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Anyone using this? or had any experience with it? Or know anything about it?
Cable isn't available where I am and Verizon refuses to upgrade their phone lines and equipment to handle DSL (even though they were sued over it and lost). I've been ok with my nasty dial-up, but stepson is gonna be living back here for a while and wants to know about a better connection and possible wireless and for both of us to be online, it would tie up both phone lines.
I know nothing about satelite internet, wireless or routers (which I think we'd need for 2 computers), so please use little words.
Forgot to add: what I've found so far is we can pay $600 for the satelite and $60/month for service with a 15-month committment or pay $99 for satelite & $99/month for service for 15 months.
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Chris, I'd find out what modem/s are being supplied. The last 2 way satellite connection I networked used usb modems supplied by the ISP, because of this we had to make the computer that was physically connected to the modems the proxy host - meaning that all the other computers achieved their connection via this machine. If this is the situation, you will need a network card in the host PC which is then connected to a router (wireless or other) which will then provide the gateway for any other PC's. The software I used for the proxy service is called Freeproxy and works exceptionally well, you can download it from http://www.alphalink.com.au/~gregr/freeproxy.htm
As far as performance, I wasn't overly impressed, the PC physically connected to the modems has a connection that is faster than a dial-up but not dramatically so. Because the other machines on the network were connected wirelessly using a high level of encryption to prevent malicious access to the network, the connection speed was average at best. A hard cabled connection to the router would provide a connection speed much the same as the host PC. The plan that these people are on with their ISP is $120.00/month for the best possible domestic connection speed available from the ISP. The connection didn't bog down with multiple PC's using the connection as would a dial-up, but thats about the best I could say for it. HTH, David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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Kissy, having just gone down the dsl road here and diving into wireless. I can at least add this, you will need a router that will connect to your modem, as david says at least on DSL you have to have a host computer such as a desk top, that computer would have to have a network card. on the laptop you can add a wireless pcmcia card to go with the wireless router you buy.
I am using d-link router DI-524 and wireless notebook card with great results and very strong signal strength on 3 floors in the house and both floors out in the barn. Find out what you need for a satelite dish I have no idea if you can use one for TV but I have a dish on my roof that is coming down this week, hell I'll send it to ya. ha
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Kissy, We are in the same boat as you as far as not having any other choice, our satellite falls some where between DSL and dial up as far as down load speed is concerned up load speed is about like dial up. Our cost is $69.00 per month.
Our satellite hook up is sent through USB port on one of our computers this is the gateway to the internet the rest of the computers are connected through a switch or a router. Be sure to have all of your security patches up to date and run a fire wall, also set your Virus protection to auto update. A satellite is always connected to the internet just like DSL so you really have to be concerned with security and viruses.
-------------------- Dennis Raap Raap Signs Posts: 839 | From: Coopersville, MI | Registered: Feb 2003
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satelite internet access will not work during rain or snow storms.
So, if you have a lot of rain you can expect to be offline..
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Chris, Don’t expect much greater speeds with a dish system. The speed will be better but only slightly, hardly noticeable. The system I have is Hughes DirecWay and performance is just slightly better than a phone line connection. I think the prices you mentioned are for the same system I have and performance is just not there. I have satellite up and satellite down. Technical support is good, however, you have to strain really hard to understand the broken English at about 4 out of 5 calls. I have had to remove snow from the dish a couple of times to get reception so be sure to have it accessible if that might be a problem. Best of luck to ya. John
-------------------- John Weber 3863 Buckskin Rd. NE Carlos, MN 56319 800-853-7051
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I agree with Santo....but good luck on that one.
I have had the same problem Kissy. I'm a little too far from the phone company for the dsl and I have been trying to get the cable company to run a cable about 100 yards for the last 10 years. (I called them every week for 3 or 4 months and some of my neighbors did too) They could pick up about 8 or 9 homes on my street if they would...it's just not in their budget.
I have the directv dish for my tv and thought hard about upgrading to the internet satelite, but the $600 down and $60 per month is just a bit more than I care to spend. I'll put up with this dial-up a little longer and see what happens.
Let us know what you decide.
-------------------- Ace Graphics & Printing Camdenton, MO. USA
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speed is supposed to be fast during download (downloading files, web viewing, etc.) but same as dialup for uploads (posting to web, sending large files out). rain fade is overstated, if it's that dark and stormy, you wouldn't want your computers on anyway.
-------------------- Scott Pagan Admark Graphic Systems Admark Motorsports Graphics 9700 Metromont Ind Blvd Charlotte, NC 28269 www.admarkgraphics.com Posts: 325 | From: Charlotte, NC | Registered: Nov 2001
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Another option would to run dual Modems. Therotically you get 128 bps I had to do that for a few years since we didn't have dsl here to just 5 years ago. It works pretty well and a heck of a lot cheaper. Modem $29 Another Conection $19 a Month Not Timing out in Chat. Priceless
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Bill...Could you explain that dual modem thing in a bit more detail???
