First off, I think I discovered what hell is going to be like, those condemned to hell will have to sit in front of a computer all day listing Ebay auctions with a 28.8 dial up connection...well since its hell itll be slower, but you get the idea.


With that said, my only upgrade option is either satellite or Cingular wireless internet. Both are about the same monthly payment, the Cingular equipment is cheaper, but its also a fair amount slower connection/transfer wise.


I looked into getting satellite internet a while back but was quickly deterred by the high costs and poor reviews.
Also, things like data usage limitations rubbed me the wrong way, if Im going to pay 60 bucks a month, and 2-300 bucks for equipment and install, id sure like to be able to download however much I want without being throttled down to dial up speeds.

Any other companies out there besides WildBlue and HughesNet? I cant seem to find any, and any other companies seem to be affiliated with those two.

Discuss

Honestly I would stay away from the satellite. We had it for a short time in 1998-1999, and it SUCKED. everytime the wind blew it went out, and the dish was mounted properly and stable. Let'* put it this way, if you are looking to do lots of uploads and downloads, stay away from it, as it like to go out as the worst time. We got rid of it after it went out and caused my Dad to lose a CNC program he wrote for work, and nearly got him fired. He had to send the email to a company in Norway, and couldn't, and had to send the floppy disk via rush delivery. Cost him around $85.00 to ship it rush.

Go with the Cingular/AT&T.

I sold/used satellite and support cellular air cards. If you are a casual internet user both are fine. Satellite based options are hampered by "fap", fair access policy. If you are a heavy downloader, they will shut down your bandwidth to dialup speeds. I know people who have sat currently and they are very happy with it. But they are not gamers or heavy downloaders. On the cellular end, just make sure your area has good signal.

If I had to choose between the two, I would choose cellular. It'* just easier and mobile.

Definitely cingular, I was working for dish network when they started providing wildblue, and I've never heard so many people complain about the same thing in my life. FAP = FTL, plus the upload speed is about equivalent to dialup anyway.

Well currently Im using a desktop, but I assume the AT&T internet would work with a PCI based PCMIA card slot.

I may get it one of these days, right now I just need to start digging out of debt instead of deeper into it.

as others have said, don't get satellite. It'* HORRIBLE. I had it for two years when I lived with my dad. You can't download more than 170 MB in a 5 hour period, or they basically turn your connection off, and it takes 12 hours to come back to full speed! Not to mention I never saw faster than 500kb/sec. (and it cost $70/month) He has direcway/Hughesnet.