Well it's been some time since I first posted on here but my opinion is still the same. I am not sure why some have all the problems, maybe its location? I am in South West Indiana and not sure what spot beam but I just don't have all that much trouble with it or maybe I'm more tolerant to the troubles. Sure when it's heavy overcast I get poor or no signal and I watch Doppler in Laredo also just to know whats going on with weather there. YES Laredo is prone to some heavy weather and yes it effects connection but I still have dial up if I need it. Wildblue isn't the cure all it's just a bandaid to true cable or DSL, you have to keep that in mind. It is what it is and satellite is expensive, just go out and get a satellite phone and compare that to your normal cell phone plans. I'm going on 3 years now and NO I don't work for them nor have I ever, I own an excavation company and have for the past 20 years, so I think that spans more than Wildblue in the first place.

Bottom line,,,, you want cable,, move to where you can get it,,, if that aint the answer then learn to understand the inherent problems with satellite.

As for FAP since I got on the largest package over 2 years ago I have not gotten any mail at all from the FAP Police. I'm sure depending on web habbits you can push that boundary and there may be other unfair issues going on as well but I can only speak from my experience and I just haven't had those problems. BUT I seldom download much of anything nor do I watch videos or use any streaming connections as it's barely fast enough anyway.

Overall I'm content with my service but I know the difference between cable and satellite.

I would be interested to hear from someone who has had Hughes and Wildblue and know which is better, I am WAY out of contract so I could switch if the water is better over there.

ORIGINAL POST;
I am on the largest package they offer and I use it a LOT. Of course when it's down I am ticked off like anyone would be. I live in the sticks and my only other option is dial up and @ 2-3 kbs that just sucks. Wildblue actually has probably been more reliable than my phone lines, we always have problems with them, tree down or someone digs into a main. I had a TRIA go out after the first 3 months which was replaced pretty quick (2 days) and I have some problems with storms but not too bad. I think most people that are unhappy either had a bad install or the dish has moved, POINTING IS CRITICAL! I also would bet some peolpe are unknowingly sharing bandwidth with neighbors via wireless routers. I did get FAPPED when I had a basic package but just got the warning, not throttled down. Overall I am much happier than when I was on dial-up and I am sure I will switch to cable once, if it ever makes it to me but once again I wonder about the same problems I have with my phone.



You can get a cheap signal meter to point the dish yourself. I happen to have a very good installer just down the road from me. I have been wanting to re-point it and am looking into the meter now rather than bugging my neighbor.





So Bottom line, it sure beats dial-up but YES there is better stuff out there if it's available to you. When I signed up Hughes net had MUCH worse feedback as a company, not sure if that's changed but the way I was informed on the forums I looked at was that Wildblue actually limits customers on the spot beam in order to insure proper bandwidth, and Hughes keeps on selling no matter how many people buy into and try to use that beam.