| [General] Wild Blue and Gallieo ISP Updates OK, I have been researching the best options for a satellite ISP for my needs and here are some updates.
Wild Blue:
I got an email a couple of weeks ago about it being available sometime between April and July for my region here in IL. They still don't have confirmed pricing but say they will be cheaper. However, the email did outline:
1. It will be offered just like all other satellite ISP service. The more you pay the higher your FAP bucket will be.
2. The dish will be a smaller footprint due to spot-beam. It also claims to have better lock-on signal so you only loose ISP in the most extreme cases.
3. They DO NOT claim any better performance for gaming, voice over IP, or streaming. It's unclear if video streaming is exceptable or if you can buy a big enough FAP for using it. If so, I expect to be at least $100+ if you look at their basic pricing compared to increase required.
Ground Control "Gallieo" ISP -
This is a service I've heard very few talk about here. This is a custom based solution provided by the ISP "Ground Control" What's unique is:
1. They claim better service and performance. Pricing starts above $139 for the following:
750 Kbps download speed
180 to 220 Kbps upload speed
1500 Kbps download speed
450 to 500 Kbps upload speed
2. VOIP is offered and states works OK.
3. HUGE FAP bucket of 2GB on up depending upon the package you want. Ideal for streaming video, etc.
4. Service agreement available that guarantees what they promise.
Quite interesting and a good solution for those wanting a virtual unlimited FAP bucket, faster down/up speeds and guaranteed service. If anyone has this let me know how you like it. From talking with them it sounds like the best solution out there. |
|
 wolfridgePremium
join:2003-03-01
Manson Creek, BC
1 edit | 2G/month fap works out to 70mbs per day. That's half of DWs CE fap level. Galileo is very expensive. |
|
| reply to JefferyH
Are you sure the FAP bucket is per month? If it were, that would be terrible.
--
DW6000|Satmex5|1270MHz|117 West |
|
|
|
 dbirdmanPremium,MVM
join:2003-07-07
Eureka, CA
kudos:5 | said by kingbob00:Are you sure the FAP bucket is per month? If it were, that would be terrible. Yes, Tachyon is monthly (Galileo is a VAR-branded version of Tachyon), but it isn't the same as you are used to. They try to dedicate speeds to you until you reach the monthly total, then drop you back into a "pool" with other users, achieving unknown speeds.
FAP is one of the oddest things there is. Every satellite provider has one, but the only one with a defined one is Direcway. Why is that? Because they got sued when it was undefined. That forced a well-defined system that probably imposed harder numbers than would have been typical if they had never been sued!
Think on that one a while...
--
XP Pro | G11 | 1350 | 6000 Small Office | Datastorm Mobile |
|
Reviews:
 ·Cox HSI
 ·HughesNet Satell..
| DirecWay has a way of letting users pay for its errors.
Complain about throughput get nailed with FAP.
Complain about the news group servers and they get removed.
Seems to work for everything except complaints about billing, they are still there... 
--
DirecWay 6000 CE, G4R/1230H, Win 2K and Linux, WiFi LAN, Vonage phone |
|
| reply to JefferyH
The fap bucket will be much larger on wildblue than is DW. |
|
 lance49726Premium
join:2004-02-01
Drummond Island, MI | Starband 484 has no FAP. |
|
| reply to JefferyH
The Starband 484 looks interesting, much like DirecWay Small Office package. However, I can't confirm on their official web site if it's indeed true there is no FAP with the 484. I just find it hard to believe and also a little skeptical they don't disclose more details about their speeds and FAP policies on the site. Maybe I overlooked it, but I couldn't find it after searching almost every page.
Can anyone confirm for fact rather or not Starband 484 has a FAP and if so what are the prices/limits? Also, how is the service? The 484 says "up to" just like DWay, Wild Blue, etc. so I don't expect to get those advertised speeds. Also, note the upload speeds don't count since you have to use their custom "turbo" software which is always patch work at best (for anyone that's tried such things).
