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General Overview of Satellite Providers |
HughesNet
|
Other Guy |
 |
Total satellite installations in United Sates |
365,000 |
150,000 |
 |
Total satellite installations worldwide |
1,000,000 |
150,000 |
 |
Number of operational satellites |
12 |
2 |
 |
Years providing Satellite Internet service |
10 years |
2 year |
 |
Years in business operation |
30 years |
6 years |
 |
Manufactures satellite system equipment |
Yes |
No |
 |
Manufactures communications satellites |
Yes |
No |
 |
Services US government and US military |
Yes |
No |
 |
Services large-business, enterprise (Fortune 1000) customers |
Yes |
No |
 |
Services small to medium business customers |
Yes |
No |
|
|
Services home-office and residential customers |
Yes |
Yes |
 |
Number of network operations centers (NOC) |
3 |
1 |
 |
Owner and manager of network operations center (NOC) |
Yes |
No |
 |
Installation available nationwide |
Yes |
No |
 |
$0 Up-front plans available for residential service |
Yes |
No |
 |
Proprietary network security and encryption infrastructure |
Yes |
No |
 |
Uses Internet Protocol Over Satellite standard (IPos) |
Yes |
No |
|
|
System requires customer to install software for normal operation |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Limitation on number of computers connected to system |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Static IP Available |
Yes |
No |
|
|
System warranty (Parts) |
24 months parts
and labor |
12 months parts
90 days labor |
|
|
Repair warranty service calls (Labor) |
Free |
$75/hr after 90
days.** |
|
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Fair Access Policy (FAP) Maximum Recover Time |
24 hour refresh² |
30 day refresh¹ |
|
|
Satisfaction Guarantee, Return Policy |
30 Day |
None |
|
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Fee if cancelled before installation |
None |
$50 |
|
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Free Site Survey, on the day of installation. |
Yes |
No |
|
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UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs per day.
³ |
Yes |
No |
|
|
Larger Dish Installed for better performance and signal strength. |
Yes |
No |
Fair Access Policy (FAP)
| ¹ |
The WildBlue Fair Access Policy (FAP) is
based on a rolling 30 day limit on data usage per customer called a
usage threshold. If you exceed the FAP threshold, your bandwidth (speed)
will be reduced for the remainder of the 30 day period when your system
quota refreshes and you are again within your limits. During this
period, your bandwidth will be reduced to 28Kbps until your system
refreshes. |
| ² |
The HughesNet
Fair Access Policy (FAP) is
based on cumulative download threshold for a set volume of data and is
not based on a 30 day period. While you are using up your allotted
bandwidth, your system is also refreshing. If you exceed the FAP
threshold, your bandwidth (speed) will be reduced for a period of time
until your system quota refreshes and you are again within your limits.
During this period, your bandwidth will be reduced to 56-400Kbps until
your system refreshes. This typically takes from 12-24 hours depending
on your usage. |
|
³ |
HughesNet
offers 3hrs of unlimited/unmetered
downloads from 3-6EST on all residential plans |
| * |
HughesNet
& WildBlue prices are shown after
instant savings and mail-in rebates. |
| ** |
If your WildBlue-supplied outdoor unit
requires service under this limited warranty, WildBlue will not charge
for any labor costs we incur to repair or replace it (or any component
of it) within the first 90 days after the initial installation. After
this period, WildBlue will cover the cost of the new equipment, but the
on-site labor cost must be paid by you. WildBlue will provide on-site
labor at its standard rates and an estimated charge can be given prior
to the work, based on the type of the replacement. If your satellite
dish needs to be re-pointed after the first 90 days of service, standard
on-site labor charges will apply. |
 WildBlue
Fair Access Policy (FAP) Monthly Usage Thresholds |
|
|
Value Pak |
Select Pak |
Pro Pak |
| Upload Threshold (MB) |
2,300 MB |
3,000 MB |
5,000 MB |
| Download Threshold (MB) |
7,500 MB |
12,000 MB |
17,000 MB |
|
Useable Upload Threshold (MB) 70% |
1,610 MB |
2,100 MB |
3,500 MB |
|
Useable Download Threshold (MB) 70% |
5,250 MB |
8,400 MB |
11,900 MB |
| 1 |
Upload Threshold is the volume of data that
can be uploaded during the previous 30 days before the Fair Access
Policy may restrict the user’s speeds. |
| 2 |
Download Threshold is the volume of data that
can be downloaded during the previous 30 days before the Fair Access
Policy may restrict the user’s speeds. |
| 3 |
Useable Download Threshold is the volume of data that
can be downloaded before speed are reduced (128k down & 28k up) after
you FAP is triggered. |
 HughesNet
- Fair Access Policy (FAP) Parameters |
| |
Home |
Pro |
ProPlus |
Small
Office |
Business
Internet |
| Download Threshold * |
200 MB |
375 MB |
425 MB |
500 MB |
1250 MB |
|
Upload Threshold * |
No Limit |
No Limit |
No Limit |
No Limit |
No Limit |
| Recovery Rate ** |
50 Kbps |
56 Kbps |
56 Kbps |
150 Kbps |
400 Kbps |
| * |
Download Threshold is the volume of data that
can be downloaded continuously before the Fair Access Policy may
restrict the download speed. |
| ** |
Recovery Rate is the rate in kilobits per
second, at which a service plan recovers the Download Threshold. FAP
quotas typically refresh in a relatively short time period (1-8 hours) |
HughesNet
service and system was compiled from www.hns.com and www.HughesNet
.com
as of 6/01/07. WildBlue service and system data was compiled from
www.wildblue.com as of 6/01/07. For latest information on either service please
refer to this website.
