how-to block ads
|
next review in page
Review by thehenkels 
member for 11.8 years, 40 visits, last login: 3.3 years ago
lodged 11.8 years ago
 Andrews Air Force Base,Prince Georges,MD
 $32 per month "Most of the time you get a fast connection speed - Very Easy Setup" "You never know what kind of speed you will have from hour to hour" "Would do this again. I don't have DSL or Cable access. This is the way to go!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings well above consensus)
|
Most of the time you get a fast connection speed - Very Easy Setup
You never know what kind of speed you will have from hour to hour
Would do this again. I don't have DSL or Cable access. This is the way to go!
Comments:
 | next review in page (previous review)
Review by bhaverkamp
member for 11.9 years, 450 visits, last login: 2.1 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Martinez,Contra Costa,CA
- $69 per month
- (12 month contract)
 about 7 days- "Very fast downloads, always on"
- "Slow uploads, lost packets"
- "This is currently the best connection I can get for a reasonable price"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
This is a satellite return system from Pegasus.
I have been waiting for cable and/or dsl forever. About a year ago I went with a ricochet which was better than modem where my typical download speed was around 30K. Now my typical download is around 1200k for larger files upto over 2000K when watching trailers etc. Upload speeds are typically under 100K but still better than modem and competitive with the richochet. I find the technical support to be spotty. As I live in California weather so far as not been an issue, but I have heard that rain may shut my connection down, that may change my opinion in a hurry.
Service includes email, which I had some trouble setting up as no useful manuals are provided. Customer support is good and has solved my problems. However the service does not include news so I subsribe to an external news server.
I have been toying with returning system before 30 days expire but am now leaning towards keeping it. I have become addicted to movie trailers.
Details: two box modem set about the size of two old hayes 1200 modems strapped together with two coax cables running to dish. USB pc connection.
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by rpage935
member for 11.9 years, 78 visits, last login: 2.7 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Saint Charles,Saint Charles,MO
- $29 per month
- about 1 days
- "Fast. I average about 1,000."
- "Time limit and price"
- "Better than AT&T Cable Modem"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
The price is a little step for unlimited access considering you must dial-up. Even at $49.99 for unlimited access, I will probably keep DirectPC (unless Charter buys AT&T in St. Louis!).
The technical support at DirecPC has been great. Being a first time user, they have answered all my questions. They answer the phone quickly.
I set the system up myself. Finding the satellite was easy the second time. The first time I set the dish up, the instructions did not tell me that the satellite may not be in the direction indicated by the compass. My house ended up in the way. Once I moved the dish to a new location, the setup went smoothly.
Over all, I am happy (except with the two comments). Seems someone does not have a life. I recommend help.
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by jknight4
member for 11.9 years, 9 visits, last login: 11.8 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Greenwood,Johnson,IN
- $69 per month
- (12 month contract)
- about 3 days
- "Always on, fast tech support avail."
- "slow, slow uploads, can get tech support quickly, but ......"
- "It is the future, no phone company, and I really have had no problems"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
I am using Pegasus, Direcpc b/c my dsl carrier is going out of business and b/c of "new technology" I am outside the cutoff by 100 feet (after waiting 10 days or so for dsl providers to test my line.
It is still working and speeds fluctuate. For example, speeds can be 150 down, then two days later, like today, it is 1450 down. One thing has not changed, the slow speed of the upload. I never appreciated how important the "request" to a page is until now. All I hear at work is "what type of speed do you get" referring to the download. More emphasis should be put on the combined speed. For a real life example, I use JDeveloper for work. It is a 213 mb file at Oracles web site. It took me about 3 minutes to get to the download portion of the site (that's slow!!!) but once there, it took 20 minutes to download (and that is fast). Combined speed was incredible but for the soap opera surfer, it will drive him/her crazy.
Tech support is still easy to get to but once there you have to deal with level one tech who are experts in their narrow minded skill -- "plug in the computer, put this ip address in." I actually asked one of the techs if she new (understood) what she was telling me. After a couple of questions it was clear to both of us she did not.