Thanks for any info on this. |
|
| reply to JefferyH
The 484 does not have a FAP at all. |
|
lance49726Premium
join:2004-02-01
Drummond Island, MI
1 edit | reply to JefferyH
Starband 484 on G4 there are people on T7 getting 2000Kbps
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 1003 Kbps about 1 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 122 KB/s
Tested From:: »www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Sun Feb 6 11:11:32 EST 2005
Bottom Line:: 18X faster than 56K 1MB download in 8.39 sec
Validation Link:: »testmy.net/id-0LUA6IO7P
:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 198 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 2992 KB)
Upload Speed is:: 24 KB/s
Tested From:: »www.testmy.net/
Test Time:: Sun Feb 6 11:14:27 EST 2005
Bottom Line:: 4X faster than 56K 1MB upload in 42.67 sec
Validation Link:: »testmy.net/id-0TWDP4BVJ
===========================================================
--
Dell 4550+4600/Dell 19" Flat Panel/Win XP Home/Dual Boot/DW4000-2 Sets of Modems+StarBand 484 Pro S.O./Samex5/ 1250 H.P.\C-Comsat B.E./Satmex5/1250 H.P.Ground Control B.E./S.S. 90.
"There are no strangers here only friends i have not met" |
|
dbirdmanPremium,MVM
join:2003-07-07
Eureka, CA
kudos:5 | reply to kingbob0000
said by kingbob0000:
The 484 does not have a FAP at all.
And where is it that Starband documents anything different for the 484? Like everybody else except Direcway, their written stuff all lacks any detail other than to say they will enforce limits on excessive consumption of bandwidth without saying what is excessive. The official AUP says:
To help ensure that all members have fair and equal use of the benefits of the Service and to protect the integrity of the Service, StarBand reserves the right, and will take necessary steps, to prevent improper or excessive consumption of bandwidth used to provide the Service. You should be aware that the networking of additional computers to access the Service may result in such excessive bandwidth consumption. The action that StarBand may take includes, but is not limited to, limiting any excessive throughput, discontinuing service via specific ports or communication protocols, and a complete discontinuation of service to the member with improper or excessive bandwidth consumption. This policy is effective and will be enforced for intended and unintended (e.g., viruses, worms, malicious code, or otherwise unknown causes) bandwidth consumption. Your on-line activity will be subject to the then-current bandwidth, data storage and other limitations of the Service, which StarBand may, from time to time, revise in its discretion and without providing advance written notice.
--
XP Pro | G11 | 1350 | 6000 Small Office | Datastorm Mobile |
|
lance49726Premium
join:2004-02-01
Drummond Island, MI | said by dbirdman: said by kingbob0000:
The 484 does not have a FAP at all.
And where is it that Starband documents anything different for the 484? Like everybody else except Direcway, their written stuff all lacks any detail other than to say they will enforce limits on excessive consumption of bandwidth without saying what is excessive. =========================================================== Starband does not state any #,s,just like Direcpc would not give any #,s in their FAP which is one reason they lost the class action lawsuit. Starband 484 has no FAP the 360 has a UPLOAD FAP of 500MB in a 7 day period. That is why they do not get sued for not having it in writing. --
Dell 4550+4600/Dell 19" Flat Panel/Win XP Home/Dual Boot/DW4000-2 Sets of Modems+StarBand 484 Pro S.O./Samex5/ 1250 H.P.\C-Comsat B.E./Satmex5/1250 H.P.Ground Control B.E./S.S. 90. "There are no strangers here only friends i have not met" |
|
| reply to JefferyH
Even though I dont have one of those nifty little report things like Lance does, I do know I DL over 200megs last night with my starband 360 system. Its slower @ around 300 to 400 kbs I can still DL all night. I have only had my system on line a couple of days, but so far better than DW.
No it dont take all night to get 200megs...
Where did you get that report thing lance? |
|
 Jim_in_VA
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA
kudos:3 | Do a google for NetMeter .. it is a cool little app |
|
wolfridgePremium
join:2003-03-01
Manson Creek, BC | reply to JefferyH
I whole heartedly agree for heavy downloaders I definitely recommend Starband! Fortunately I never hit FAP so for me it's not an issue.
