Does anyone have knowledge of or experience with the "WildBlue" satellite service?

[MiddleFingerMom]

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Kali is thinking of joining at least the 20th Century
as far as Intertubes connection but would appreciate
any reviews/opinions first fron DU.
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http://get.wildblue.com/pricing.html
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That will give you an idea of what they offer and their
pricing, Installation is free for now.
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Thanks in advance for your help.
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[MicaelS]

1. No experience, but I recommend you go to DSL Reports

And research there. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wildblue

Go to the reviews section, type in Wildblue in the company name http://www.dslreports.com/reviews

Spend some time reading reviews of all the Satellite services, not just Wildblue.

I know three things:

(1) Satellite has horrible ping times. Satellite is NOT for online gaming.
(2) You pay much more for what you're getting over DSL or Cable internet.
(3) Satellite is some people's only choice besides dial-up.

[Kali]

3. Reviews seem terrible

I got so frustrated trying to solve dial up problem that I ordered WB, but then read the reviews last nigh - yikes! Wanted to see if any DUers hed experiemce. Now today we narrowed problem to cumputer.
Not sure what to do next. :-(

[vard28]

4. We went from dial up

To air cards because we live in the sticks. It's been the best move for us. We have antenna tv. No cable or satellite. Then I tried a verizon 5spot. You can use up to 5 computers/ipad/whatever on it. It's the size of my cell phone. The 5 spot works better than the air card. I can take it anywhere. I get service anywhere my cell phone would. Only drawback is that there is a monthly limit. I get the 10 limit instead of the 5. I've had it for a year and I'm very happy with it!

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Only trouble with a "5-spot" (they USED to call that a "mobile hotspot")...

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...is that all 5 devices are using up your limit individually -- so with a 5 GB limit, each device gets an avg of 1 GB for the month.
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And at $10 per GB ovg charge, that means baby ain't gonna get that new pair o' shoes!!!
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[vard28]

8. True

We went with the 10 gb limit. I tell my husband and son to watch you tube at work and at school and not to eat up ours at home. :rofl: I get a notification when we've hit the 5 gb mark and so far that hasn't happened until we have 5 or fewer days left in the billing cycle.

[MiddleFingerMom]

9. You may be paying $80/mo for something that might cost you $60/mo --

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... namely the 5 GB plan with 1 GB of overage.
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You would have to rack up 8 GB (plus just ONE kb or more) for that to be a good choice --
and if you're saving $20 on the avg month... that gives you some substantial monthly savings
with which to pay the ovg charges for an aberrant month.
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[obxhead]

11. For the purposes of the OP

For the purposes of the original reason of the OP (Kali) this is kind of a moot point. She's been on dial up. She has never gotten anywhere remotely close to a 5GB a month usage unless her PC is connected and downloading 24/7.

If she gets good cell reception, the 5 spot might be a viable alternative to satellite which really sucks.

[Kali]

7. Called them yesterday, but thescab wouldnt aknowledge the strike, then

He couldnt figute out how to help calculate usahe so I gave up. Think a neighbor has that, need to give her a call. Or figure out what is wrong w/computer!

[dembotoz]

2. what about a smart phone or an aircard for the computer?

i would assume cable is not available or you would not have posted this....

also check into line of sight internet providers--popular is some more rural areas...are there any watertowers visible from the house???

[Kali]

5. Line of site wifi

Tlwe in view but tne prson I spoke to on the phone fromPakistan or wherever, was adament that I would need a 400 ft tower. Meanwhile I get to have 3 huge com towers looking down at me from the mountain behind the house, at least 6 huge undergrou/d conduits full of optic fibers goig down our road and across the driveway, all unaccessible to me.
Sorry for typos, phone keyboard sucks and DU box doesnt fit on screen. Touch typing blind, no clue how to fix except back key- takes too long.

[grasswire]

10. a family member has used Comcast's wifi stick for two years...

...The stick costs $50 to buy, and the fee is $40 per month. Of course excess GB cost something. I know, everyone hates Comcast. But this has been trouble free and he has used it ALL over the U.S., even traveling on Amtrak. FWIW.

[kalli007]

12. I used it

about 5 years ago when I lived in the sticks. Prior to that I had used both cable and DSL. Well after a few months of the dial up I couldnt take it anymore, got the Wildblue. Pricey, definitely not as fast as cable/DSL but VERY worth getting off dial up!