Well I seem to wait and wait for a lot of this site also, so I could not even think of what it would be like back on dial up. I complain about the Wild Blue but only because they do not put out what the "technically" promise. Let me tell you some of the real truth about Dish Network Wild Blue Internet Satellite.

For instance, they tell you about (their basic package)512 down load speed and 128 upload speed. What they don't tell you is if you're getting in the area of 300 down load speed, they consider that in their range. What they figure on is, if you were getting 28 down load speeds before, you're still in hog heaven, and you are. And if you had read the tiny print five page contract you have to sign, you would have known that. The same goes for upload speed. If you're getting 70 or above, then they are in their projected range of the 128 they like to brag on the adds about. So never believe that stuff they push on their TV adds.

They also tell you weather does not effect the system. Well what they meant to tell you is some weather does not effect the system. But some does. So if you get a heavy rain the satellite goes out. If you get a snow (like it never snows here) it will slow the satellite down. You also have to worry about the weather over your "hub" which is where the signal is brought in and bounced or something. Mine happens to be Cheyenne Wyoming. And if you call to complain they put you through all these tests for twenty minutes, and then give you a song and dance that they don't know what might be causing it tonight. And to check back with them tomorrow and see if it is not better.

A lot of their speed problems from talking to the person (my brother the computer geek) that built my slap bang custom made, super fast computer.. they over sell their bandwidth. So if a satellite can handle lets say 1,000,000 homes at a time, but it just so happens all the kids are out of school and there is 1,299,999 people all working for that signal... guess what happens. The signal drops. Now you can not get Dish Network to admit to overselling their signal. All you can do is put up with the slow speeds.

Ever wonder how fast your system is... http://performance.toast.net/default.asp go to that site and run a test. Or http://speedtest.net/ it will give you an idea of how well you are doing. Or NOT doing in many cases...