Review by pilot_in_fla 
member for 3.7 years, 26 visits, last login: 2.7 years ago
updated 3.7 years ago
 Hernando,Citrus,FL
 Contract price not specified.  "you can now reach support quickly" "service keeps getting slower and slower and slower...." "don't buy it -- if you have it and it is working, consider yourself lucky"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
|
As measured by overall ability to get things done, Starband's service has been in a slow decline for a long period of time. Want to watch a youtube video? -- you are better off going somewhere else as it will come in stops and starts. Want to listen to an audio stream? -- it might or might not work.
In the last month or so, Starband has been in a steeper decline. They have implemented something they call Improving Customer Experience (ICE). As documented, this doesn't seem that unreasonable but as implemented, it has the effect of reducing service speed to substantially slower than dialin. The "ICE" limits are based on total bytes downloaded but you can only observe those figures as daily summaries reported the following day, not in real time. Who knows if they are even correct. In my own personal experience, basic web surfing and a little bit of emailing was enough to exceed the Starband limits. But the worst part is that, once subject to ICE limits, you are limited to some unspecified number of TCP connections. Downloading a simple web page can take more than five minutes. Also, once subject to ICE limits, you will probably stay that way even though you are not really getting any sort of adquate service. Why is that the case? Who knows but don't expect to get an answer from technical support.
This is not a service that should be considered for anyone looking for new service. They want a two year commitment but I wonder if they will still be in business in two years. For existing customers, if their usage is minimal enough that they don't get "iced", it is probably not worth switching right now but those users would probably do just as well with dialin.
Comments:
|
