Probably one of the ONLY things I regret about moving out to the country is unavailability of decent affordable internet service. If anyone doesn't remember, let me once again jog your memory. WILDBLUE SUCKS. Hey, I just had to say it again. Not only is the customer assistance some of the worst I've ever dealt with, account information is something a 4th grader might have done a better job putting together, the service itself is spotty, slow and has a usage cap that is laughable. Yet again, since last week I have been FAP'd. For those unfamiliar with the term FAP is their term for Fair Access Policy. The only word in there that actually means what it means is Policy. I have found nothing at all Fair at all about their "Access". What it really means is that "We think you used more bandwidth than we think is fair so we are going to slow your service down so as to make it almost impossible for you to get on the internet. So until sometime in the future when we feel you have brought your usage down to some mystery level that we will refuse to share with you, consider yourself in timeout." ARGGGggggggghhhhhh!!!!
So in my unending quest for another way to connect to the outside world I may have found an answer. There is a rural company in this part of BFE aka NE Rural Oklahoma that has some towers in the area. I'm currently waiting to have them come out and see if we might be able to acquire a signal from them. If so, I have used this type service in the past and it was great. Cheaper and more reliable than what we have now and NO DATA CAP! Of course the only drawback is the installation cost. I'm still trying to figure that part out but maybe... just maybe.... with some jiggling of a few bills I could make it happen. The only thing I'm hating at the moment is that it's going to cost a $20 trip charge to find out if it's even feasible. And then there is the cost of equipment that we will need, but until they come out we won't know what those charges will be.
We've been busy here on our little Hillside Haven . Spring has begun to peek out and things are greening up. Lot's of work being done and plenty more to do. I promise to get some pictures up soon and get ya'll caught up on things around here!
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fap
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying....
LOL Shup Jimmy!!
DeleteYeah, Jimmy beat me to it.
DeleteThat's a title that'll get you a lot of Google hits for sure.
One small advantage to living on the right coast with all the brain-dead sheep. Great internet access.
Although we have internet access here (and it's slooow; not dial-up slow, but close), I've been trying to find another alternative. Basically, internet costs us $60 a month! But not just because it's internet, it's because we can't get it without having their local phone service (which I can't even call somebody six miles away because it's "out of area"...really) and which I never use because my cell phone is more reliable.
ReplyDeleteI've looked into Wild Blue before, but I don't think I've EVER heard a positive comment about it. Is it that they just have the corner on that market and just don't give a flip about customers or what??
Sorry, my rant is finished.
Carolyn, I feel your pain for sure. Whatever you do, don't get sucked into this mess they call WILDBLUE(SUCKS). And no, they could care less about their customers.
DeleteHey, at least your phone service HAS an internet option!! LOL
Oh girl, We felt your PAIN. We hated WildBlue too and that stupid cap......Just quit them. We have finally gotten them out of our lives. Just took down their stinkin monstrous black beast and am sending back the parts they require, they do send a prepaid box to wrap up the important stuff.(best thing they ever did). Figure out a way to go local. And don't forget to ask about a payment plan, oh yeah and also because you are switching from another company, our local people (Taos Net) waived bunches of set up stuff. Ask for everything you can get. All they can do is say no. but if it takes 20 to check it out it will be much better in the long run. And ask ole WB for your buy=out amount. It's like 15 a month. super cheep compared to the 80 something for service you don't get. We were reminded that it felt like being punished like bad children and put in the corner. WILDBLUE SUCKS and I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your spring photos. that will be a happy space.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
http://cheyannesexton.etsy.com
CheyAnne, thanks so much for all the good tips. (I'm taking notes) Thanks for stopping in today!
DeleteSorry to hear about the trouble with the internet.
ReplyDeleteWonder why someone doesn't come up with a good, reliable rural internet service? Seems like they could make some money!
Ya know Jim, there are a few industrious independent folks around the country that are starting to see the light. I've heard of several that are starting up small companies doing that very thing!More power to them is all I can say!!
