Internet Access in rural area: I'm not sure this is the best place to ask, but it seemed logical :)

[phylny]

There are few options for Internet access where I live. We used to have service from B2Xonline, which provided service through a canopy system, but after 7 years we started to have some difficulty with our service, they came out, investigated, told us they didn't know what was happening, and canceled us.

We got a Hughesnet satellite, but we are plowing through our data allowance quickly (highest plan possible), and we don't game or download movies or anything else that would put a drain on the system.

Does anyone have different experience with another provider? I can use 2gb of data on Verizon, and don't know if it's worth getting another satellite system to use.

Thanks for any info you have

[Scuba]

1. I used WildBlue sattellite when that's all I could get. It was slow, unreliable and expensive ...

... but other than that it was swell.

I changed services as soon as another became available in my neck of the (deep) woods. I'm currently using an RF service that works reasonably well at half the cost of WildBlue. I still can't watch movies, and even youtube clips have frequent pauses, but it's been reliable, even in heavy rain and snow storms.

[Kali]

2. I have a verizon usb modem

it is outrageously expensive - $80 for 10 GB. If I watch too many videos or stream live news events I tend to go over. 1 MB over before the deadline gets charged for a whole G at $10 each.

beats the HELL out of dial-up but...hard on the wallet.

seems to crap out almost as bad when it rains as my 70 year old old phone line did, though. while the cell phones all work fine.

[Worried senior]

3. We had Wildblue

too for a while but it wasn't worth what the cost was.

Finally Centurylink offered DSL where we live and that has been much better. It come bundled with our phone and Direct TV so the price for DSL isn't too bad.

I know we're not getting the fastest service but compared to dial up or satellite it's great.

[BlueJazz]

4. I know Dishnet has internet and (of course) TV but not sure of the price. I DO know..

...that Hughes is painfully slow.
I had one customer that used it. She went to Dishnet.

[Sentath]

5. How long ago did they pull your service?

If it has been 2 years or more then there have been pretty significant changes to Canopy / Cambium.

[phylny]

6. Thanks, but it was just in the last few months. I called them again and the woman said,

"There were numerous service calls" and I responded, "We had your service for 7 years. 'Numerous calls' would be two a year; I doubt there were four in seven years."

Nevertheless, they're not going to provide service. I got Verizon that'll be wired to the house and we'll see how that goes, then I'll reduce Hughes to the bare minimum.

Thanks to everyone who responded!