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other options where I am moving > satellite or dialup speed> they promote UP TO 2.5 Mb (I have found 600 without additional antenna) price>$200 for the USB gizmo (UT Starcom), $60/month after that, 1 yr contract Install process> received USB gizmo in 2 days, ran install disk, stuck in the USB antenna I am moving to an rural area where the only two options are satellite and EVDO - at this time and from the results of my research.... After getting hives reading all about satellite service and restrictions, I read a review here about Alltel broadband in rural MS. (I am moving to rural AR) I ordered my starcom and tried it out for 3 days this weekend. WHAT A RELIEF! Yes my comcast cable will be sorely missed, but you were quite right, "when nothing else is available, this is an excellent choice". Without a booster antenna I am receiving 600-150 up down (inside a metal building). This will certainly do considering there are no restrictions for usage. I intend to research booster antennas next and will report back here. UPDATE 4.16.2008 Four months into contract. Still a happy cusomter. Only one outage (for a couple of hours) in four months. Speeds are consistant with 600 down/100up. A tech told me yesterday that ALL towers were going to be upgraded soon. Usage really is unlimited. youtube not a prob. Upload is pokey though and one of my corporate VPNs didn't work with this service, but another one did. Customer service really is tops with Alltel, can't think of another telecom company that has ever come close to their quality. UPDATE 5.26.2008 The past 5 weeks, I have had terrible connection problems. The rssi jumps around all over the place. Many instances I can't even connect or am disconnceted. The first 4 months were SMOOTH sailing with Alltel Axcess. Now this product isn't worth 0.02. I've had an offical ticket open for almost 2 weeks and have never gotten one call from a tech. I have to call back in every other day to check status and explain myself all over again. "Possible tower congestion" I am looking into dropping Alltel and giving satellite a go. How sad. Update: 6.12.08 I've made the switch to wildblue. Alltel was great for three months, then traffic got too much on my local tower and during peak hours I couldn't use the service AT ALL. and it was mostly too problematic at other hours. I loved Alltel at the start and they have super polite customer service, alas no one would do any thing abo0ut my connectivity issues over the last 7 weeks. PS; heard Verizon was going to be taking over, so it's a good time to bail. Update 6.23.08 Just ended my service officially. Alltel did not make me pay for the time I had my trouble ticket open (30+ days). But I will owe the remaining $150 - to end the contract. member for 16.2 years, 31 visits, last login: 13.1 years ago updated 15.7 years ago
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