DeleteWe have internet issues as well - the best option that I have found is a Verizon 'air card' with a 3G antenna (from 3gstore dot com) - Verizon works best for us as they seem to have purchased the 3G towers in our area.
ReplyDeleteWe have the aircard plugged in to a wireless router so we have a wireless network for multiple devices.
Before the antenna there was no way I could stream anything or watch anything on YouTube...with the antenna, we are able to without issue.
The aircard has a cap of 5 gig for $50 a month - we have never come close to using 5 gig.
Sounds stupid, but it has been 'life changing' for us :)
Tammy, that is one option we have looked at and actually were using an aircard for awhile. But we got sucked into this WILDBLUE (SUCKS) because of the promises and the price. Silly us....
DeleteJust so you don't feel alone in this, we are having the same trouble with Telus on the 3G air card. It seems they keep selling i phones, tablets etc, but do not upgrade the tower. We go from 3 mb/sec between 10:00 pm and 8: am to .1kb/sec or less other times, which makes it useless for email etc, as it won't connect. They must have a FAP going as I don't hear of cell phones losing service. They have promised a fix since January. I'm looking at the possibility of satellite. Bah, humbug!
ReplyDeleteIan, I wish I could tell you that satellite would solve your problems, but that's what we have now. Maybe another company would be better than this one though. That's one heck of a slow down you have going on there. Sure hope they fix ya'll up soon.
DeleteThat is so funny because we are also going through the same problem with Wildblue, let's see I think it's suppose to get down to 70% before we can use the internet and the rest of the usage will disappear everyday after that. I feel for you , oh by the way they don't even want to talk to me on Customer Service I end up cussing them out everytime.
ReplyDeleteCCM, that usage chart thing makes me want to just scream. There is no way to tell what you have actually used or when it will ever go back down again. Drives me NUTS! And girl, I sure do hear ya about calling those folks... geesh...
DeleteWe have Wildblue and it is slow. We had Hughesnet. Hughesnet was far worse about FAP than Wildblue but Wildblue is a little slower than Hughesnet regardless of your FAP. Wildblue does have an upgrade now due to a new satellite launched but the price increases too and you have to pay for all new equipment. I hate both Wildblue and Hughesnet. I ordered Sprints new gadget (Clear, I think it was called) but it would not work for me. We are just stuck as far as I know with these two companies. It sucks for sure.
ReplyDeleteMamma Bear it truly does put us in a "spot" doesn't it? I have to remind myself that it's part of the "cost" of living as far out as I do. That part I wouldn't change for anything. Even the internet! Thanks for stopping by!!!
DeleteTrip charges, unfortunately, are necessary evils in the service world. I would be happy it was only $20 being so far out. Here everything is so close together but I have yet to see a trip charge for any service start below $50.
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck. I know we used Virgin Mobile wifi when we were out in the country [I think the only place they don't cover is WV for some reason] and it was pay as you go, quick and affordable with no contract.
Let us know how it goes if you can. Have a great weekend.
Skippy, I totally understand about the trip charge. The great part about it is that if we can get service with them they will credit the money back to the account. I think that's a pretty good deal.
DeleteI actually have a Virgin Mobile wifi card, but like I said earlier I got sucked in by WILDBLUE (SUCKS) and all their "hype". Oh well... live and learn.
Good to see you my friend and I hope you are feeling better every day!
i hope it works out
ReplyDeleteWe are also in a rural area that has no broadband access. Ironically we're SURROUNDED by DSL within just a few miles, but there is no planned access for our immediate area. We got suckered into Wildblue at first...it was horrible. And I swear, during one call trying to work out why our connection ground to a stop every night (hint: it's called "overselling the beam")the tech support guy told us it wasn't their problem - maybe the internet was broken. *headdesk* We got rid of them and tell everyone to run away, run away from WB! We've been successfully using our cell phone provider's service - at the moment it's unlimited data and a decent 3G connection. (BTW - just to make your head explode - we just got a junk mailer offering "government subsidized broadband access" through DishNetwork/Widlblue for $39/mo. GAAAH!)
ReplyDelete