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Anyone Here Use Direct Way Satellite?

I've heard from some people that it sucks, but I've also heard from many people that it's great. It just depends on how badly you want it.

I know a guy that recently got AgriStar (which is DirecPC), and he loves it.
 
I had it for 2 years, and then I moved but my parents still use it.

It's better than dialup, but I was never able to play games on it (even games that were 56k friendly). Downloads usually run at around 100kb/s max. If I downloaded too much during the daytime hours (like 50mb or so), then my internet access would be kicked off for a few hours.

We I lived at home, we had to have a computer on all the time and special software running to access the net, and then we had a router sharing that internet access. In the past few months, my parents bought an actual piece of hardware that replaces the need to always have a computer on. There's definitely a delay when accessing webpages as well. Upload speeds really sucked (around 4kb/s). Some of these results may have happened because the guy who installed the satellite was a moron and we never get super good reception.

To sum up my opinion of it. It sucks, but if you want to download things at rates faster than dialup, and it's your only choice, then go for it.
 
csyberblue pretty much got it, the newer DW6000 is a big improvement over the DW4000 (software based), there is no software on the computer anymore, speeds are more consistent, stays up longer (rain/ice) and its a straight ethernet interface now (acts as a router already with the basic service so use a Access point or switch for sharing it, not a router (unless you have a static IP, then you want a router😀)).

Basically, the standard service will get you 500 - 1000 kbs down, 10 - 40 up, lag is around 700 - 2100ms, if you exceed 169 mb in an 8 hour period it will slow you down to dial-up speeds.

Anyway, bottom line is that it is a huge improvement over dial-up for your basic web browsing, the occasional file download, etc., It doesn't play nice for gaming (due to lag in the 700ms -2100ms range), VPN's (due to the design of the system, it will work but at dial-up speeds), etc.

When/If you have it installed, make sure they ground it (ground block with both cable hooked to it grounded to a legal ground) and make sure your cross-pol is a solid pass, not 1/2 pass, 1/2 fail.

Good luck,

WTT (DWay/DTV/Dish Installer)

Forum on Dway Here
 
i have directway. I HATE IT.

I really wish i could get DSL or cable modem. If you use it it gets locked down to dial up rates. I am thinking of just getting dialup anyway. why pay so darn much if they are going to lock me in at dial up speed anyway? oh and the equipment is fricken expensive.

I really really wish there was some other provider i could use.
 
I use Cingular for internet. 100 k/sec and terrible long response times, but once a download gets started, it moves pretty well.
 
I sold it for a while. Felt guilty every time some poor sucker bought it- it's slow, long contract, expensive to repair and laggy. if you think you can play frag games online, you might as well tattoo HELPLESS TARGET on your forehead.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
i have directway. I HATE IT.

I really wish i could get DSL or cable modem. If you use it it gets locked down to dial up rates. I am thinking of just getting dialup anyway. why pay so darn much if they are going to lock me in at dial up speed anyway? oh and the equipment is fricken expensive.

I really really wish there was some other provider i could use.
Click to expand...

For years I felt your pain. I was stuck at 28.8 dial-up and no hope in site. I looked into all the satellite options and they were all to expensive and the reviews sucked. I thought I would never see cable or DSL because of where I lived. Low and behold, Verizon DSL came through a couple of months ago and I was on it like stick on sh!t, no matter what the cost was going to be. Keep checking for DSL availabilty. You might get a surprise one day like I did.

I have a friend who has Direct Way and hates it also, but if there's nothing else and if you can afford it...

 
It's a love it/hate it type of deal. If all you do is browse, then it's excellent, but expensive. If you want to DL stuff, it's not so hot. If you want to play games, dialup is better.
 
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