I am not educated in hardware at all. I know just enough to know that I should not try anything without the watchful eye of a seasoned novice.
The question, would I do it again??? Yes, tech support sucks whorever you have, at least here I can get to someone. Still no phone company, and it is the future.
I will continue to update
So, if you do this, I recommend Pegasus. See them at www.pgtv.com.
Email with any questions.
Regards,
JK
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by bfharris
member for 11.9 years, 130 visits, last login: 2.4 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Milton,Santa Rosa,FL
- $59 per month
- (12 month contract)
- about 44 days
- "Awesome Download Speeds never under 1300kbs, but usually around 2439kbs."
- "Upload sucks at around 44-48kbs."
- "For surfing the net or file downloading in an area that isn't serviced by cable or DSL, this is a great service."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Today is June 16, 2001.
I already had DirecPC return satellite where I had to dial-up to transmit requests. It cost me about $100 for the equipment and $50/month for serivce with ISP, plus phone line of $20/month and I installed it all myself. They advertised DL speeds up to 400kbs; mine were generally around 300kbs, so I felt they were on target with their DL estimates. My upload was through a 56kbs modem, but because of where I live, my speeds were only around 24.4kbs.
DirecPC just started to offer an upgrade to their two-way satellite for only $400 equipment/install price (must be installed by a certified installer due to FCC regulations on transmitting through airways) and $59.99/month for the service. The normal price is about $950 for the equipment/install and $69.99/month for the service. I decided to take advantage of their upgrade since I live in an area without cable or DSL services. After placing the order, I was told my credit card would be billed instantly and it could take 90-110 days for the equipment to even ship. I went along with that. My card wasn't billed right away though, so after three weeks I called the place where I placed the order and tried to get some info. They said the order was placed and has been sent to Hughes (manufacturer of DirecPC) for equipment shipping and that they will ship the equipment to me. They said call Hughes for more info. I called Hughes to verify they recieved my order and they said to call the place where I placed the order and they couldn't give me any info at all. So after 4 weeks my card was finally billed. I originally placed the order on May 2nd. On June 6th I received a call to make an appointment to have the install done on the 8th. The 8th came and they had to reschedule on that day for the 9th. The 9th came and the installer did make it out, but couldn't remember how to work the laptop with the satellite signal finder installed and had to leave. The 11th I phoned the installer's office and asked what was going on and they rescheduled for the 13th. They finally installed it on the 13th, but it took about 5 hours. I know this must be typical because my father ordered the same system on the other side of the US and has had similiar issues. He placed his order on the 5th of May, received a call on May 25th to do the install on June 8th. June 8th they resheduled for June 12th. June 12th they rescheduled for upcoming June 18th. We shall see on the 18th if he gets it. DirecPC advertises up to 400kbs download and 128kbs upload with their new two-way system. I have not yet seen anything under 1300kbs while downloading and the normal is around 2439kbs (screaming fast), however the upload is usually around 44-48kbs. I do play some online games and find my ping rate to be around 800, but it doesn't seem to affect my playing.
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by j845125
member for 12 years, 246 visits, last login: 6.3 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Addison,Steuben,NY
- $70 per month
- (12 month contract)
- about 5 days
- "smooth instalation, great download speeds"
- "uploads slow(but improving), storms kill the connection(can't be helped)"
- "If no other broad band option this is the way to go"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
Had Pegasus Express installed about a month ago, so far I am completely satisfied. I wanted to try it for awhile before i recommended it, and so far I am tickled. The best modem speed I could get was 28000, had it cancelled. There is no dsl or cable anywhere near my home. After reading several other positive reviews of Pegasus I called, odered 2 days later. In 2 business days the equipment arrived, and the installer called the same day. The installer is the most important part of this system. The dish has to be mounted sturdy and accurately.
I put mine on a 6x6 pole cemented 5 feet in the ground. The installer worked until he had a reading of 83, he said 70 was good.
Before you buy one, you have to realize that the latency is high. Not good for playing online games or telephone over internet. If that's what you want, don't get a dish of any kind, wait for the low-earth orbit dishes to come out in a year or two.
