My studio is in town, and I have cable there, but we live in the country, where our only options are dial-up or satellite.

We recently switched to HiughesNet. I installed an old Mac Airport Extreme so we could go wireless. That part is working fine. The satellite connection is usually smoother than the old dial-up, but I have to say I'm very disappointed in the download speeds. Also, the guys who did the installation took like four days to finish it, even though they were supposedly very experienced. They kept bringing (or were given) the wrong equipment and didn't seem to be getting very good support from "HughesNet Central."

There are several online forums out there where this issue is discussed, along with some potential workarounds. Have you checked into those? Which companies serve your region? HughesNet apparently has a pretty lousy reputation. Maybe others are better. Or maybe local conditions create problems in some areas but not others, so HughesNet (if they serve your area) might be wonderful for you. Any new neighbors you could call on to introduce yourself and get some practical advice about this and other things?

Good luck with your move. "Remote" has many advantages. Unfortunately, access to the most advanced technology usually isn't among them.

Mara

I don't know how to measure my speeds exactly. I go only by how long downloads take, which seems like forever. I recently saw something flash before my eyes while I was updating some software -- 8kps. Our dialup was 15kps, I think. Does that tell you anything? If you can tell me where to find the info you asked for, I'll go check.

Mara

Your dial-up sounds about right, and for determining speed, I've used the following tests:

http://www.bplspeedtest.com/

and

http://speedtest.net/

Thanks so much for this, Mara.

3dogmama

If I am not mistaken, I believe the Dish Network offers high speed satellite internet as well. Haven't used it and don't know anyone who has, just throwing that out as something to look into...

http://www.auditmypc.com/internet-speed-test.asp

This one gave me 2.6 Mbps for my downloading and 709 kbps for my up. As per the above links, bpl gave me 1.864 as a down and 774 as an up; speedtest gave me 2.548 as a down and 52 (!?) as an up. If going by the 2 out of 3 rule, I think the best bet would be this new link...unless anyone has a suggestion.

ciao
3dogmama

...I ran both tests and got numbers in the same ballpark each time for download and upload speed:

www.bplspeedtest.com/

Download Speed 751 kbps
Upload Speed 159 kbps

http://speedtest.net/
799/186

The http://www.auditmypc.com/internet-speed-test.asp site gave me 847.5 for download speed, then crapped out on me.

What does it all mean? :-)

I love my cable connection at work. Oh and BTW, neither my husband nor I have been able to get our e-mail to download at home. We're lost in some endless loop of rejected passwords. He's Vista, I'm Leopard. Nice t'meetcha.

Mara

Thanks for running the tests, Mara. Your speeds sound about the same as what we're getting into.

For curiousity's sake, you should try these tests on your cable hook-up to see the difference between the two. Then again maybe not...it might drive you to drink.

Sorry that I can't offer any advice on the email issue. Haven't ran into that type of headache yet.

ciao
3dogmama

You can be certain I'll run those tests at work, if only so I can feel smug about not being a hausfrau -- although, I have to tell you, I have wicked fantasies about that. Ah, but such is the curse of the modern age that my fantasy involves download speeds instead of, hmmm, the milkman. Oh well :-)

Here's hoping you don't run into e-mail trouble. Our best friends, who got HughesNet at their house a few months before we did, also went through a period when their e-mail got totally screwed up. It might be a rite of passage with HughesNet, I dunno. How do these guys get away with it? Arrrggh.

Mara

Here's what I've got at work, per the three different test sites:

Download 14.2 Mbps/Upload 2267 kbps

Download 22278 kbps/Upload 2301kbps

Download 26.75 Mbps/Upload 1967 Kbps

And my husband wonders why I work late so often!

Mara

I have had internet through satellite before through Starband and I do not recommend this service to anyone. You can not go on the internet if there is a thunder storm or clouds in the way of the satellite I warn you do not get it.