Satellite Internet Providers

[AgilityJeff]

I have been struggling with internet by cellular for the past 18 months, tried multiple providers and basically it just doesn't get the job done out here in rural Northeast Wisconsin.  So it's time to look for a better solution and I know that MANY of you have internet connections via satellite.

Do you love your provider?  Can't stand them?  What's great?  What stinks?

Could you please share the pros & cons of your Satellite Internet service provider before I make my decision?  Either by post or directly by e-mail (addy is listed at the end of my signature).

I really need to improve the consistency of my connection, monthly allowed bandwidth (currently 5 Gb and they really soak me when I go over), and hopefully the speed of my downloads.

Thanks for your experiences everyone!

Jeff Riedl
K9 Corps Agility
Greenville, WI
AgilityJeff@Gmail.com

[Richard Wolfe]

Great question, Jeff!  I'm hoping we'll see the answers on the Forum instead of private email for you.     I live on the edge of a cell tower's coverage and have problems at times as well.  I'm really interested in the topic.

[Debbie Lean]

I had always thought satellite Internet was a fast but pricey way of getting Internet service. That was before we had it at work. It was hardly faster than Dial-up!!! This was in Auburn, California & the company was Wildblue.

[Marj Vincent]

I did a google comparison search last year with regards to upload/download speeds between types and providers. What i learn was satellite was between dial up and cellular. I believe you can get faster speeds but the more speed the higher the price. And satellite can be effected by weather issues on the dish. I was surprised to learn that satellite was slower than cellular on the Comparison chart. But that may be determined by how slow your cellular is at the moment if you are on the fringe of reception.

[Lori Pritchett]

I used to be with Starband....they sucked.  When I first started with them about 10 years ago, they were great.  Good speed, no loss of signal...great.  Then, they got greedy and took on more and more customers with a limited pipeline (satellite dependent.)  Speeds began to slow and the amount of usage began to shrink.  More $$$ was what they were looking for...upgrade your modem and sign another contract for 2 years at 50% more money.  I finally was able to go with a local microwave service.  Great customer service even if I don't have SUPER high speed.  I have several friends who are with Hughes and they don't like it either.  But, for those of us who live in the boonies, the options are limited.  I'm in far northern California (near Red Bluff) but live WAAAAAY out in the country on a big ranch.  NO cell service here, so it's limited in what we can get.

[AgilityJeff]

Richard,

If anyone does reply privately (some folks don't like to 'go public' with this sort of thing ... and I understand that), I'll be sure to pass along their observations without identifying them specifically.  That way you and other readers can have access to the info.

Jeff

[sheilagrothe]

I have Hughes Net service and am very happy with it.  Wild Blue said I could not get service here in the High Sierra forrest where I live.  Hughes Net
got me hooked up with no trouble.   I've had to have a tech come out twice because my satellite dish got moved but they came in a timely manner and all is well.   Never have had an outage due to weather.

[Menmy3dogs]

I have Wildblue. I like it and its not real expensive.

[Marj Vincent]

Jeff,
Have you tried boosting your signal strength with a cellular antenna on the roof, along with a signal booster/amplifier?  I too am on the fringe of the cell towers and barely get the 'tower' icon on my Verizon modem. But with the Wilson cellular antenna and the Wilson inline signal booster, I am now getting 4 bars on a clear day, 2-3 bars on a cloudy/rainy day.  I can now download videos and larger files without getting 'timed' out! 
I was using a USB modem stick but now have a new Verizon  Mifi (Wifi) Jetpack modem that also has the external antenna port I need for my hard wire antenna and signal amplifier. It is working better then the old USB modem. I am on the 10g plan.

[AgilityJeff]

Marj,

Haven't gone that route ... perhaps that's an intermediate step before going to the satellite.

Thanks!

And thanks to all who responded with their experiences!!!

Jeff R.