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Satellite Internet - Input Needed
Self | 12-09-08 | Steve Hansen

Posted on 12/09/2008 12:19:05 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo

Mrs NHD and I are in the process of moving to a rural area in coastal Maine. The biggest problem that I am having is getting high speed internet access. No cable, no DSL. A few weeks ago I had a local provider install a 900 MHz link. When it works, it works well. So far it seems to work very intermittantly. Unfortunately we are in a mediocre to bad zone relative to the three nearest repeaters. As a backup in case this can't get resolved I have been looking at satellite internet.

My options seem to be Hughes and a newer service called WildBlue. From what I can gather Hughes has gotten worse and worse over the past few years. WildBlue has what appears to be relatively good pricing (but not cheap). In checking out reviews on the web, the input on satellite is not good but I doubt if the on line self-initiated reviews are representative or just represent the rantings of people who for one reason or another are ticked off.

WildBlue's sales rep (quite responsive based on emails) says that their customer satisfaction is 94% but that's probably not reliable either.

My needs are fairly basic - no gaming, limited video (some You Tube). I do maintain a website so I need to upload/download files that aren't practical with dialup, not to mention antivirus updates, etc. that tend to be big but not huge. I use a VPN connection on occasion.

Any objective inputs on satellite services out there that will help me?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: hughesnet; wildblue
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To: NewHampshireDuo

I don’t know the future of this, but I’ve had Clearwire for nearly a year and love it. Not as fast as the fastest DSL, but faster than Satellite, and you can move around.

http://www.rcrwireless.com/article/20081205/WIRELESS/812049987/1096/MVNO/812049987/


21 posted on 12/09/2008 12:49:21 PM PST by js1138
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To: NewHampshireDuo

I run a wireless ISP. If your 900 wireless is intermittent, get the ISP to fix it. I haven’t generally found much that can’t be overcome eventually with effort and a little trial and error.

Raising the antenna, re aiming, etc, are often the real fixes for 900 intermittency.

for the most part, 900 can fool the installer, by having a stronger “bounce” than direct signal, and the installer will point the antenna at the bounce, which turns out to be dependent on weather, temperature, etc.

If nothing else, it’s also possible to do inexpensive “relay” sites. I can build a 900 relay site for about 700 bucks with the equipment I use, and it works very well.


22 posted on 12/09/2008 12:52:37 PM PST by The Watcher
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To: NewHampshireDuo
I have one of the old DirecPC dishes in the barn.
First generation satellite link. used a phone line for up-link / satellite for down link,,

it was great for large files before hughes instituted its fair access policy and throttled back bandwidth .. anyway anything would beat dial-up but too many medical bills now, so what the hey.

any modern satellite system requires it be installed by fcc licensed tech because of transmitting to satellite.

23 posted on 12/09/2008 12:53:14 PM PST by Eagle50AE (Pray for our Armed Forces.)
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To: ConservativeMind; NewHampshireDuo
Sprint is supposed to have unlimited internet for a reasonable price, which might be 2 Mb/sec burst, with an average of 400-60 Kb/sec. Verizon limits it to 5 GB for the month, so they wouldn't be worth looking into. Sprint would have a latency of up to 130 milliseconds with a PCMCIA modem, which is still very doable with voice and video.

Sprint isn't really unlimited. They are also imposing a 5 GB/month cap, but are doing so quietly. It's $59.99/month -- same as Verizon. If you go to a Sprint store, the salesman will probably offer you a 30-day free trial, and you can test it risk-free.

As others have suggested, try upgrading your current service to a high-gain directional antenna. If you decide to use Sprint or Verizon, also consider an external antenna pointed at the nearest cell-site. You can even buy repeaters that will also boost the signal for your phones:

http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/Products.php?Type=B

24 posted on 12/09/2008 12:57:44 PM PST by justlurking (The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.)
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To: NewHampshireDuo

I’m currantly using verizon wireless. It may not be as fast as DSL, but it sure beats the heck out of dialup.


25 posted on 12/09/2008 1:09:41 PM PST by gracie1
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To: NewHampshireDuo
This is a pretty good site for information. Type in your zipcode for your new location.

http://www.dslreports.com/search

26 posted on 12/09/2008 1:21:23 PM PST by McGruff
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Looks like a lot of flaming of WildBlue here: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wildblue
27 posted on 12/09/2008 1:24:54 PM PST by McGruff
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To: NewHampshireDuo

I didn’t see your question answered. I, like you, have no high speed satellite offered at my location. None, zip..nadda!