Download speeds average 1200 they say up to 400. I expect the speeds to drop as users get added. Upload speeds were 20 but have gone up to 70-90 the last week or two.
You must have windows 98se, me, or 2000 because it uses usb. I networked mine to a linux box. After trying several different proxy servers and other sharing software, that all worked, I decided windows ICS was best and easiest. The Pegasus software didn't bother my NIC's or other networking equipment or software. ICS does slow the speed to the other computer to 300-400, but that is still acceptable to me. Load drtcp utility from dslreports.com and change the rwin to 200,000 or 250,000 and turn window scaling on.(see petdudes notes in the forums, and thanks again petdude!!)
If your thinking of getting a dish, I would recomend this to anyone.
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by jeyoung3076
member for 12 years, 749 visits, last login: 7.3 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Millerton,Dutchess,NY
- Contract price not specified.
- "Upload speed much improved; Download speed very good"
- "Trouble initially seems resolved"
- "Delicate but when it works it is terrific"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
For the first few weeks upload was never better than 12 to 18 kbps but Pegasus said they and the Hughes engineers were working on the problem. Yesterday and today upload speeds registered 55-65 and downloads of around 1400. The two-way is an evolving system with teething problems but it has now shown that it is capable of working properly and maybe the upload speeds will get closer to the advertised upper limit of 128. Anyone installing the system should do the tweak test and change the MTU settings on his own because Pegasus doesn't tell you about it. A very large RWIN is necessary to get good results. In my rural area there is no DSL or cable service available and this is a fine solution.
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by tegwilym
member for 12.5 years, 89 visits, last login: 11.3 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Bellevue,King,WA
- $44 per month
- about 5 days
- "Super fast!!! Easy to set up - at least in my case."
- "Uploads still go through the phone line - 26.4 to 28.8 in my case."
- "If you can't get cable or DSL, this is the next best thing."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
Ok, I may get some flame mail for this review, but I'm going to take my chances and say good things about DirecPC. I live in one of the larger cities in Washington State, and AT&T has a monopoly over the cable modem and they haven't done any work on the system since last November. All the other cities around have it, but not mine. DSL is out of the question since the phone companies won't upgrade any of the lines.
I had read lots of horrible things about DirecPC on the Usenet groups, but I figured I didn't have much to loose since I was only connecting at 26.4 kb/s. So I took my chances and bought it. I had no problems installing the dish and finding the satellite (I have DirecTV, so I knew what I was looking for). I'm running it on a Windows 2000 Server and using internet connecting sharing to two other computers in my house and using terminal server to control the server. No problems.
Good points:
I'm usually downloading at about 475 to 590 kb/s average, so I'm not complaining about the speed. As for the FAP thing that everyone is screaming about, if I need to download a giant file, I'll do it at work and bring it home on a CD. I don't use Napster since all the good stuff is filtered out, so I can deal with the FAP issues.
I actually tested it out with a friend who has cable modem. I was downloading at 590 kb/s, and he was choked off at only 330 kb/s (this was also at midnight, when traffic should be less).
Bad points:
Higher latency than a dial-up, dsl or cable connection. If you are used to a slow dial-up connection, you probably won't notice anything. But this is understandable since the packets have to travel 50,000+ miles back and forth.
Upload speeds are still terrible for me since I have to dial in with a modem, and recieve from the satellite. I still can't play around with web servers on this connection.
FAP (Fair Access Policy) people complain all the time, but I haven't had a problem with this.
As for tech support, I can't really say much about that since I haven't had any problems I had to call them about. I just called once to upgrade my service from 25 hours to unlimited time. The person I talked to said that Windows 2000 Server was not supported...but it works great for me!
Overall I have been extremely happy with DirecPC. Sure, the uploads are kind of slow, its a little more complicated than cable or dsl, but it is FAST!
I'm thinking now that when (if?) AT&T does get cable modem in my area, I might just skip it and wait for DSL.
Tom
- Finally satisfied in Bellevue!
