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Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: Le Pirate on August 14, 2009, 09:58:54 AM

Title: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 14, 2009, 09:58:54 AM
About to be relocated for work, and it looks like it might be my only choice....Other than dial up  [puke]



good experiences?
bad experiences?
any experiences?

I was looking on their site, and it has some Fair Use policy that caps you at 500mb. Guess my streaming netflix is done  :'(
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: ducpainter on August 14, 2009, 02:06:06 PM
Quote from: Le Pirate on August 14, 2009, 09:58:54 AM
About to be relocated for work, and it looks like it might be my only choice....Other than dial up  [puke]



good experiences?
bad experiences?
any experiences?

I was looking on their site, and it has some Fair Use policy that caps you at 500mb. Guess my streaming netflix is done  :'(
I think Mr I and somegirl have it.

The fair use policy bit them a couple times in the beginning I think.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: motoboy on August 14, 2009, 08:44:23 PM
Quote from: Le Pirate on August 14, 2009, 09:58:54 AM



good experiences? All I could get at the time, it is better than Dial up. 
bad experiences?    Not very good at all with a bit of cloud cover. (slow)
any experiences?    Over all rating is I think it sucks.
I was looking on their site, and it has some Fair Use policy that caps you at 500mb. Guess my streaming netflix is done  :'( Ya this part really sucks !!!!!!


My work partner is using Sky Beam and really likes it, I will be checking it out soon.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on August 14, 2009, 09:41:51 PM
Eh, it's been reliable, although slower than cable or DSL. You are also limited to certain bandwidths, so....turn off pictures etc in your browser. It's not bad, but you'll also never see another video again. I would recommend downloading a program that 1) keeps track of your usage for you and 2) lets you download during the "no-limit" hours. So you could still get online movies, just no instant gratification.

Would I do it again? Sure. Would I prefer cable or DSL? Absolutely. YMMV.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Ducatiloo on August 14, 2009, 09:46:34 PM
Quote from: MrIncredible on August 14, 2009, 09:41:51 PM
Eh, it's been reliable, although slower than cable or DSL. You are also limited to certain bandwidths, so....turn off pictures etc in your browser. It's not bad, but you'll also never see another video again. I would recommend downloading a program that 1) keeps track of your usage for you and 2) lets you download during the "no-limit" hours. So you could still get online movies, just no instant gratification.

Would I do it again? Sure. Would I prefer cable or DSL? Absolutely. YMMV.

+1 me too, the FAP is kinda ridiculous, I've checked and they had throttled me all the back to 14 kbs for 12 hours.  Better than dial up but not much else.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: somegirl on August 14, 2009, 10:39:41 PM
I use it for work, download speeds are fairly comparable to an aircard, upload speeds are much slower.

It's been pretty reliable, I can even do webex sessions although I only do these if I am watching the session only - if I have to control a webex session I prefer to go into our office and do it from there.  For email and web browsing it's totally fine except for watching videos.

It really sucks with VPN.

Download the hnfapmon to keep track of your usage, as MrI said there are also download managers you can use.

I also run FireFox with AdBlockPlus and NoScript to avoid unwanted bandwidth with autoplay videos or flash sites.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: mstevens on August 14, 2009, 10:46:20 PM
I had it for a few years and was thrilled to get rid of it in favor of cable.

I was also thrilled to get it, since at the time it was the only alternative to dial-up.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 17, 2009, 04:52:14 AM
so it sounds like its okay if it's the only option you have....

:-\

I found out that a couple miles up the road, you can get DSL. Anyone had any luck convincing the phone company to run it a little closer to their house  [laugh]
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 17, 2009, 04:55:53 AM
just checked Skybeam.


it says the cover Texas....but not the parts where I live. Damn.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 05:04:11 AM
Do you have cell sevice? Can you tether your phone or use a card? Might be cheaper and no bandwith limitations...
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Ducatiloo on August 17, 2009, 05:34:33 AM
Quote from: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 05:04:11 AM
Do you have cell sevice? Can you tether your phone or use a card? Might be cheaper and no bandwith limitations...

