

EveryName

Premium Member

join:2001-12-05

Montreal EveryName Premium Member Thank god! It's about time someone set them straight!



Rooker

@direcpc.com Rooker Anon Re: Thank god! I hope it makes an impact and leads to something good for customers. My service is pretty good, except for when FAP'd.



That whole thing about being throttled down to dial-up speed is blatantly false. Dial-up would be a profound upgrade. When FAP strikes, the internet just stops - period.



Ytsejamer1

join:2008-01-18

Somersworth, NH Ytsejamer1 Member Re: Thank god! They have 80,000 subscribers?!?!?



james16

join:2001-02-26 james16 to Rooker

Member to Rooker

said by Rooker :



When FAP strikes, the internet just stops - period.

Not for me, I just FAP with my right and surf the net with my left. Not for me, I just FAP with my right and surf the net with my left.



boogerbutt

@1dial.com boogerbutt Anon Re: Thank god! How do you do the right left thing??



james16

join:2001-02-26 james16 Member Re: Thank god! Lots of practice!



duhhhhhhhhhh

@cox.net duhhhhhhhhhh to EveryName

Anon to EveryName

hughesnet is for people that live in bfe, if you don't like your internet connection with hughes, rent a backhoe to drop in your own fttn/ fttp or move and quit your bitching. it's like living in alaska, if you don't like the cold...duh



insomniac84

join:2002-01-03

Schererville, IN insomniac84 Member Re: Thank god! Yes, because if you are a farmer you should never be allowed to have a good internet connection.

Luminaris

join:2005-12-01

Waterford, VA Luminaris Member Bout time really I was wondering when this was going to happen. I have hughes net and I can relate to the pain and suffering. Bad enough having to deal with their speeds and FAP but also the packet loss errors or HTTP transport errors all the time too that I see mainly in the evenings.



pnh102

Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty

Premium Member

join:2002-05-02

Mount Airy, MD pnh102 Premium Member Pointless This, like most class action lawsuits, will turn into a win-win for the lawyers as well as defendants. There will be a grand spectacle of courtroom theatrics, excoriating Hughes and making them appear to be worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot combined... and then there will be the predictable result... tons of coupons to the "victims" which will entitle them to discounted services provided by Hughes of course!



Hughes wins by making money again off of the plaintiffs. The lawyers win making money off of Hughes. In the end, the plaintiffs end up putting more of their money into the coffers of a company they hate for a service which clearly doesn't meet their needs.



What I don't get is this. If your speeds are consistently throttled to those below dialup, then why not just get dialup? The plaintiffs clearly have no problems paying ridiculous prices for sub-dialup speeds, why not just get the real thing and save the hassle?

Luminaris

join:2005-12-01

Waterford, VA Luminaris Member Re: Pointless Because the problem is, Hughes net locks you in to a contract and make it nearly impossible to get out of. They charge you out of line ETF's and I've even read horror stories about customers even trying to get through to cancel their service.



If they cannot provide what they advertise, they should not be in business period.



pnh102

Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty

Premium Member

join:2002-05-02

Mount Airy, MD 1 recommendation pnh102 Premium Member Re: Pointless said by Luminaris:



Because the problem is, Hughes net locks you in to a contract and make it nearly impossible to get out of. They charge you out of line ETF's and I've even read horror stories about customers even trying to get through to cancel their service. Because the problem is, Hughes net locks you in to a contract and make it nearly impossible to get out of. They charge you out of line ETF's and I've even read horror stories about customers even trying to get through to cancel their service. said by Luminaris:



If they cannot provide what they advertise, they should not be in business period. If they cannot provide what they advertise, they should not be in business period. What you say is true of most contracts though. I chalk these experiences up to people not doing proper research on a product or service before committing to it.I am unfamiliar with civil laws in this regard but if this is indeed true then the government should be holding Hughes' feet to the fire for false advertising.

dellt6

join:2005-10-27

Nursery, TX dellt6 Member Re: Pointless said by pnh102:



said by Luminaris:



Because the problem is, Hughes net locks you in to a contract and make it nearly impossible to get out of. They charge you out of line ETF's and I've even read horror stories about customers even trying to get through to cancel their service. Because the problem is, Hughes net locks you in to a contract and make it nearly impossible to get out of. They charge you out of line ETF's and I've even read horror stories about customers even trying to get through to cancel their service. said by Luminaris:



If they cannot provide what they advertise, they should not be in business period. If they cannot provide what they advertise, they should not be in business period.

What you say is true of most contracts though. I chalk these experiences up to people not doing proper research on a product or service before committing to it.I am unfamiliar with civil laws in this regard but if this is indeed true then the government should be holding Hughes' feet to the fire for false advertising.



When I got Direcway over 4yrs ago we did not have these problems.....so I guess I should have been physic huh? What you say is true of most contracts though. I chalk these experiences up to people not doing proper research on a product or service before committing to it.When I got Direcway over 4yrs ago we did not have these problems.....so I guess I should have been physic huh?



pnh102

Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty

Premium Member

join:2002-05-02

Mount Airy, MD pnh102 Premium Member Re: Pointless Shrug.