Comments:
| next review in page (previous review)
Review by Jovian4
member for 11.9 years, 14 visits, last login: 10.4 years ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Schuylkill Haven,Schuylkill,PA
- $34 per month
- about 3 days
 Verizon (ex GTE)- "The Only Game In My Area"
- "Too much rhetoric"
- "If you have no other alternatives then this might be for you."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I have been loyal to Hughes Network for several years now, and wanted to order their new product...AKA "SR2"...Satellite Return 2-Way. Currently, I have their direct duo product with Internet Connectivity.
Retrospectively, their product, the Dial Return System is disappointing. I am saddened to say that they are plagued with managerial problems. Their first line of defense; technical support agents, are not consistently on the same page where technical support is a concern. Moreover, they have attitudes issues they need to deal with internally.
Hold times are unacceptable, and once you speak to a representative they are quick to get you off the line. As far as upload potential with this system (Dial Return) they have still not address it. So my concern is why should I upgrade to their SR2 system. SR2 being Satellite Return 2-Way. Their technical support representatives stated that I must multiply by seven to get an accurate upload speed. When I asked them what is this factor, they told me they did not know, but were advised to just tell the customer this.
Moving on to e-mail concerns; after 6 months off and on I finally have an e-mail address with them. Occassionally, my settings get re-configured and I find myself calling them constantly. This is another place where their representatives are not on the same page where technical support is a concern.
Finally, when download speeds might be an issue. I find spuradically that I get intermittent connectivity or slower speeds then a 56k modem. Mind you that I just turned on my PC and have not exceeded their FAP...Fair Access Policy. These are just some of the major issues I have had with Hughes Network Systems. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. In short, I was told by several representatives that I should try off peak hours to surf the Net, and I told them this is not a viable option. DirecPC needs to get their act together.
Overall, when conditions are kind of Ideal, if you will, their dial return system is okay. Once again, watch for the rhetoric on days that may not be ideal because they tell you this is a problem with your phone line, and/or a problem with your ISP, or anything else they can disqualify you. This is where the major rhetoric comes to play too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Regarding Hughes Networks newest product the SR2. Well, let me just say this...the can keep it until they fixed their internal and inherit problems with management and their Dial Return System.
I had signed up for this new product the day it was extended to members that had an account with Hughes Network (DirecPC) specifically. They offered an incentive to those customers (such as myself) to buy the product at a discounted price. "Get a DirecPC Satellite Return System AND Professional Installation for only $399.95* PLUS Get DirecPC Satellite Return Service for only $59.99/mo*." The asterick here denotes a one year commitment. Nothwithstanding, their site states, "Current DirecDuo customers who want to receive DIRECTV programming with the new DirecPC SR System will use existing cabling and need to purchase a DirecDuo upgrade kit. As a part of our special offer, DirecDuo customers may purchase the upgrade kit for $29.99 (regularly priced at $49.99.)[sic]. Well, that is find and dandy. But upon further investigation of this enticement; here is where my frustrations with DirecPC gets escalated.
I signed up on their website the day of the enticement. I waited, waited, and waited for someone to call me and no one ever did for six weeks. So I took a proactive approach and called them. DirecPC opened up a ticket for my concern which was; that I wanted to be installed before their promotion ended to take advantage of the price. Having a ticket opened I was reassured that I would still be able to take advantage of the price and that I was locked in.
Two weeks went by since I had the ticket opened and no one ever called me back. So once again I called in to see what could be done for my installation. DirecPC gave me a number to call...It turned out to be Info Dish who was installing their products. Info Dish told me that I could have someone out there in approxiametly 90-120 days, but would take my money down now. The 90-120 days excuse is because their people are receiving training now on the satellite FCC regulations and installation procedures; not to mention the considerably long back log of orders.
I told Info Dish no way was I going to pay a misquoted price $428.99 up front and wait 90-120 days later for a product/service that I had not received. They said this price was needed to pay for the cost of the equipment, and there was no service. I knew right then and there these people were uneducated and ignorant. If you offer to install a product for them at a quoted price, the service is the installation. What morons they have installing products for them. Furthermore, they told me the wrong price which I never corrected them on. When I asked why I needed to pay up front, they told me that it was a contractual agreement between them and Hughes. I asked if they could and would make an exception to this policy and they told me no, but provided me with another number to call to verify. The number they gave me was for technical support for the SR2 product; after waitng almost an hour the phone rang and a technician answered.
