I am currently with Hughesnet and am SO desperate to dump their cr@ppy service, but I don't really have any other options...there is DSL within 1000 feet of me with Ritternet (I can see my friends house who has DSL), but because I am "officially" in Alltel's ( now Windstream) service area, I am not legally allowed to purchase service from Ritternet per government regulations...the gov't says you can not have services from 2 companies coming into your home, I checked it out
anyway, there IS wireless service just now expanding into our area, but...and it's a BIG butt...the guy who owns the company, also owns the local dialup service and is a HUGE jack@ss...he is arrogant and a shady businessman, and has banned customers from his place of business who have come in to complain of faulty products they have purchased from him...I've had my own experience too, paying $200 to have a sound problem on my computer fixed, and ended up $200 later they didn't fix the problem, and told me to reformat...l.a.m.e.
anyway, he's obviously shady all around...but I still called him (because he's the only other option to sattelite) about his wireless service, and he was basically a jerk...he asked our internet habits and I told him with have a 3 computer LAN and do a lot of surfing and some uploading and downloading of files and he told me he wont take my service until he has a graphing program installed in this area...when I asked him what that was and why he needed it before he would provide me service he said in a nasty tone, and I quote, "it's my business and I'll do what I want"...no further explanation given...he then told me how he has cut customer's service off without notice for supposed over usage and has gone back shortly after installing their service and climbed up on their roof and taken his equipment back...one other thing he told me, he went to do an installation and said the customer was giving him some kind of flack, and saw the customer had peer-to-peer software installed on his computer, so he told me he threatened to report him to the FCC, and said that shut the guy up...
so, I guess that leaves me with no alternative to Hughesnet...I'm trying to research about the possibility of getting our own wireless tower, because somewhere I believe I heard of someone doing that, but I don't know if that's a viable option, financially or operationally...anyone have any thoughts on this?? you can answer here or email me at blonderella@bloodwither.com
thanks for the info on what to watch out for when getting wireless internet...after reading the info here, I know this company is probably not an option and I'm stuck with Hughes...
[mod note - edited the title in preparation for move to its own topic.]