Satelite Internet? Providers? Service?

[theoilman]

I'm looking into ditching ComCast (poor signal on analog TV, digital TV and Internet; and they can't fix it). (I had even worse service on DSL - Sprint then Embarq and now CenturyLink.)

Looking for any info on providers, what kind of service? Are you satisfied? Internet speed? etc ...

[delcecchi]

One thing to take into consideration is that satellite links have long latency so any page that has a lot of back and forth stuff can take a longer time than you might think from the bandwidth that is quoted.

[upnorth]

The people I have talked to that use satelite internet say it is better than dial up, but not a lot. Latency and slow up link is the main issue, and it is spendy.

[CJH]

Cable is almost always going to be the best option. Not sure what problems you are having, but are there any other companies you can contact? Sometimes there are small companies operating in the same area.

[GatorBait]

I have centurylink dsl which has been good for me due to it being my only option, but cable is the way to go. We have Charter Roadrunner in my bordering cities which runs about 1/2 the price for 5x the speed of what I have now. Many of my friends are very pleased with it. Satellite will disappoint you, guaranteed. Not worth the hassle or high payments.

[1900_LE]

I've got Hughesnet. They offer 3 different download speeds. We have the fastest and most expensive. I'll say this, for 90 bucks a month it sucks. Unless of course you use it from about 11pm to about 8am. Then it is bearable. There customer service is terrible. Unless you can speak every foreign language there is.

But it is faster than dial up.

Good Luck with you search!!

[theoilman]

Thanks for all the replies.

[pushbutton]

i have been using clearwire, it is a wireless system that is localized through their own radio tower transmitters , it works at my business, home, cabin, camper, all within 50 miles of each other, will only work in their range though. i locked in for 30 bucks a month for life at there lowest speed. incredible flexability, only have had it for six months without problems, so cant comment on support.

[theoilman]

Latest report of what has happened.

Today I got totally fed up with my problems (almost no TV analog or digital and occasional internet) and decided to confront ComCast. I went in to their office this morning - asked to speak to a service and maintenance manager IN PRIVATE! 45 minutes later they agreed - they had a problem! (No duh!). 2:30 this afternoon the maintenance manager and line technician were at my house. My intermittent problems were intermittent at their worst - they got to see all the ugly problems. They repaired a connection on the pole. They replace an amplifier a couple of blocks from me. They will be back tomorrow to replace the 'drop' line from pole to the house. They reprogramed my digital box. I have the direct land line phone number and cell phone number of the maintenance manager. They gave me a credit for a full month of my bill.

This is in addition to the several other repairs technicians have done on 4 other trips over the last 3 weeks.\

They agreed - I had a real complaint. Hopefully it is all OK now. (Internet now tests at over 20mb download speed on my desktop and over 5mb download on my wifi on my laptop.)

The squeeky wheel does get attention. This time it just took over 3 weeks!

[CJH]

Good for you, glad its getting resolved!!