As long as you dutifully pay for crappy service, then that's all you're going to get. Why would any business change its ways as long as you keep paying them?



The problem is the service is "barely good enough" to meet your needs, and hence, you keep paying for it.



dbirdman

MVM

join:2003-07-07

usa dbirdman to dellt6

MVM to dellt6

said by dellt6:



When I got Direcway over 4yrs ago we did not have these problems.....so I guess I should have been physic huh?

When I got Direcway over 4yrs ago we did not have these problems.....so I guess I should have been physic huh?



That you had good service then is no different from the many of us who have continued to NEVER experience the speeds mentioned in the article.



The suit says "consistently" but the one thing that Hughes/Direcway has never been, in terms of performance, is consistent from one user to the next. You did not have to be psychic. You simply could have read the forums here, where you would have learned that the typical poster 4 years ago (and 5, and 6, and 7) was having the problems mentioned in the suit. Problem posting is and was the norm.That you had good service then is no different from the many of us who have continued to NEVER experience the speeds mentioned in the article.The suit says "consistently" but the one thing that Hughes/Direcway has never been, in terms of performance, is consistent from one user to the next.



dMarks

Melting Faces For Fun

Premium Member

join:2007-02-09

Jackson, MI dMarks Premium Member Re: Pointless That's all well and good, but for some people, they don't even know about these forums. I didn't until after I had Hughes.



I will admit, when I got Hughes, I hadn't done very much research on them. I had satellite before, which was a one-way system through StarConnect. It worked well enough, very little problem with it. I wanted a 2-way system so I could free up my phone line though. Wild Blue was full in my area, so the only choice I could see was Hughes. With my previous experience using satellite, I figured it would be just as good if not better. I was wrong.



Long story short, I was finally able to get out of my contract (after going through my state's Attorney General and the Maryland BBB) and went back to dial-up for a short while before I found I could get EVDO.



Not all people who have problems know about this site. My friend who had Hughes before me and had poor service didn't know about it either until I told him.

k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19

Homer Glen, IL k1ll3rdr4g0n to pnh102

Member to pnh102

said by pnh102:



This, like most class action lawsuits, will turn into a win-win for the lawyers as well as defendants. There will be a grand spectacle of courtroom theatrics, excoriating Hughes and making them appear to be worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot combined... and then there will be the predictable result... tons of coupons to the "victims" which will entitle them to discounted services provided by Hughes of course!



Hughes wins by making money again off of the plaintiffs. The lawyers win making money off of Hughes. In the end, the plaintiffs end up putting more of their money into the coffers of a company they hate for a service which clearly doesn't meet their needs.



What I don't get is this. If your speeds are consistently throttled to those below dialup, then why not just get dialup? The plaintiffs clearly have no problems paying ridiculous prices for sub-dialup speeds, why not just get the real thing and save the hassle?

This, like most class action lawsuits, will turn into a win-win for the lawyers as well as defendants. There will be a grand spectacle of courtroom theatrics, excoriating Hughes and making them appear to be worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot combined... and then there will be the predictable result... tons of coupons to the "victims" which will entitle them to discounted services provided by Hughes of course!Hughes wins by making money again off of the plaintiffs. The lawyers win making money off of Hughes. In the end, the plaintiffs end up putting more of their money into the coffers of a company they hate for a service which clearly doesn't meet their needs.What I don't get is this. If your speeds are consistently throttled to those below dialup, then why not just get dialup? The plaintiffs clearly have no problems paying ridiculous prices for sub-dialup speeds, why not just get the real thing and save the hassle? Thats like saying Verizon's service sucks in your area, and you are telling people to switch. But, people can't switch because they are locked in a 2 year contract. See the catch 22 you just described?



pnh102

Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty

Premium Member

join:2002-05-02

Mount Airy, MD pnh102 Premium Member Re: Pointless said by k1ll3rdr4g0n:



Thats like saying Verizon's service sucks in your area, and you are telling people to switch. But, people can't switch because they are locked in a 2 year contract. See the catch 22 you just described?

Thats like saying Verizon's service sucks in your area, and you are telling people to switch. But, people can't switch because they are locked in a 2 year contract. See the catch 22 you just described? Of course you can switch. Pay the ETF and you are off. But this begs the question, why would you retain the crappy service beyond the non-ETF return period? If I bring a cell phone home and I cannot use it, I would return it.

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: Pointless id agree with you Pnh. People can fully read the contract online before even signing up which fully states the FAP and details what it is.



These lawyers are just out to make a few bucks claiming that the customers didn't know any better. It's not HughesNet's problem these customers didn't read that they have an ETF. It even states online and when you all them they say the same thing.



And its easy if you don't want the service after your contract. you simply cancel the credit card its billed to and be done with it. If you want out before the end of the contract....cancel and pay the ~$250 for it and be done.



Cell phone companies charge an ETF so why can't HughesNet. These customers won't get anything but a few free months of service and that's it. Why? Because they're probably still under contract.

k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19

Homer Glen, IL k1ll3rdr4g0n Member Re: Pointless said by hottboiinnc4:



id agree with you Pnh. People can fully read the contract online before even signing up which fully states the FAP and details what it is.



