Review by twilitezoe 
member for 273 days, 3 visits, last login: 194 days ago
lodged 273 days ago
 Saukville,Ozaukee,WI
 Contract price not specified.  "If you have no other choice" "over-priced underpowered, VERY limited Usage. S L O W" "daily headaches"
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(ratings match consensus)
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I moved to the country to be with my fiance. I knew Hughesnet was satellite internet and that was about it. Soon I discovered ALL the limitations and penalties of FAP. I checked our plan (pro-plan plus; 475Mb $74.99 approx. with HN7000 modem) and it was and as of August 2012 still best bang for buck however no longer offered as Hughes has changed plans offered. Most plans are limited to less than 500Mb of data per 24 hour rolling period. So, a handful of video albeit YouTube or news-video and you're done for the day. Some websites load and stream video/audio automatically and you can't stop the download without closing the web-page. One time by accident I loaded a web page, since Hughes is not that fast, not realizing there would be video. I went to make breakfast for us, come back, and hey no internet for next 24 hours virtually. My data "allowance" was used up. I did have a free reset token to use but that's bs too. You can purchase additional tokens. How lovely.
If you hit your limit, Hughes claims you can still do email, etc, but only at less than dial-up speed even though they say dial-up speed and who has all day for that as most emails are html as are the email websites.
I did check for other ISP options.
1) Wild Blue Satellite would be about the same. just a different way of using data
also checked Ground Control Sat ISP (Better, but way more expensive.)
I think there's also one called Light Squared satellite ISP.
2) Since we had AT&T phone service, I thought DSL(which I had before moving) would be great. NOPE.
AT&T, the phone lines only 3 miles from a metro are static and when it rains you might not have service. (Nice going AT&T) and yet they'd send adverts bragging about DSL. I was a bit disappointed in AT&T being that they are as big. However, I never was a fan of AT&T anyway. Too bad. Would have been a good choice starting @ $9.99 dsl. I will also mention they kept raising the price for next to nothing phone service. Compared to where I used to live this was a big rip off.
Before moving I had TDSMetroDSL. Best DSL/phone service, good price/service. They tried to help but couldn't since I was moving to what seemed like a dead zone.
Since they couldn't help me with the move, I was not charged a disconnection/contract fee. I do recommend TDSMetro.
3) I did try cable internet as some websites claimed we could get it according to our address. NOPE we are within 2 miles of cable so scratch that idea. However, one 3rd party outfit said if we order they must bring it to us. Sure, that's gonna happen.
My brother works for a cable company so I got the scoop on why it won't go where we are. In general, too expensive to run vs not enough customers.
4) Wireless. Bertram Wireless. This looks promising except I need line of site to tower. Almost but not quite as treeline nearby just blocks out view. We could build a tower which would run $1500. We considered this but were moving in less than 2 years. If were were staying 5 or 10 or more I'd consider it. Bertram has reasonable pricing and local service. The surveyor who came out to us was very knowledgeable and didn't try to sell us something.
5) Laptop modems. I've seen Cricket at a conference I was at. Hey this looks neat. Would it work out where I live. I did research. Cricket was too expensive compared to Hughesnet for data usage. I also checked Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, T-mobile, etc. they all might work but were too limited for data.
6) Clear 4G umlimited. Would be nice but they have limited range, coverage and don't plan on expanding as far as I know.
7) UREKAH! Last fall, I was about ready to give up and accept Hughenet aka Screwnet when I was reading about traveling and what truckers/RVs use. Millenicom Wireless 3G/4G Nationwide.
Decided to check them. My address worked. I checked for negative reviews. Much more good reviews than bad. I chatted with them to discover Stateside American english support.
So I went the BYOD plan @ 3G service for $69.99 flat unlimited (50Gb. 3 times more data than Hughesnet offering. And cheaper) NO Contract. Take it with you.
They also offer 4G but not where I live.
8) HOTSPOT: After we went with Millenicom, my spouse WANTED a new smart-phone. Found a good deal with our carrier, US Cellular, and we get 5Gb data per phone per month. Only I wished she would have waited a couple of more months so we could get 4G phones but at least we are in the belief project and a year from now we can upgrade to 4G. One of many things I like with smart phone is apps you can use to find service/towers, etc.
In conclusion:
If your a light or single user. Hughes might (keyword:might) be OK, but for households with kids in school that need internet access for assignments this is terrible. Hughes is upgrading their systems but we quit them in Febuary 2012 whilst experimenting with Millenicom ISP. Too little, too late, too expensive, and if we were to upgrade with we'd have to buy a new Satellite modem, HN900 or HN1000, and possibly change out the dish transceiver. Another $200-400 purchase.
Finally customer service is so-so, Not good english. Only good part there is toll-free call.
I could go on all day about how agonizing Hughesnet is. But daily headache/errors sums up pretty well.
I looked for alternatives for 2 yearsand found Millenicom 3G unlimited ISP that is cheaper and unlimited plus no daily error messages. Also much cheaper equipment, no contract. 3G may be somewhat slower,but it's more reliable than Hughesnet.
Update to note. With Millenicom I also purchased my USB modem (Amazon), Signal booster (Ebay), and 3G/4G modem from 3GStore. My total investment is well under $500. Also, I purchased my modem during a Black Friday special. (That was planned)
Look for my Millenicom/Cradlepoint review soon.
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