What's up with satellite?

[Mishka]

Is it faster than DSL? Same speed as cable?

I've been wondering, because I'm not happy with comcast.

[Netizen]

I haven't been on satellite internet.I have heard the installation and monthly costs for satellite internet are quite expensive compared to DSL or cable internet and it's mainly for the remote areas where cable internet can't reach.Another problem is that it's not good when one requires continuous streaming of data due to the latency.

[thebowl]

I have heard it is slower than cable and about par with low cost DSL services. I have also heard that you only want it if it is your only alternative.

[elysia]

What I've heard agrees with using it only if it's your only choice. While the speed may be comparable to other broadband connections, the latency is supposedly bad. There is usually a several second delay in sending and receiving information. This might not be a problem is you're using the web for information or browsing. But if you're interested in online gaming, a several second delay will get you killed every time.

[alexis]

Does anyone use satellite internet? I have not met anyone that does yet, but would love to pick their mind on it. I would want to compare it with everything else out there on the market, would be a good geek conversation.

[Satmancrothers]

Alexis, it is what it is. There are usage policies and inherent latency issues with this technology. Your upstream speed is probably the biggest concern for most surf and mail users. 2 way systems top out at about 128k with a realistic average of say 80k, which we know isn't much faster than dialup. Which is why I went with skyway's one way deal, it's just not worth the difference in price to gain that little edge over snailband.

Satellite is for now a situational solution. Either landbased broadband isn't availiable or you just can't deal with your local monopoly any more.

[Bender 13]

Ive had Hughes Net for over a year now. A few observations:

I would call the web browsing speed "tolerable".

Certain types of internet applications, especially Flash, give it a lot of trouble. Email websites (Gmail, Yahoo) go MUCH slower than on broadband.

You cannot in any way game online. My PS3 has trouble even connecting to the net to download content.

Download speeds are inconsistant, and top out at about 1/5 that of DSL. Sometimes, while downloading a moderately sized file (a few dozen MB) it will start out at my max speed and then slow down to dialup level, and then come to a complete stop.

There is also the "threshold limit" where you can only download so much content in a certain time period. I have never once exceeded this limit, but have been punished for getting too close to it several times (they shut you down to lowend dialup speed for about 24 hours).

Obviously, like satalite TV, bad weather can interput or stop the signal alltogther. This is expected, but there are also bright and sunny days where I'll lose my connection for hours at a time for no apparent reason.

There is essentially no tech support. All the phone centers are outsourced and not only do the operators speak very poor English, they are generally in a big hurry to get you to hang up. They almost never answer any question outside of the guidelines of the general FAQ. Getting a straight answer to any other question is nearly impossible. Only once, after waiting on hold for over an hour, was I ever able to talk to an American about a concern.

I would only recommend this service to someone who absolutely has no hope of getting any other broadband service. Unfortunately, its what Im evidently stuck with for years to come or longer.