DirecDuo Setup - $99 400K Internet download

[Nutcase99]

I wouldn't suggest the DirectDuo setup unless you have absolutely no other choice. I mean its fine for downloading and stuff but DSL or Cable are cheaper, more reliabale for the most part and faster. If there are clouds out of if its raining alot then you wouln't even be able to access the internet which stinks.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bohemian]

FedEx delivered it today. Comes with the dish, DirecDuo antenna, mounting bracket, modem (PCI), and software. All I need now is the cable and few hours of spare time!

 

[ExplodingBoy]

Some more info for those of you who are considering this deal. Needadish.com has about the same thing for about the same price. $129 for the internet-only dish package plus $20 shipping.

Also I've been talking to the direcpc cust suppt people about FAP. Here's a snippet of what one of the reps told me in email. Based on what the rep said, FAP doesn't sound so bad. But there are many reports in the NG from people who were FAPped downloading only 70 or so megs per hour so YMMV.

As for me I decided to pass on this deal and buy a Tivo.



<<
For example, for a customer (let's call him Bob) who has the Family Surfer
Plan, who is surfing during peak hours, the FAP threshold is 169 MB an hour.
(This information can be found on
http://www.direcpc.com/consumer/cost/describe_fap.html.)

On Monday, Bob had the following download pattern:

From 8 am to 9 am he downloaded 168 MB.
From 9 am to 10 am he downloaded 168 MB.
From 10 am to 11 am he downloaded 168 MB.
From 11 am to 12 pm he downloaded 168 MB.
(Assume that all downloads are spread evenly throughout the hour.)

During no one-hour span of time did Bob download more than 169 MB; therefore
he will not be FAPped.

On Tuesday, Bob had the following download pattern:

From 8 am to 9 am he downloaded 2 MB.
From 9 am to 10 am he downloaded 6 MB.
From 10 am to 11 am he downloaded 10 MB.
From 11 am to 12 pm he downloaded 170 MB.

There was a one-hour span of time in which Bob exceeded the FAP threshold
for his plan. Bob will be FAPped. Even though Bob downloaded less data on
Tuesday than he did on Monday, he will still be FAPped because he exceeded
the FAP threshold on Tuesday, but not on Monday.
>>

 

[Unclemo]

When you are FAPped how long do you lose a connection? Also, do they have a software add on that can put a speed limit on the service just in case you are going to download a big file? They should just have an option that puts a speed limit on.

 

[Floyd]

The DirecDuo system caught my attention a few weeks ago, as I live in an area where there's no hope of DSL or cable for the forseeable future. I already have a Hughes DSS dish for receiving television broadcasts (and FWIW, the only time I loose reception is when the weather is so terrible that I need to power down all my electronics...in which case it clearly doesn't matter). I'm curious as to whether I would need to buy their full kit seeing as I already have the dish, or perhaps just another LNB. Or if the internet can be multiplexed on the existing LNB, I'm definitely in! Does anybody happen to know?

Best regards,
Floyd

 

[HaVoC]

Floyd: According to the DirectDuo FAQ, you can use the DD satellite dish FOR Dish 500 digital satellite TV. I'm not sure if that's what you use. Basically you just swap out the dish which will now send a signal to your TV as well as Transmit and Receive coax to the PCs. I might be looking into this for my parent's house which has cable modem now, but the speeds really suck in the daytime. I wish ADSL was available there.

I'm curious about ping times though. Has to be worse than ADSL or Cable, on account of the long distance the signal has to travel. Definitely must be better than DirecPC one-way, though.

DAMN: Their waiting list Form mentions NOTHING about a privacy policy and they ask all sorts of marketing list questions like yearly income. No thanks. I'm going to send them an email about it. BEWARE about signing up for the waiting list.

 

[Floyd]

Thanks for the info, HaVoC. I remember reading that the DirecDuo will provide both TV and internet, but they made no mention of what happens if you already have a TV-only dish. If I have to buy an entire new system to replace my 2 month old system, I'll have to pass. Maybe all that isn't necessary, guess I should give them a call and see if I get lucky enough to find someone who'll shoot straight with me, rather than insist on selling me a bunch of unnecessary equipment. Ha!

In the meantime, if anybody knows how this works for existing subscribers, please let us know.

Best regards,
Floyd

 

[HaVoC]

Floyd:

Basically as I understand it...you DO NOT need to replace your entire system. You only need to change the original Dish 500 or Hughes satellite to the new DirectDuo Satellite. You can use the same wiring and receiver, etc.

 

[xqqqme]

I use DirecPC and can't complain too much.
You really notice the speed when you download something big (like IE 5.5).

If you already have DirectTv you will still need a different dish as the TV satellite is a 18'' round dish where the DirectPC dish is an optical dish.

I just ended up installing the new dish so now I have both antennas on my tower.
I installed it myself and it wasn't too bad except for the antenna pointing, that took time as you have to move the dish in 1 degree increments and wait 10 seconds to see if you get a signal then try again.

They have lowered the unlimited plan to $40 a month I think.

I bought mine locally for a total of 160 or so and that included the install kit (cable, ground blocks, etc).

I would recommend this to people who can't get DSL or Cable but don't expect ligtning fast surfing I know I don't get that although it is somewhat quicker.