So... I use Hughes satellite. It’s not as fast as I would like and its costly (59.00) a month. I have used it for 6 or 7 years now ... never had one minutes trouble with the equipment.

Before satellite internet I had dial up. A second phone line that was 35.00 a month and an ISP provider that was around 20.00 a month. Thats 55.00 six or 7 years ago. The satellite.. 59.00 and 30 times faster than dial up. Easy choice for me.

If I remember correctly it cost 295.00 for the equipment and set up.

A heavy rain will cause you to lose the signal for the duration of the down pour.

Think me might go look at the WildBlue homepage and see whats up with that company.

Best of luck to you.

P.S. We need to have a long talk with that Obama guy. If he can heal the sick and raise the dead voters surely he can get me some of that high speed internet.


28 posted on 12/09/2008 1:31:49 PM PST by airdalechief
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To: AppyPappy

In looking through the replies, several have mentioned Verizon wireless, From what I see that’s really for mobile use with a laptop. Is it practical for home/home office use with desktops?


29 posted on 12/09/2008 1:43:01 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

On goodness after the install and cancellation if the service doesn’t pan out, the stock line seems to be “the installer makes sure it’s fine.” I did see one promotion (not sure which service) where they had 30 days after install for cancellation without penalty.


30 posted on 12/09/2008 1:45:43 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: ConservativeMind

Thanks on the WildBlue input.

What is WiMax?


31 posted on 12/09/2008 1:48:40 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: TomGuy

I’m not sure where I’m at with regard to any limits, 5 GB or other. I’m using cable now - is there a way to get historical usage for my account?


32 posted on 12/09/2008 1:50:39 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: Malsua

The provider I have is pretty cooperative but there are some things they won’t do - insurance no doubt. Their techs have to be able to access the antenna without ladders. Standing on a roof is ok but needing something to stand on is a no-no. Believe me, I’ll thoroughly exercise them before I switch to someone else and have to go through another learning curve.


33 posted on 12/09/2008 1:54:58 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: NewHampshireDuo

WiMax and WiMax installations:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX#Current_deployments


34 posted on 12/09/2008 1:54:58 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Obama is bringing in every crook and bumbler he can to assure consistency in his message.)
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To: dsat4life

“My neighbor, who is a real estate agent, needs high-speed internet to do some of her work from home. She has a local wireless service. I tried out the service on her computer one evening, and the Drudgereport did not load that much faster than my outdated dial-up.”

I’ve seen the same. Interesting though - FreeRepublic comes up very quickly.


35 posted on 12/09/2008 1:57:45 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: FORTRUTHONLY

That’s right, Obama is not only going to make the waters recede but will also give us broadband. Damn, I should have voted for him. Of course he’ll address the inner cities first and make sure that all welfare moms have broadband and a laptop.


36 posted on 12/09/2008 2:00:49 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: The Watcher

I’ve talked with them about a relay. There’s a house down the road that seems to have better luck. They are friends of ours and the provider would consider such an option if all else fails. They are only about 100 yards away, if that.


37 posted on 12/09/2008 2:14:38 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: McGruff

“Looks like a lot of flaming of WildBlue”

Yeah, I checked out that site. Ouch.


38 posted on 12/09/2008 2:23:57 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo (Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
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To: NewHampshireDuo
I’m not sure where I’m at with regard to any limits, 5 GB or other. I’m using cable now - is there a way to get historical usage for my account?

Windows probably does keep a record somewhere on your computer, but I don't know where it would be. I have cable internet and have not been too concerned about upper limits. I read recently that Comcast (not my ISP) is considering limiting highspeed cable to 250gb per month. I download allot, but am no where near that amount.

There are some software programs, some free, that you can get to monitor your usage. Google: freeware monitor internet usage.
39 posted on 12/09/2008 3:06:47 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: NewHampshireDuo
There’s a house down the road that seems to have better luck. They are friends of ours and the provider would consider such an option if all else fails.

Hell, cancel your service, split the costs with the neighbor and share their link with a wifi transmitter. There are many ways to share via line of sight.

40 posted on 12/09/2008 3:28:00 PM PST by Malsua
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