2 ISP accounts, 2 modems.....on one telephone line or two?? I don't quite understand.
Thanks.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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Dual modems. You run a dual ISP account and dual phone line. Some ISP's will allow that if they have dual dialup system available. ITs faster because one modem sends info upstream while the other modem gets a return stream. Thus no packet collisions. But it is not 128 one way. Its still just dial up speed in one direction. Its only 128 total in both directions.
For most satelite system you have a dial up modem and a satelite modem. You still must use a dial up for the up direction. The satelite system has high speed for the return data stream and thus has a high speed modem.
Some systems have high speed in both directions. That costs more if you can get it.
Rain fade overstated? Hmm. Only if you live in the desert. We lose a satelite signal every time it rains here. We almost never shut down over a rain storm here. If we did we would be out of business. It rains every day sometimes all day. Sometimes it rains down the way a fer piece and not over the house. The rain blocks the satelite signal then too. The only time we shut down for rain is when the lightning starts hittting hard and close.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Thats a very interesting thing you talk about with the loss of signal in rain and snow/.
Sattellite internet is the same thing as satellite TV when it comes to the signal. When I went to satallite TV I was told "oh wait till it snows or rains, youll get no signal"
In the two years I have had satellite TV I only lost my signal for a total of maybe 1 hour that I know of.
I have lost telephone service for a total of about the equivalent of a week and a half and I cant say what has happened with cable TV service because I refuse to give COMmunistCAST cable any money at all.
I have a former roomate that lives in Glendale Arizona and he has Satellite internet and TV service, he was the one who recommended both to me. He said he didnt have much if any trouble with his.
I think and believe that the woes of signal being blocked by storms is somewhat of an old wives tale brought upon us by the obvious competitor Cable TV. Which by the way, if a car strikes a pole, even a mile or two from your home, you take a good chance of losing cable service, and trust me they wont come out 1am to fix it for you. Even in a densely populated place like NJ.
Now I'm not telling you that you must go to satellite internet, because I myself have DSL right now, but if I could get rid of my telephone line(thats a whole story in itself) I would be using Satellite internet for sure (I save by having DSL and telephone service over the cost of Satellite and telephone service). It works and its plenty speedy at least it was in Arizona anyway.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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I just completed a swap between PacBell (DSL) and Comcast Hi-Speed Internet...not so much for the supposed performance increase..there wasn't enough to get excited about, but because PacBell was pulling me over the coals sideways for their billing. Anyway, the cool thing is that I got a wireless router from Fry's, as well as a USB wireless adapter for my wife's laptop and mine. We both use the same router at the same time which is neat, and since the router looks like a single ip address to the modem, there are no additional charges or need for another modm. When we got used to the set up, I got a printer server for our HP and we share that too, through the router. I think the whole thing came out to about $300 for the whole thing. I ended up saving about $20/mo going to comcast too. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
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hahaah , no loss of signal.. its a cable advertizing old wive tale. LOL
Anyway,, It happenes here all the time. But then again we don't get them wimpy ol' yankee storms.
We get them hell raisin Southern born and bred thunder boomers. I mean real rain storms that yankees only dream of. Storm with rain comming down in amounts around 3 to 6 inches on a regular basis. Lightning strikes hittin so hard and so often the thunder seems like a long drum roll. We had one today. We had a nice one yesterday. And the day before that. And then we had a storm on Friday before too. If i remember right we've had one every day for the past 43 days.
Our storms are something to be proud of. Light blinking, satelite signal blockin', tree swayin', ditch fillin', electrical storms. So, c'mon down and set with us a spell. You will love our southern cajun hospitality.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I have DSL..so no need fer Satellite internet..BUT
I agree with Harris..we have satellite TV..Snowstorms are no prob. Thunderstorms ARE..briefly...something about those big black clouds seems to block the signal.
Chris yer in OUR neck of the woods..Satelite Might be an option. But my ISP told me, when I asked about the performance, that the satelite internet that they DO offer, along with DSL and dial-up, is faster than dial-up..but not near the speed of DSL.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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Thanks everyone. The systems I've found are suppost to be 2-way satelites. Still, the $600 satelite and $60 a month commitment for 15 months gets me. What if the service sucks? I also don't like having to have a server-type computer. We have satelite tv, very very rarely loose signal and when we do it's only for a couple minutes so that doesn't concern me. If its nasty enough to loose signal, it's too nasty to have my computer plugged in.
I'm not sure about the dual-modem thing either. My connection is generally about 34.6, thanks to the outdated phone lines & phone equipment. Would we be sharing that 34.6 or would we both be at 34.6? would we need a server computer? and what is a dual phone line?
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Kissy, that is what we had the problem with our phone lines are so crapy we could only get 28.8 or so, had no other option so we went with satellite not all that speedy but a lot better than 28.8. The really crapy thing is a cable company has fiber optics right in front of our house but they tell us it is not availible in our area they even sent a tech out and the tech said it was not availible in our area.
-------------------- Dennis Raap Raap Signs Posts: 839 | From: Coopersville, MI | Registered: Feb 2003
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Funny thing about that old loss of signal wives tale from the cable guys, they bring it up all the time. I was just talking to some people here that have RoadRunner thru Time Warner and their connection has been going down about 3 in the evening and returning at about 6 in the morning for the last week. No expliantion from the cable co is available at this time.
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