I explained my concerns to this rep and she transferred my call to another person in sales who was nice but absolutely useless. He explained to me that he could not help me, but did say that if I did not take advantage of this promotion; the price would be full price to me afterwards. Approxiametly several hundred dollars more for the equipment, full price for the kit, and an MRC (Monthly Recurring Charge) of $70.00.
Well, what do you think? With all of this World class customer service they offer, callbacks, professional installers, and straight talk with no attitudes representatives; I'd be a fool not to obtain this newest technology. YEAH RIGHT!
After review of all the problems from other people on this site and my personal experience with HNS/DirecPC, they are lucky I am still feeding their bottom line for their stockholders. They better wake up and realize that although investors come first, right after them is the customer and not the company.
So words to the wise...Dear Investors watch where your money goes because this company is going where NorthPoint is, where Covad might go...if they continue to go forward with these procedures/policies/mismanagement.
Comments:
| next page (previous review)
Review by Sirnesto
member for 12.3 years, 487 visits, last login: 296 days ago
lodged 11.9 years ago
- Oakland,Alameda,CA
- $69 per month
- (12 month contract)
- about 20 days
- "Very Fast Downloads (at least for now)"
- "Upload speeds slower than dialup and Ping times won't even register & not cheap!"
- "Given no other choice for broadband - seems worth it so far."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Mail,DNS,News:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
In my area of Oakland California, I don't have access to cable, dsl, or wireless broadband, and prospects for getting any kind of high speed service are grim for at least the next year or so. Believe me, I've tried to get all of them, but after patiently waiting for almost 2 years, I finally went for two-way satellite access using DirectPC via Pegasus Express when I saw it was available.
Equipment arrived in 3 days and someone was supposed to call me to do the install within 3-5 working days. After waiting for 9 working days, I called Pegasus and they told me someone should have called and would call within 24 hours. The installer finally did and turns out that they had been given the wrong phone number by Pegasus.
Install appointment was made and the installers appeared exactly as scheduled and the satellite was set up in about an hour. The installer ran into problems trying to get acknolwedgement from DirectPC that the install was sucessful and finally had to reinstall the installation software on his laptop to get everything to work and have DirectPC "turn on" my connection.
Registration with Pegasus went smoothly and I've been "on" for 4 days without any hitches. Download/upload speeds are supposed to be 400/128 max, but upload speeds have been pretty pathetic and never higher than 17. I've called Pegasus tech support regarding the slow upload speeds, and they are very much aware of the problem and are "working on it" since virtually all users seem to have the same complaint. This is not a big problem for me, since downloads are what really matter, and those have been much better than advertised. I know this may change as more users are added, but my speed tests look like this:
Time (US east) Test Results..
2001-05-31 22:23:35 Speed test 1509/11 kbps
2001-05-30 09:37:27 Speed test 1472/13 kbps
2001-05-30 01:57:52 Speed test 962/17 kbps
2001-05-30 01:34:00 Speed test 917/17 kbps
2001-05-29 20:40:34 Speed test 1083/10 kbps
2001-05-29 20:17:34 Speed test 1170/14 kbps
2001-05-29 18:56:56 Speed test 1254/13 kbps
Nothing lower than 917 down and as high as 1509. I just downloaded a 28 Mb program update in 2 minutres 40 seconds. As a long-time dial-up user this brought tears of joy to my eyes!!
I'm not an online gamer, but ping times are so slow that when I've run tests they've "timed out" and not registered, so this is definitely not the system to get if that matters to you, but if you primarily download files, have no other high speed options, then my experience with DirectPC via Pegasus has been pretty positive so far.
Bottom line is this works for me, but I would add that it's not cheap at almost $70/mo and an intial installation and equipment fee of $700.
Ernesto Lao
Comments:
|
|
