HughesNet Satellite Internet		Other Satellite Internet

See Some BAD WildBlue Install Photos

 

	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.**
	Fair Access Policy (FAP) Maximum  Recover Time	24 hour refresh²	30 day refresh¹
	Satisfaction Guarantee, Return Policy	30 Day	None
	Fee if cancelled before installation	None	$50
	Free Site Survey, on the day of installation.	Yes	No
	UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs per day. ³	Yes	No
	Larger Dish Installed for better performance and signal strength.	Yes	No

	HughesNet Home vs. Value Plan Comparison	HughesNet	Other Guy
	Payment Option or Upfront Cost (after rebates)	$0 or $249.98*	$328.95*
	Monthly Service	$59.99	$49.99
	Finance option Down payment	$0	Not Offered
	Monthly Finance Payment, x24 months	$20.00	Not Offered
	Download Speeds	700kbps	512kbps
	Upload Speeds	128kbps	128kbps
	UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs per day. ³	Yes	No
	Larger Dish Installed for better performance and signal strength.	Yes	No
	Monthly Download Threshold	N/A	7,500mb
	Monthly Upload Threshold	No Limit	2,300mb
	Threshold Reset	24hrs	Up to 30days
	Number of emails included	5	5
	Mailbox size	2,000mb	25mb
	Included Labor Warranty	24 Months	90 Days
	Included Parts Warranty	24 Months	12 Months
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 90 days	Free	Free
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 24 months	Free	$75 Per Hr.
	Get more information on this product!

	HughesNet Professional vs. Select Plan Comparison	HughesNet	Other Guy
	Payment Option or Upfront Cost (after rebates)	$0 or $249.98*	$328.95*
	Monthly Service	$69.99	$69.99
	Finance option Down payment	$0	Not Offered
	Monthly Finance Payment, x24 months	$20.00	Not Offered
	Download Speeds	1000kbps	1000kbps
	Upload Speeds	200kbps	200kbps
	UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs per day. ³	Yes	No
	Larger Dish Installed for better performance and signal strength.	Yes	No
	Monthly Download Threshold	N/A	12,000mb
	Monthly Upload Threshold	No Limit	3,000mb
	Threshold Reset	24hrs	Up to 30days
	Number of emails included	5	5
	Mailbox size	2,000mb	25mb
	Included Labor Warranty	24 Months	90 Days
	Included Parts Warranty	24 Months	12 Months
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 90 days	Free	Free
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 24 months	Free	$75 Per Hr.
	Get more information on this product!

	HughesNet ProPlus vs. Pro Pak Comparison	HughesNet	Other Guy
	Payment Option or Upfront Cost (after rebates)	$0 or $249.98*	$328.95*
	Monthly Service	$79.99	$99.99
	Finance option Down payment	$0	Not Offered
	Monthly Finance Payment, x24 months	$20.00	Not Offered
	Download Speeds	1500kbps	1500kbps
	Upload Speeds	200kbps	256kbps
	UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs per day. ³	Yes	No
	Larger Dish Installed for better performance and signal strength.	Yes	No
	Monthly Download Threshold	N/A	17,000mb
	Monthly Upload Threshold	No Limit	5,000mb
	Threshold Reset	24hrs	Up to 30days
	Number of emails included	5	5
	Mailbox size	2,000mb	25mb
	Included Labor Warranty	24 Months	90 Days
	Included Parts Warranty	24 Months	12 Months
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 90 days	Free	Free
	Warranty Repair Labor cost with in 24 months	Free	$75 Per Hr.
	Get more information on this product!

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.

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.

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 rain gutter and our front entrance.
Picture # 5&3 shows how they ran a red Cat-5 cable across the room and behind the desk and plugged it into the computer.

Their great deal this month is free installation. I guess you get what you pay for.
I'll never let them back into my house again!