Most "unlimited" cell phone data plans have a lower MB limit than hughesnet.  I look into Verizon and Sprint a few months ago.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 06:04:16 AM
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=plans (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=plans)

Shows up to 5GB plans...
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 17, 2009, 06:07:34 AM
Quote from: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 05:04:11 AM
Do you have cell sevice? Can you tether your phone or use a card? Might be cheaper and no bandwith limitations...

nope. no cell service either.

...well. Thats not totally true. my t-mobile phones have absolutely no service what so ever there. I have one option for cellular phone service, but I really don't want to do it.

AT&T.

the only carrier that has any signal out where we are moving. Just the thoughts of ATT service makes my stomach churn.  [puke]

I don't know what I'm going to do. I've always lived in decent size towns/cities where the DSL and Cell coverage flowed freely. We are going to be 25 miles from the closest town. Probably the weirdest place I've ever seen. Beautiful lake, and multi million dollar houses, but no town/businesses to speak of. It's going to be atleast 15 miles just to get gas.

My regional director said this is a promotion, but i'm not so sure  [laugh]
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Ducatiloo on August 17, 2009, 06:21:27 AM
Quote from: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 06:04:16 AM
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=plans (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=plans)

Shows up to 5GB plans...

That's way below HughesNet . The HughesNet  FAP kicks in after 300-450 mb per a day.  5GB a month is 2 netflix movies... or one Vista service pack  ;D
Although a broadband card will have faster upload speeds and less latency

I can't believe I arguing for HughesNet   :P
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Pakhan on August 17, 2009, 07:07:08 AM
Do you have neighbors with internet?  [evil]

http://www.oxid.it/cain.html (http://www.oxid.it/cain.html)
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 17, 2009, 08:34:33 AM
I will be living in a on-site house (actually a really nice house) where I work. In the office they have a T1 line, so I've thought about hiding a wireless router  [laugh]

problem is, I don't think I can pick up the signal at the house (too far), and the web filtering will severely limit browsing (like being at work 24/7). no Youtube/facebook/games/questionable pictures  [laugh]. of course, the way the options are looking....I won't be able to get any of that stuff anyways.


I'm totally moving to 1980  ;D


actually...acording to the verizon map, it shows that I can get EVDO. I've learned not to trust those maps to much.  I don't know if that is going to be any better though. Atleast I might be able to have phone service  ???


think T-mobile is going to let me disconnect without a termination fee. I've been a good customer for 6 years and would be more than happy to stay that way if I could. I was out of contract but my wife HAD to have the google phone
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: NAKID on August 17, 2009, 02:22:17 PM
Most providers will let you disconnect without a termination fee if you are moving where they don't have service...
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: somegirl on August 17, 2009, 08:48:34 PM
I use my AT&T aircard when I am traveling in the US and the performance is better than the HughesNet.

I have no cell phone service where I live, but I set my blackberry to forward to my home phone when there is no signal.
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: Le Pirate on August 18, 2009, 09:25:51 AM
Quote from: somegirl on August 17, 2009, 08:48:34 PM
I use my AT&T aircard when I am traveling in the US and the performance is better than the HughesNet.

I have no cell phone service where I live, but I set my blackberry to forward to my home phone when there is no signal.

the call forwarding is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that...of course, I haven't had a land line in 8 years  [laugh]
Title: Re: anyone using HughesNet (sat. internet)?
Post by: z0mb1e_DUC on August 19, 2009, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: Le Pirate on August 17, 2009, 04:52:14 AM
so it sounds like its okay if it's the only option you have....

:-\

I found out that a couple miles up the road, you can get DSL. Anyone had any luck convincing the phone company to run it a little closer to their house  [laugh]

problem with DSL is usually distance & line degradation.  Typically, the limit is 3-6 miles from the CO.  Faster the data rate, shorter the distance it can be pushed.  The freq this stuff operates at limits the distance.   One possibility is if you can convince them to add what is called an "ADSL Loop Extender".  It is a type of amplifier circuit used for DSL.  It may still not work. 

you should try calling Customer Service, the service maps are often not completely accurate. 

Air card may be the better option.