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Hughesnet Sattelite internet vs. Verizon DSL
Self | 8 May AD 2008 | Lightman

Posted on 05/08/2008 5:28:28 PM PDT by lightman

I live in an area which is not served by cable TV companies. That has limited the Internet access choices to either dial-up or sattelite. I currently have both, using dial-up on my MacOS9 and Hughesnet on the PCs.

I have learned that DSL has suddenly been extended to my area by Verizon. Hughesnet is costing roughly $90.00/month for less than satisfactory service because of their "Fair Access Policy" and because towering thunderheads frequently block the sattelite signal. I could get Verizon DSL for about $30.00/month--and if the in-house networking goes right, I might even be able to ditch the dial-up and second phone line for still greater savings.

But before I leap forward with what seems a no-brainer I would like to hear from those who are current or former Verizon DSL customer; especially those who have also had sattelite.

Would going to DSL be a good move?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: dsl; help; hughesnet; internet
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To: GreenAccord

Verizon DSL, Washington DC server:

Up 737 kb/s
Down 137 kb/s


21 posted on 05/08/2008 6:45:05 PM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: PLMerite

Oops, let me redact that:

Verizon DSL, Washington DC server:

Down 737 kb/s
Up 134 kb/s


22 posted on 05/08/2008 6:47:02 PM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: GreenAccord
54Mbps - that's either some high-dollar connection or that's the speed of the wireless connection to his router.
23 posted on 05/08/2008 6:57:56 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: lightman

I use Verizon DSL. I’ve never had a dropout that I know of, and it is fast enough, but not particularly blazing fast. We can watch TV shows on the internet and it occasionally freezes up.

We got the DSL moden with wireless router built-in, and I haven’t had any trouble with it. We all sit around with our laptops and surf.

I could have Comcast Cable, but I hate giving them any money, even though I haven’t dropped my cable yet — I’m nervous about switching to DirectTV, and we don’t have Verison FIOS vailable yet.


24 posted on 05/08/2008 7:02:51 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: GreenAccord
I've used the site once in a while. Here's a run from tonight, using Verizon DSL.
25 posted on 05/08/2008 7:08:24 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: lightman

I’ve had Verizon DSL for 4 years up here in southern New Hampshire. Love it! Never had a problem. Easy to install yourself. Meanwhile, I hear co-workers complain constantly about Comcast.

Unfortunately, Verizon recently sold its northern New England fixed line operation to FairPoint. I’m staying with DSL. So far, so good with the changeover.


26 posted on 05/08/2008 7:27:14 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie
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To: lightman

I have had Verizon DSL for three years now. I have the higher speed version for $30 per month. Before moving to this area, I had Cox Cable internet which costed around $40 per month. I cannot tell any difference between them.

Verizon service here is Palm Desert, CA has been excellent. Very reliable - maybe one or two short interruptions in three years. Plus, Verizon service techs are easy to reach and very helpful, especially when I added a wireless PC. We now run two desktop PCs on a Verizon wireless modem. One is hardwired to the modem and one runs wirelessly.

Our community also has Verizion Fios fiber optic service. I have chosen to stay with DSL because Fios is $20 more per month. Unless you are doing a huge amount of downloads or uploads, as in running a business from your home, it is not worth the money.

With DSL, you will drop your dial up service as you never will want to use it again.


27 posted on 05/08/2008 7:27:41 PM PDT by CdMGuy
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To: lightman; LeGrande
I was in EXACTLY the same situation two years ago. Newly developed area and Verizon didn't have DSL capabilities in the area when when moved in. Decided to go with HughesNet rather than dial up.

It was OK - better than dial-up. Problem was that my wife worked from home and her company used a VPN network. VPN is NOT supported by HughesNet (despite what their marketing info says....) Ended up having to get a wireless card for her laptop until DSL arrived.

Had we been told truthfully that they didn't service VPN, we wouldn't have invested the money. If you have any special needs for particular services I wouldn't suggest HughesNet.

28 posted on 05/08/2008 7:34:59 PM PDT by TexasNative2000 (Is this tagline governed by McCain-Feingold?)
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To: GreenAccord
I have ATT DSL


29 posted on 05/08/2008 7:46:51 PM PDT by Dan Walsh (Thompson/Bolton 08)
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To: lightman
Yes. I have what is called Naked DSL with Windstream. My phone is $1.99 a month. I cannot make any Long Distant calls, but I can call toll free numbers. I also get charged 10 cents a call. I do not use my home phone much. Always on my cell (also use it for long distance)

I pay 29.99 a month for Extreme DSL which is 6.0 Mbs down and I 350 up (Just for the record I have clocked it). My down is usually 5.9 and my up is 330 Mbs. Its fantastic I love it. I am also running WIFI at the house. I use a 17” lap top computer. So I can work any where in the house.