About HughesNet
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HNS) is the world’s
leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for government,
business, and consumers. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed
Satellite
Internet access services and IP-based networks, which it markets globally under
the HughesNet
brand. HNS is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Hughes Communications,
Inc., which is wholly owned by SkyTerra Communications, Inc.
HNS has over 30 years experience in global operations, with over 365,000
consumer and small business subscribers in the United States and 1,000,000
systems world wide in 85 countries. HughesNet
is the secure Internet solution of
choice for 36% of convenience stores nationwide with retail installations in
over 50,000 gas station/convenience stores. According to the 2005 annual VSAT
industry report prepared by Communications Systems Limited (COMSYS), HNS had a
worldwide market share of 55% in 2004 based on the number of terminals shipped.
HNS’ invention of small satellite dishes, generally 1.8 meters or less wide,
commonly known as very small aperture terminals, or VSATs, over 20 years ago
enabled it to provide large enterprises highly reliable, end-to-end
communications with guaranteed quality of service regardless of the number of
sites or their geographic location. HNS’ networks are used for a variety of
applications such as Intranet and Internet access, voice services, connectivity
to suppliers, franchisees and customers, credit authorization, inventory
management, content delivery and video distribution. HNS often customizes the
applications for particular markets.
HNS currently serves more than 200 large companies in the Fortune 1000,
mainly in businesses which have numerous widely dispersed operating units like
gas service stations, convenience stores, fast food franchises, automotive
dealerships and retail stores. HNS leveraged its experience in these areas and
adapted its technologies to service growing markets like small business and
residential. HNS is currently the largest satellite broadband Internet access
provider to consumers in North America, with approximately 300,000 subscribers.
About WildBlue
WildBlue was founded as KaSTAR Satellite
Communications in Colorado in April 1995. In May 1997, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) assigned WildBlue fixed-satellite service (FSS)
licenses for 2 orbital locations. WildBlue launched its Internet service in June
2005 after gaining access to the U.S. capacity of Telesat Canada's Anik F2
telecommunications satellite which launched in July 2004. WildBlue's second
satellite, WildBlue-1, was contracted to be built by Space Systems/Loral and is
planned for launch in late 2006 or early 2007. WildBlue-2 is in the process of
being built by Hughes Communications and WildBlue-3 is in the process of being
procured.
Initial service was offered in areas administered by the National Rural
Telecommunications Cooperative which services many rural areas of the United
States. Service areas will be expanded and are scheduled to be rolled out to
selected regions of the US beginning in 2006. WildBlue installed its first
customer in June of 2005 and set a goal to have 25,000 customers by the end of
2005.
Picture # 1 shows where it came into the house 6
in. above the carpet in a closet/bedroom and then out of that room
12 in. above the carpet..
Picture # 2 shows the cable being ran at an angle down my roof.
(what the installer couldn't run a straight line?)
Picture # 3 is where the wire came out into the office 12 in. above
the carpet and the modem was plugged in there.
Picture # 4 shows how they ran the cable on the outside of my house
between the ra |
HughesNet
Satellite Internet
