expensive than DirecWay, too.

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> I just installed a satellite for internet WOW my response time has speeded up by about 30 times and I feel like I died and went to haven. </font>

Response time 30X? With its latency issues, how can a satellite based internet connection have faster response time than a ground based connection? Inquiring minds want to know. What and who were you using for internet service before you went to satellite?

And is there any reason you can't just tell us the name of your provider?

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have had WildBlue for a couple of months now, and have been very pleased. )</font>

Jeff, I'm glad to hear that. My coop electric company is offering service thru WildBlue. If I lay out the installation fee and monthly charges, it's nice to know that I'll be getting a good product. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MossRoad]

A co-worker of mine uses Wild blue and is very impressed with their service.

 

[SnowRidge]

I've looked at WildBlue's web site, and also AgriStar, which I suspect is the 'agricultural' provider refered to by the OP. Both seem to be reselling DirecWay. WildBlue says their customer service is U.S. based, which is not what I have heard about DirecWay, so that may be a large factor in why they seem to be held is better regard than DW.

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know about the others, but when you call for help with Direcway, you get a person in India. They will all have phoney names, but if you ask, they will tell you their real nams and explain it's just easier for us to say the phony name they use.

They are also very helpful and will spend all the time it takes to resolve a problem. Of course, it's always turns out to be a sattelite issue and the next day it's fine.

It's much better now than it was a year ago. Hopefully next year it will be better than it is this year.

Eddie

 

[sneaky_pete]

I've had Direcway for one year now; just upgraded to the DW7000 modem. Ditto on everything Eddie says; it's better than dial-up but I long for other alternatives.

 

[THS]

I've had Wildblue since November, and for the most part it has been reliable. I have the ValuePak, which costs me $49.95/month. I paid $299 for the equipment, and it was installed free by my local NRTC. I guess when it's installed by a Wildblue affiliate, they do charge for installations.

Coming from 24kb/sec downloads on my dialup, this has been quite an improvement. I average around 480kb download on a bad day to 530kb on a good day/low traffic time. My downloads have been as low as 26kb, but I think it was due to my modem (which was replaced in December). I rarely have upload speeds less than 100 kb now.

It's a little hard to get used to the long delay when I click on the "enter" button, and when the page actually comes back and loads completely. I think on regular surfing on pages with lots of text, it isn't a whole lot quicker than my dialup was from start to finish. But when the pages have lots of pictures (like Ebay or maybe checking radar on the weather sites), it will blow dialup out of the water.

I also installed a wireless Netgear router the other day so I'm ready for the day when I get my laptop. I'd really like to end my work day by being able to sit out on the deck, reading my emails and being able to enjoy nature at the same time.

 

[k8ny]

My work associate has DirecWay for the same reasons. It works OK for him most of the time but his upload and download speeds are terrible. His max download is 400 kilo bits/sec, which compared to DSL and Cable is really lagging. But, if that's all you have access to, it's better than dial-up.

 

[MotorSeven]

Eddie,

I'm on a verizon Air Card. It was $100 with a 2 year contract @ $60 a month unlimited . It's broadband speed and it works almost anywhere in the country that you can get verizon signal. It works great!

RD

 

[EddieWalker]

When I fist bought my land, my ex wife had Verizon and couldn't get a signal here. The land is half a mile off Interstate 20, and I'd have thought that coverage on such a major Interstate would be a no brainer. I haven't tried them since, but I'm thinking I really should look into it.

Last night around midnight my Direcway Satelitte system wouldn't work again. It was around 30 degrees out and clear. Stars, full moon, beautiful, but no connection.

We went to bed and this morning it's working great.

Eddie

 

[TresCrows]

I started a thread some time back about wireless internet. My provider is Pixius but depending upon locale it will be a different company using the Motorolla packet system. These are line of sight systems that use a small pod shaped antenna within two miles of the main tower and a larger antenna that looks like a small satelitte Dish type antenna for two to ten miles. I have had it now for several months with zero issues. Steady signal, always on, broadband, way faster than anything I had hoped for and cost 44 a month for upgraded servioe plus 125 for antenna install.
The "This page cannot be displayed" problem turned out to be my Zone Labs firewall.
Anyway, do a look around in your local phone book for wireless internet, these systems are sprouting up all over and are exceelnt for semi rural areas. A singla source antenna can serve a huge area depending upon obstructions of course. J

 

[hudr]

I wonder if the Pixius system would work around here (lots of tall Pine trees) since it is LOS?
Also, Eddie, my Direcway bombs out on clear days as well sometimes. It usually has to do w/ a storm passing over their NOC(network Op Center) in Florida. I think it was mentioned before that it sure beats dialup but I wish I had other options.

 

[DougM]

I hav3e found that if the Satilite will not work I can unplug and disconect the 2 leads and then reconnect and then All of the Blue lights will be on ..

DougM