Anyone Use Satellite Internet? Recommendations?

[SilverLeaf]

As I have recently closed my shop and am trying to operate on a smaller scale from my home, I am still struggling with internet access. As it is currently, DSL and cable are not available (nor will they be any time soon apparently ). I have been using 3G for basic access, but the data caps and pricing are cost prohibitive for my needs.

I have always seen satellite as a last resort, mostly because of the high latency, poor performance, required contract period, etc. But, I'm approaching the point of desperation here. Does anyone have any personal experience with satellite service? If so, what was/is your opinion. Pros and cons? Who was your provider? Please share your experiences.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I have used Wildblue and hated every bit of it for all of the reasons you posted. I have nothing good to say about it. This was about 3-4 years ago so maybe it's better now. I had the 12MB package for I believe ~$70 a month. If you went over the 12MB for the 30 day period you were "slowed" down to an unusable speed, basically disconnected for a few days until you were back under your allotted amount for the rolling 30 day period.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Mom and dad had satellite at one time and their connection always was slow when we would visit. They got a Verizon mifi and like that much better.

 

[Markverhyden]

The Satellite options all have caps from what I have seen. Don't you have some way do a cable or DSL from another location and then use a point to point wireless? That has been done before.

 

[SilverLeaf]

The Satellite options all have caps from what I have seen. Don't you have some way do a cable or DSL from another location and then use a point to point wireless? That has been done before.

I spent a good deal of time looking at this tonight, and yes they all have caps.....but Exede offers unmetered access between midnight and 5 AM with a daytime cap of 10GB/ month. They advertise 12 Mbps. I could probably make that work.

There is an outfit around here that offers something similar to what you suggested via WiMax using Motorola Canopy. They have antennas installed on all the local water towers which are back-hauled by ATT. I gave it a go, and it worked OK....as long as there were no leaves on the trees. Come spring and summer, I lose line of site to the tower. I'd cut down a few trees if I could, but they're not on my property.

 

[codegreen]

I was in a similar situation a number of years ago. I had a satellite connection from Xplornet, which resold HughesNet. It was terrible. Performance was poor at the best of times, but they had a mysterious "fair access policy" (yes, they called it FAP) that kicked in at seemingly random times. There was no documented bandwidth cap, and there tech support said that the trigger were calculated each and every day based on criteria they could give me actual number for. Basically, if you watch one YouTube video too many, or download an ISO, your speeds would drop to dial-up level. It was common to here someone slam down the mouse in disgust and announce, "We've been FAPPed again!"

There was unlimited use from midnight to 6 am, so I scheduled large downloads to take place overnight. And, because of an initiative by the provincial government, the satellite connection was not on contract, so I was able to switch over to DSL as soon as it was available.

 

[mr m]

How about checking out BroadbandBlue? Since you have cell service this might be a viable alternative to satellite. I have no experience with these guys.

The future is satellite but high signal latency and bandwidth restrictions have a lot of maturing to do.

http://www.broadbandblue.com/

 

[katz]

Hate it!

I have a handful of clients who are forced to use Satellite because they live out in the boonies, and it is painfully slow. HughesNet is the provider in my area, but I believe they all suffer from the same limitations.

They can't even stream a youtube vid w/o buffering because of the latency issues. DSL is a better choice for them, when available.

 

[pceinc]

I have two clients on Satellite. One was Wildblue and the other Hughesnet. When Exede started up I switched them both over. Early on it was great. Relatively fast and no data caps. When the data caps were put in place it quickly went down hill. A small business cannot operate on 25GB/mo. It's possible you can as one user but downloading updates or remote work will kill you. Better to drive into town and use the library or a coffee shop for large downloads.

I feel your pain.

 

[smashedbotatos]

Are you in the UK or US sir?

 

[trevm999]

There is an outfit around here that offers something similar to what you suggested via WiMax using Motorola Canopy.

That's what the ISP I'm with uses. Works awesome, I have a big pole mounted on top of the garage. Had 90km/h wind last week and didn't have any issues (I was worried that it might be an issues with this kind of setup). Too bad you don't have a good line of site. Have you looked into the cost of a tower?

My parents have xplornet, it's certainly better than dial-up, but leaves much to be desired.

 

[lcoughey]

There was unlimited use from midnight to 6 am, so I scheduled large downloads to take place overnight. And, because of an initiative by the provincial government, the satellite connection was not on contract, so I was able to switch over to DSL as soon as it was available.

You seriously have DSL where you are situated? I'm impressed. What kind of speeds do you get that far outside of Fredericton?

 

[codegreen]

You seriously have DSL where you are situated? I'm impressed. What kind of speeds do you get that far outside of Fredericton?

Don't be too impressed. 1.5Mbits down, the lowest speed tier Bell provides. But I ain't complainin', because it's a huge step up from Xplornet, and it has been very reliable. I just have to ask the family to limit the video streaming while I'm working.

I'm on the very edge of DSL coverage, too. My friends two minutes down the road can't get it and are stuck on satellite.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I'm thankful. We recently d downgraded from charter cable internet to AT&T dsl. Charter was 30mb vs att is 12mb, but saving 20 per month. After I tweaked settings using my own router with att service I'm getting almost the full 12 regularly. 39.99 a month I can't complain thankful I had an option from charter. Our bill for tv and internet was supposed to be 165 or so a month but seemed to usually be more than 200. Between dish and att glad to save some $$.

 

[Appletax]

I spent a good deal of time looking at this tonight, and yes they all have caps.....but Exede offers unmetered access between midnight and 5 AM with a daytime cap of 10GB/ month. They advertise 12 Mbps. I could probably make that work.

There is an outfit around here that offers something similar to what you suggested via WiMax using Motorola Canopy. They have antennas installed on all the local water towers which are back-hauled by ATT. I gave it a go, and it worked OK....as long as there were no leaves on the trees. Come spring and summer, I lose line of site to the tower. I'd cut down a few trees if I could, but they're not on my property.

My uncle has Exede and hasn't complained. I plan to try it soon. They claim to have the most advanced satellite on the planet.

 

[smashedbotatos]

They claim to have the most advanced satellite on the planet.

That is a silly claim. Advanced satellites would be useless on the planet. They might want to change that to in orbit. LOL

 

[3ft]

My uncle has Exede and hasn't complained. I plan to try it soon. They claim to have the most advanced satellite on the planet.

The most advanced satellite on (or off) the planet will never get around physics. Latency will never be at an acceptable level on a satellite connection. That being said - better than nothing at all, just don't expect to do any remote support without having a cat handy around to kick in frustration!

 

[altrenda]

Have you looked into a WISP? We use them for locations and productions that are too far from cable or other broadband sources, or where our needs are greater than what they can provide.

Your reg says kentucky, you might find something here
http://startawisp.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=40&Itemid=0