30 posted on 05/08/2008 7:47:52 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: GreenAccord

My test ran 8834/1918...Comcast @ 19.99/month


31 posted on 05/08/2008 7:55:00 PM PDT by politicalwit (AKA... A Tradition Continues...Now a Hoosier Freeper)
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To: Tatze

Bump for later.


32 posted on 05/08/2008 8:10:39 PM PDT by Tatze (I'm in a state of taglinelessness!)
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To: GreenAccord; lightman

Have the 1.5/0.5 Verizon DSL; refused to 'upgrade' to fibre as it costs more now and will get more expensive later. This is similar to the stupid Touch-Tone vs. Rotary Dial charges; with the advent of the ESS switching gear they had to put converters in the COs for their dial lines, yet charged the TT lines every month. Gotta admit they did make more money that way!

33 posted on 05/08/2008 8:44:29 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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To: lightman

Other posters have referenced the delay issue, which will prohibit VoIP and some interactive games.

Another thing that often happens with the satellite software drivers is that you cannot run VPN - if you need to run VPN drivers to connect to a corporate network (eg), then you might be out of luck with a satellite link.

One other thing that others have not mentioned is that all three of the major satellite carriers (Hughes, Gilat and WildBlue) is that they have per-week or per-month usage quotas, and when you exceed these quotas, your speed is restricted (sometimes severely) for as long as it takes to get the moving average bandwidth back below the throttling threshold.

For Gilat (formerly “Starband”), the quota used to be about 780MB over a seven day rolling period; ie, if you used more than 976MB of download b/w in the last seven days, they’d throttle you. For you to get unthrottled, you’d have to use as little bandwidth as possible so that within the most recent seven days, you’d use some lower limit - like less than 500MB.

The trouble with the throttling is that their DNS server starts to drop your packets when you’re throttled, so you cannot resolve named and you have to keep hitting the “reload” button on your browser.

Oh - one more thing about satellite ISP’s: During the spring and fall equinox periods, you lose satellite connectivity as the sun lines up behind the bird for about 90 minutes for about 3 to 7 days during these periods.


34 posted on 05/08/2008 9:37:52 PM PDT by NVDave
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To: lightman
I can't get DSL where I now live (Condo complex not wired for it) but I wish I could.I had Verizon DSL in my last residence and liked it.It was dependable,gave me all the speed I needed (I don't download music or videos) and was pretty cheap (when compared to the cable broadband I have now).

And no,I don't work for Verizon.

35 posted on 05/09/2008 6:52:48 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Women swooned in Mao's presence too.)
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To: Gay State Conservative; All

I didn’t really need much convicing—faster speed, no FAP throttle, lower cost.

Reliability and tech support were my concerns and you have addressed those throughly.

DSL, here I come!


36 posted on 05/09/2008 8:43:24 AM PDT by lightman (Waiting for Godot and searching for Avignon.)
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To: doc1019

As the telcos have upgraded their equipment, they have added DSL nodes so that the “central office” is now a little box. They run fibre to the box and the neighborhood has fast DSL service.

Once AT+T upgraded my area, I went from 3Mbps to 6Mbps.

Verizon is working to roll out fibre to the door, so their DSL service should be fast.

With AT+T DSL, I have consistently gotten the speeds I pay for, even during peak hours. Cable slows noticeably during peak evening hours.


37 posted on 05/09/2008 9:15:41 AM PDT by MediaMole
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To: NVDave
During the spring and fall equinox periods, you lose satellite connectivity as the sun lines up behind the bird for about 90 minutes for about 3 to 7 days during these periods.

Wow, learn something new every day. I think Hughesnet is a 24 hour quota. I've only exceeded it once with help from some teenagers. Once they throttled my connection it was basically unusable. I could get a tiny web page or two, but could not do IMAP or SMTP to get or send email.

38 posted on 05/09/2008 9:22:27 AM PDT by palmer
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To: palmer
I think Hughesnet is a 24 hour quota. I've only exceeded it once with help from some teenagers. Once they throttled my connection it was basically unusable. I could get a tiny web page or two, but could not do IMAP or SMTP to get or send email.

Hughesnet changed its FAP about a year ago. It had been reasonable and now is draconian. When you've been FAPped your service is a useless POS...slower than 28.8 dialup. DSL here I come!

39 posted on 05/09/2008 12:59:24 PM PDT by lightman (Waiting for Godot and searching for Avignon.)
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To: NVDave

Wildblue has a pretty draconian FAP as well.


40 posted on 05/13/2008 6:07:46 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity)
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