Hughes NET ...satellite based INTERNET service

I don't use the service but have not heard good things about it. There must be some forums/chat rooms that would have some feedback, as well as the usual internet review sites.

 

I used it for a year a few years back... it was AWFUL!!!!!

 

Years ago we had Directway (a similar satellite broad band service by Direct TV).
It was not good. The connection speed is AFTER the lapse rate of pinging up to the satellite and back.
So, a large download, like a large Windows Update session, runs very fast but only after you "prime the pump" and get the bytes coming down in one direction.

Most of your web surfing is in very small blocks of data, that is, one web page at a time.
So, you pay the lapse rate delay for EVERY MOUSE CLICK as you surf the internet.
The end result felt similar to 52k dial-up service.

We gave up on it after about a year of having it.
We went to a local high-speed wireless service for a few years until Verizon FIOS became available.
No comparison to our current FIOS speed.

 

We had it for a year. We had no choice. It was either dial up or DirecTV and then Hughes. We had had a DirecTV version before and it was okay. Then Hughes came along and offered a supposed improvement on the service so we signed on for that. It was okay, probably a little better than the DirecTV version. I don't think the quality was ever what they claimed. Between DirecTV and Hughes though, we had a few years of fairly fast internet with no major problems.

If you have no other choice, it is something to think about. But if you can get DSL or obviously cable or fiber, I wouldn't get Hughes. We currently are on DSL and are much happier than with DirecTV->Hughes.

M

 

isn't upload via satellite by a 56k modem?

 

Below is a photo of our modem. As I said in a previous post, we aren't using it anymore.

But the upload is via the dish. You can see that there are only 4 in/out ports.

Lan-which goes to your computer or router if you want.
The blue plug was for power.
Then there is sat in and sat out.

The dish is a bit bigger than a normal DirecTV dish, maybe twice the size and oval, not round.

But again, while the upload was via satellite, we were never very impressed with the speeds, either downloading or uploading.
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Had to bump this. Has anyone set up a network using a Mifi device (VZW), or used one at all? Whats' the range? Can it feed an Apple Airport network? I need an option where dial-up is the only option and I don't want a data card (and fee) with each laptop.
Thanks.

 

You don't need a cellular data card for each laptop. There are a couple of routers available that let you share one "air"card among just about as many computers as you care to.

 

The MIFI does that, up to five computers: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_mifi

 

OK, kids, it's four years later and Sandy wiped out a lot of Verizon's copper at my beach house on Fire Island, NY. They're not repairing, just offering a "wireless" box for the outside of the house hard wired to the interior jacks. Enhanced 911, etc.

No mo DSL.

so, it's probably gonna be Sat internet. I'm looking at Hughes net at this point, and their allegedly updated network.

Any current customers out there care to comment? It would be appreciated....

 

Those boxes are just verizon's substitution for land lines. I beleive Verizon's 4G LTE is available on fire island, You can get an internet router that uses their cellular network which is significantly better than satellite internet and a lot less expensive. This, Verizon 4G LTE Router - HomeFusion Broadband. Be aware though with both the verizon and satellite options that the data prices can be high and get out of control if you intend to watch a lot of youtube videos and use streaming services.

 

I'd def go with 4G modem if svc is avail

 

Verizon's Home Fusion has data limits like a cell phone does so be aware. The service is great but limited on total GB transfer.

Avoid satellite services at all costs. They can't defeat the laws of physics...

GT

 

There's a sig-line worthy quote right there.

 

The main limitation to satellite is high latency. The bandwidth is fine, so you can download stuff quickly, watch streaming HD video etc. Just no online multiplayer gaming due to the latency. I have Exede as satellite is the only high speed net available at my house due to Verizon being extremely lazy about upgrading their switchgear and Comcast not bothering to run out here (though they are 'in evaluation'). It's actually very good with everything except the aforementioned latency. If you have Verizon 4g available, I'd go with that if you plan to do any online gaming. Otherwise, whichever is cheaper.

 

Personally for any kind of wireless service I would avoid Verizon and AT&T. There are many alternatives at much cheaper rates and despite their claims of coverage, those 2 have not performed as well as the little guys. They are way over-priced for cellphone service, I suspect the same is true for wireless net. I left Verizon for cricket and have better service at a much lower rate. Do some DD and get a much better deal.

 

Exede sent a guy out to Fire Island Saturday to drill holes in my new Azek trim and mount a satellite dish.

This way, I kept Direct TV dish (aimed SW) and added Exede aimed dead S. I got up on the roof, while the tech mounted the dish I drilled the cable hole in my brand new cedar siding, brought the cable in on top of a closet where we'd placed a 110V outlet planning for this. Three holes in the top of the closet, tech popped cable in, I hooked it to new Azus dual band router ASUS - RT-N56U on the open top of the closet, feeding the kitchen/dining/LR area and at the head of the hall to the bedrooms and we're good to go.

Feeding the 5 Mghtz band to the TV for streaming...TV in the same room so no problem....and fired up 2 Nooks, 2 iPhone 5s, a mini and standard iPad and my Samsung GS3 on the 2.4 band on the router with no issues.

Getting 8.86 mbps down and (WAH!) 1.78 mbps up. OK, not great, but as opposed to my neighbors that will be fighting the bandwidth battle with a celluar (Verizon) hotspot this summer, I'll be OK. No shared bandwith with satellite. Downloads (on the old VZ DSL) were slow in the summer when the island was busy, and fast as hell in October when the tourists were gone...

Funny. Thought the 5 mghtz band was faster but w less penetration? (yeah, I know, that's what the nun said to the bishop)....seems the 2.4 is faster. Router was absolutely painless to bring live. Plug n play.

I'm not a gamer...so unconcerned about latency issues and again, like you, this appeared to be the only viable game in town other than Hughes, which is now owned by Dish Network....contractual obligations to Direct precluded a switch, so....

We shall see. Thanks to you all for the input.

 

Per speedtest.net, I'm getting 20.77 mbps down and 5.29 up...

Neighbor running it wired (he needs a new router) is seeing 28mbps down...

About half the speed of FIOS, but hey, I'm 7 miles offshore here.....I am concerned that, even tho Verizon "promised" to beef up cellular bandwidth and coverage out here in conjunction with their abandonment of their copper lines, I don't believe the f#ckers.

I think once the island springs back to life, esp with a lot of homes with damaged phone lines, the load on the cellular networks will make the speed abysmal. We shall see.

VZ is providing us with a wireless phone jack, if you will....I gather runs on a diff freq than cellular, will enable us to plug "Land Line" phones into it and will deliver enhanced 911 services.

Hey, if Exede keeps this up all summer I'm a happy camper.