Directway internet

[gren25]

Hey does any here use directway for internet service and if so how do u like it thanks

 

[caeyathompson]

Hey does any here use directway for internet service and if so how do u like it thanks

I don't have it personally, but I DO have several customers that have it. For the most part, it takes a little getting used to the couple second delay from when you click on something and when you actually "go" there.

Couple more things:

1) Use it as a last resort. If you have no other choices such as DSL or cable or even wireless, this may be your only hope.

2) It's expensive. The upfront costs alone usually deter people.

3) You can not play 'net games using DW.

4) No VoIP

5) VPNs absolutely hate it, but they will work with it (at about the speed of a 56k modem)

6) Do not overuse your connection... Once you reach your download limit for the month, you go down to 56k until the next billing cycle.

But, as I said above, if it is your only choice... well then.. it's your only choice

Casey

 

[gren25]

thanks for the info,I'll wait on dsl or switch back to roadrunner

 

[Barney]

I had ask something about this before. But I had read somewhere, that D* wanted to re-do their DirecWay & the hopes were depending on the new SATs going up next year. But it seems that service will play 2nd fiddle (fine with me).

Barney

 

[al]

6) Do not overuse your connection... Once you reach your download limit for the month, you go down to 56k until the next billing cycle.

But, as I said above, if it is your only choice... well then.. it's your only choice

Casey

This is incorrect. You have the ability to download 169 MB of data over a period of 4 hours with Direcway Home plan. Once you exceed this limit, you are throttled down and will recover at a rate of about 47 MB per hour. You DO NOT have to wait until the next month to recover, only an hour or two.

I have been a subscriber to Direcway for the last 2 years, and have sold Direcway over the same time period. Unless you are planning to download movies or massive amounts of music, FAP will never be an issue. If it is, you can purchase a larger subscription plan with more bandwidth.

The latency issue (time between requesting and receiving a web page) is a minor issue. My experience is that the latency issue is made up by the faster download speeds compared to DSL plans most people have. (larger DSL bandwidth plans and cable internet are equal or greater than Direcway in download speed).
Uploads are a different issue. Upload speeds are typically equal to or slightly greater than 56k modem.

The advice that Direcway should be considered after DSL/Cable is correct. Equipment is more expensive, and monthly costs are typically a little higher. But Direcway is a viable broadband option if DSL/Cable options are not available.

Alan

 

[DTV TiVo Dealer]

Casey,

Great overview and I agree with all but your #2 and 6.

DiRECWAY is expensive, but they offer 2 options, one for $599. down and $59.99/mo. and option B where you put $99.99 down and pay $99.99.mo. for 15 months and then the monthly service drops to $59.99.

Regarding you item #6, DiRECWAY has a "Fair Access Policy, FAP on residential accounts. The way it works is you can download up to 169 MB in any 4 hour period and if you exceed the 169 MB limit you are subject to a speed reduction to 56 kbps for 1 hour.

 

[caeyathompson]

Casey,

Great overview and I agree with all but your #2 and 6.

DiRECWAY is expensive, but they offer 2 options, one for $599. down and $59.99/mo. and option B where you put $99.99 down and pay $99.99.mo. for 15 months and then the monthly service drops to $59.99.

Regarding you item #6, DiRECWAY has a "Fair Access Policy, FAP on residential accounts. The way it works is you can download up to 169 MB in any 4 hour period and if you exceed the 169 MB limit you are subject to a speed reduction to 56 kbps for 1 hour.

Yup, you're both correct. I just took a gander at the FAP and it looks a lot different from when I originally saw it.

As far as the start-up costs: true, you don't always have to pay up front. But a LOT of people get wide-eyed when they learn they'll be paying $100/month for over a year.

Casey

 

[srober]

There is another option poping up all over rural areas. Alot of the local ISP's are now offering a broadband solution through wireless means. I had one in my neighborhood for over a year before I found out. I dont know why that didnt advertise this. Basically they are shooting signals off cell phone towers as a example. I was getting on the average 900k down 400k up with pings in the 70's.

 

[Stargazer]

Couldn't one buy a used one off Ebay for a bit cheaper to save on upfront costs? Also if you had two different locations and wanted to take the modem with you from one place to another then maybe it would be just as cheap in a sense that you wouldnt have to pay for two high speed internet connections but just for one. This would be especially good for someone that didnt have a phone line at the other location if you currently only have a dial-up connection.

If one could send a signal far enough from their nearby town without having to put too much money into the hardware or at least not anymore than I would with satellite internet to get better ping so that I could do online gaming and VOIP.