Anyone use Direcway 2-WAY Satellite Internet Service??

[Analog]

I'm interested in the 2-way satellite connections, not the "download from the satellite" and use your slow modem for uploads. If you do, how's the service? Do you like it? Comparisons?

I can't get DSL or Cable. My only options are this and a local wireless internet service that would require a 60' tower in my back yard. Thanks for the input.

 

[Ime]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
I'm interested in the 2-way satellite connections, not the "download from the satellite" and use your slow modem for uploads. If you do, how's the service? Do you like it? Comparisons?

I can't get DSL or Cable. My only options are this and a local wireless internet service that would require a 60' tower in my back yard. Thanks for the input.

Go for the wireless. The satellite service has horrible latency.

 

[FoBoT]

i have a commercial unit sitting here, not direcway
we are testing it for possible use in our retail stores

it is ok, latency is part of the deal, you can't move the satellites closer or make the electromagetic waves speed up

heavy rain/snow knocks it out just like satellite TV

what is the cost for the retail service you are looking at?

would you have to pay for the 60' tower?

we are also testing a wireless Sprint 3G modem, it is pretty cool. the speed is only a little faster than dial up, but it is cool having no phone line plugged in and the dialing speed is so fast, only takes 2-3 seconds to connect. i don't think the service is available yet, still in testing

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Go here and read about it and ask people who do. There's also a forum for wireless if that's a viable option for you. You will need a clear line of site (no hills, tree's, buildings) on one of the wireless isp's antennas though. Good luck. Oh, and latency on sat is truly horrible. Expect to see no less than 800ms for the most part. And that's if you're really lucky.

 

[The Stigenator]

i hear LAGGG!

 

[fatbaby]

are you an online gamer (whether its everquest or literati) or someone with low patience? If yes, satellite is not for you

However, that 60' tower sounds like $15000

 

[Analog]

Thanks for the replies. We would have to shell out $800 for the tower ( its the type that attaches to the side of the house).

The wireless is $40/month.

 

[FiLeZz]

Well I had direct way for about 1 year..
Had no other options..
Looking back at it I would have been better off on dial up.
1 they cap you if you download more then 200mb in a 24hr period CAP I mean they slow your service to slower the DIAL UP

2 UPLOAD WAS the worst I had ever seen. I would dial up on a modem when I had to upload photographs to say ebay.

3 COST vs Value is not there ..

4 Support is carp.. They always had me unplug the modem and plug it back in.. Even if you do it before calling them

5 internet connection sharring is not a good option due to USB and any PC that is shared with the MASTER gets SLOW Downloads something to do with the compression.

6 Download speeds were ok 50-90k a sec Surffing the WEB was PAINFUL. this was due to the LAG you would request a page it beams to a sat then beamed to the nok then beamed to a sat then beamed to you. Think of how many differant gifs jpegs and links are on one web page those are all requests so a web page comming up on sat is slower then dial up NO LIE

 

[vi edit]

Direcway = WORST. SUPPORT. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uhg.

Had my dish installed on May 7th, here it is August 7th and it STILL has yet to ever work.

Stay away. Stay far away.

 

[amdskip]

I agree with the others. I've used it before and the delays were horrible. Dial up felt faster IMHO.

 

[DurocShark]

What kinds of speeds will you get with the $40 mo wireless? If it wasn't for the $800 tower, I'd be interested.

 

[dman]

The Fair Access Policy is suck and you need to read up on it.

Excellent Resource

Based on what I read there I decided to stick with dialup until alternatives were available in my area. I'm now on a WISP and am quite happy. I might switch to DSL or Cable in the future. Cable just became available, but, the service via my WISP compared to the experience I used to have with Adelphia Powerlink prevents me from switching. DSL isn't available yet but I would consider switching for that.

Anyway, for the money, you could lookinto iDSL or ISDN. While the instantaneous download speed is slower than DirecPC, the ISDN/iDSL monthly limit is download potential is higher, as well as the minimum speed.. And the price is about the same.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
What kinds of speeds will you get with the $40 mo wireless? If it wasn't for the $800 tower, I'd be interested.

I'm paying $50 a month for 444k/444k wireless internet. Super low ping times as well. Very cool stuff.

 

[loup garou]

If you think about it, after your first year of service, the wireless service + tower would cost about the same as the satellite equipment + service. This is one of the cheapest satellite setups I've seen. After a year, you've spent $30 for equipment and $1200 for service = $1230. With the wireless, you've spent $800 for the equipment and $480 for service = $1280, both disregarding taxes and any additional expenses. The satellite service is $60/mo after that and the wireless is $40. The initial investment is higher for the wireless, but I'd definitely go with it because it starts to pay off after only a year, which is pretty quick. Plus, I've heard horrible things about the actual service (fair use policy sucks, doesn't work in bad weather, etc).

 

[Analog]

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