posted on January 9, 2001 11:44:57 AM
Here we go again!
In our tiny town (without a stoplight even!)..it will be over a year before cable offers DSL..and the phone company is even longer. I have a 56 modem..but it only connects at 32 because our phone lines won't accept more.
Sooo...is discussing it with my hubby we figure we can take our Cable bill...extra line phone bill..and Prodigy bill and combine the savings to equal the fee for a digital satellite symstem.(am I mispelling that?).
We do NOT want it to connect via the phone system..we want the kind that goes up to the satellite...any help/suggestions for me to look at when researching???
posted on January 9, 2001 11:50:27 AM
I believe these systems allow you to get your downloading from the satellite but your uploading still goes through the phone line. In other words, when you click on a link, the request goes out through the phone line, but all of the web page content is received via satellite.
Since the majority of what most of us do is receiving data, it would still be a huge improvement over a 33.6k or even a 56k connection.
I could be wrong, but that's the way I understand it works with Dish Network.
posted on January 9, 2001 12:11:15 PM
That is how it works. You still will need a phone line because you will have neither the equipment, power or the authority to transmit to satellites.
posted on January 9, 2001 01:12:09 PM
Carole,
I hear ya!!! We have the same problem in our tiny town exccept my connections are worse than yours, believe it or not! I was getting very frustrated and started looking for ways to increase it. Your right, we can forget EVER having high speed access where I live but then I heard about the satellites too. At first I was very disappointed because yes, they also required an isp with dial in access (kinda silly) but now, just in the new year both Starband and DirecPC have come out with new 2-way satellite internet dishes! Upload and download with the same rippin speed No phone lines needed! They aren't cheap, but neither is DSL, etc. but we are looking into them ourselves. Check them out at http://www.starband.com or www.starbanddirect.com or www.direcpc.com
I would love to hear from someone that already has one of these 2 way systems! They are so new I doubt anyone here does but if soemone does--- please posts your thoughts!!
Thanks and good luck Carole whatever you decide (let us know)!
Tammy
I have used starband(Dish Network)...
It is a 2 way satellite dish that is faster than a 'speeding bullet'...No phone line needed and 'online' is always on so there is no need to log on with an ISP and all that...
I have my order in for 1 as soon as the factory can catch up with the demand...Should be in about 30-45 days...
The starband.com website tells you lots more..
posted on January 9, 2001 03:58:45 PM
I understood that with a dish, you have to pay by the minute for internet use-that could really get costly-Is this true, or just a rumor created by the phone company?
posted on January 9, 2001 04:04:06 PM
I believe there are programs (DirecPC) that give 25hrs and then .99 a min after that...or switch to Unlimited for 39.99..that was with One way..
I believe for 2 way unlimited..it runs about 69.95 or so a month.
I had the one way service for 3 months and was quite impressed by it.
Commonly received d/l of 60-70Kb/s and with a Downloader program 180-200+ so it's worth it definately if it's going to be a while before you can get anything else!
No phone lines needed! They aren't cheap, but neither is DSL, etc. but we are looking into them ourselves. Check them out at http://www.starband.com or www.starbanddirect.com or www.direcpc.com