Satellite Internet questions

[trickyspark]

I currently live out of range of DSL and Cable, my only option outside of Satellite is dialup (which I am currently using.) My maximum connection speed with dialup is 21.4k, with a download of 5.0 kbps max, usually 2.8kbps or so. I've spoken with the ISP, they said contact the phone company.

The phone company says," If you are getting 19kbps or greater, it is not our concern. We only guarantee 19kbps, any higher and we cannot do anything."

It is getting harder and harder to browse the web with the increasing download sizes, harder to download software and files. If, heaven forbid, I have to reinstall windows, it's not unusual to see 100+hours estimated download time. Dialup kicks me after 12 hours.

I've done a little reading on satellite internet, but nothing quite satisfies my curiousity. I know the cost is high still, and requires a contract. I am confused by which provider to choose, and if all have the "fair use policy" that restricts the amount of downloading you can do. I often find myself having to download large files when I play games or decide to download plugins or addons for some of the 3d software I use (everquest download was 3gb for the first 3 expansions, not including all 13.)

I read that satellite is not ideal for "twitch" gaming. Quake, doom, etc. That's fine, it has to be better than 2.5kbps for "twitch" gaming.

I want a provider that is reputatble, and won't disconnect me if I decide to pop online and play everquest for 10 hours because I exceed the bandwidth. (yea i'm a dork, and find myself with lots of time on the weekends.)

I'm not concerened with the best deal, rather the best service. I don't care for the highest speed, 500kbps is more than enough for me. I don't know what usage ( in terms of total download size) everquest has per minute, hour, whatever. I don't want to worry if I decide to download windows updates, or a game demo of a gig or so that I will exceed a maximum download threshold or whatever.

Satellite is my only option, I cannot stand dialup anymore, and I don't feel like selling my home and relocating for cable or dsl.

[renegade600]

My info is a bit dated so policies may have change, when I was looking into satellite a few years ago, I found their fair use polices very restrictive. If you are consider a bandwidth hog, they will slow your connection speed to slower than dialup. They would not even admit to restricting usage until they were sued over it.

What I found interesting is Starband would lock you into a contract for a year. When the year is up, they would have a new modem you were required to change to, However to get the new modem, you would have to be locked into another year contract. You could not use the older modem because they would turn it off. disclaimer - I dont know if they are still doing this but they were back when I was checking into it.

Gamers should avoid satellites mainly because of the lag time. When you are online it takes a few seconds for the signal to go from your system to the satellites in space then back down. Its the same as you see on tv when a news anchor is questioning someone across the world. Theres a few seconds between when the question is asked and when the person hears the question.

see this (http://www.dslreports.com/forums/56)for a forum where satellite subscribers discuss their problems