--
C-com DW6000 Small Office, G11 vert 1350mhz 1.2m dish 83 sig str. 2 computers, Vonage VOIP, and POS terminal. www.mansoncreek.com |
|
lance49726Premium
join:2004-02-01
Drummond Island, MI | reply to joemaloy
DU METER »www.dumeter.com/ or do a google for bandwidth monitor and free bandwidth monitor. |
|
| reply to JefferyH
Thanks |
|
PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR | reply to JefferyH
said by JefferyH:If so, I expect to be at least $100+ if you look at their basic pricing compared to increase required. Pricing and FAP policy are on this thread:
»[General] Wild Blue information
and now on the WildBlue website. The FAP buckets look OK to me. I may be missing something, but I would think it would be tough to come up with legal activities that use that much. |
|
| reply to JefferyH
Lance and everyone:
Thanks so much for the great replies. I'm at a point when it gets to be spring I will be installing some form of satellite ISP system. Right now I'm hoping Wild Blue will be up by then, but I really like the looks of Starband.
Lance:
If you would, I would like to get some more feedback about the Starband 484 system you have. In general, I was wondering how long you've had it and how often you achieve what you would consider excellent download speeds for large files? Are there any problems with SSL sites or pictures displaying like DirecWay has had reported? I use Ofoto for uploading and printing my photos and it takes forever with dial up. But I'm worried about sites like that working and SSL web pages mostly. The other BIG thing for me is I like to watch streaming baseball video on my friends cable modem. Yeah I know, I hate him too but he lives in a town that has such modern things believe it or not. Anyway, have you tried it out with video streaming and do you know if I watch a game on the 484 system if that would push me into heavy bandwidth usage?
Thanks again for the details on your 484 system and graphs posted, it gives us all a better idea to go from. |
|
lance49726Premium
join:2004-02-01
Drummond Island, MI | I have had *band about a month now.
My download speeds stay at about 1000Kbps somethimes during peak hours it will drop to 700 to 900Kbps, mainly because since the T-7 failure they moved alot of users to GE-4 which i'am on and then their lease ran out 1 transponder on GE-4 so that leaves them with only 1 transponder on GE-4 which probably has 1/2 to 3/4 of users on.
They are getting better speeds on T-7, but it will get better they will have a new sat online in a couple of months.
I have had no problems with SSL sites or pictures and video streaming.And watching streaming baseball video will not be a problem again the 484 has no FAP as in my screenshot.
*bands AUP
To help ensure that all members have fair and equal use of the benefits of the Service and to protect the integrity of the Service, StarBand reserves the right, and will take necessary steps, to prevent improper or excessive consumption of bandwidth used to provide the Service. You should be aware that the networking of additional computers to access the Service may result in such excessive bandwidth consumption. The action that StarBand may take includes, but is not limited to, limiting any excessive throughput, discontinuing service via specific ports or communication protocols, and a complete discontinuation of service to the member with improper or excessive bandwidth consumption. This policy is effective and will be enforced for intended and unintended (e.g., viruses, worms, malicious code, or otherwise unknown causes) bandwidth consumption. Your on-line activity will be subject to the then-current bandwidth, data storage and other limitations of the Service, which StarBand may, from time to time, revise in its discretion and without providing advance written notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Starband does not state any #,s just like Direcpc would not give any #,s in their FAP policy which is one reason they lost the class action lawsuit against them.
Starband 484 has no FAP the 360 has a UPLOAD FAP of 500MB in a 7 day period. That is why they do not get sued for not having it in writing.
Every service provider has this in their policy to cover them legally just in case they want to lower your speed which seams like they are doing with the DW 6000's.
--
Dell 4550+4600/Dell 19" Flat Panel/Win XP Home/Dual Boot/DW4000-2 Sets of Modems+StarBand 484 Pro S.O./Samex5/ 1250 H.P.\C-Comsat B.E./Satmex5/1250 H.P.Ground Control B.E./S.S. 90. "There are no strangers here only friends i have not met" |
|