These lawyers are just out to make a few bucks claiming that the customers didn't know any better. It's not HughesNet's problem these customers didn't read that they have an ETF. It even states online and when you all them they say the same thing.



And its easy if you don't want the service after your contract. you simply cancel the credit card its billed to and be done with it. If you want out before the end of the contract....cancel and pay the ~$250 for it and be done.



Cell phone companies charge an ETF so why can't HughesNet. These customers won't get anything but a few free months of service and that's it. Why? Because they're probably still under contract.

id agree with you Pnh. People can fully read the contract online before even signing up which fully states the FAP and details what it is.These lawyers are just out to make a few bucks claiming that the customers didn't know any better. It's not HughesNet's problem these customers didn't read that they have an ETF. It even states online and when you all them they say the same thing.And its easy if you don't want the service after your contract. you simply cancel the credit card its billed to and be done with it. If you want out before the end of the contract....cancel and pay the ~$250 for it and be done.Cell phone companies charge an ETF so why can't HughesNet. These customers won't get anything but a few free months of service and that's it. Why? Because they're probably still under contract.

But how do you know the service sucks until you have a sufficient time to try it out? You are basically saying I can fully test every feature of a service in 30 days or less. I consider myself a power user, but there is no way I can test every feature and the quality in 30 days. I see the 30 day grace period to test immediate things - like can you actually make and receive calls? Does the phone fall apart in your hands..ect

@hottboiinnc

I'll help point out some facts since they seem to be lacking on this wonderful site.

»www.hughesnet.com/ quote: HughesNetÂ® is available everywhere â even where cable Internet and DSL don't reach. HughesNet offers a suite of connectivity solutions for your home, business, or enterprise, with download speeds ranging from 1.0 Mbps to 5.0 Mbps. Front page information. Doesn't matter whats in the TOS, if a customer gets less than that what they purchase then its false advertising. A lot of people on here think that TOS are the high almighty rules, and they ARE NOT.

So, you would think its ok for me to sit there, start an ISP and say that you will get blazing speeds faster than fiber, yet the fastest you will actually get is dial-up speeds - and in my TOS I state some garbage such as "you will be throttled depending the time and how much you have downloaded"? @pnh102But how do you know the service sucks until you have a sufficient time to try it out? You are basically saying I can fully test every feature of a service in 30 days or less. I consider myself a power user, but there is no way I can test every feature and the quality in 30 days. I see the 30 day grace period to test immediate things - like can you actually make and receive calls? Does the phone fall apart in your hands..ect@hottboiinncI'll help point out some facts since they seem to be lacking on this wonderful site.Front page information. Doesn't matter whats in the TOS, if a customer gets less than that what they purchase then its false advertising. A lot of people on here think that TOS are the high almighty rules, and they ARE NOT.So, you would think its ok for me to sit there, start an ISP and say that you will get blazing speeds faster than fiber, yet the fastest you will actually get is dial-up speeds - and in my TOS I state some garbage such as "you will be throttled depending the time and how much you have downloaded"?



nvjbird

@direcway.com nvjbird to pnh102

Anon to pnh102

now finally! someone that gets it- they do allow you to cancel service if ya dont like it! installing for both wildblue and hughesnet, servicing both as well as being a customer to both over the years, they are both competitive. they both have the fap. they are both close to the same speeds. if they arent, and never have been fast, its the damn installation! a sloppy install will always have problems and not be as fast. the problem is, there is only one way to run quality control on an installers work- by a service call by someone competent. so a lot of sloppy work gets done, resulting in poor service. its like tossin a coin in the air- this time its hughesnet, next time wild blue



io chico

Premium Member

join:2003-12-30

Marble Falls, TX io chico to pnh102

Premium Member to pnh102

Obviously you've never had to suffer with satellite.



I am permitted 250MB daily. If I go over, I am put into a fapped condition. Meaning for 25 hours, I am at below dialup speed.



We haven't ever watched Hulu and I can get about 3 YouTube videos before I have to stop for the day. We don't stream anything.



All for $59.99 monthly and a $250 purchased modem and $150 install fee (we were not permitted to install ourselves). I'm way beyond the 2 year contract, it's been 6 years now, but I have no alternatives as evdo has a 5GB cap monthly.

iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX ·Time Warner Cable

iansltx Member Re: Pointless Millenicom appears to have a soft cap around 10GB, so slightly better than the 250MB per day that you're getting. WildBlue also sems to be a bit better with their FAP policy; every time I've used WildBlue (I go to a few places that have no non-sat alternatives for internet above EDGE speeds) the connection has been predictably crappy, but usable...

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: Pointless Finally someone that actually says (besides me) that Mellenicom has a cap. After its stated on their website they have a cap.

iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX ·Time Warner Cable

iansltx Member Re: Pointless



Not MCom's fault...I'm sure Verizon is the one telling them that their aggregate usage can't exceed 5GB per line of service. Though the use of "heroic" when describing high-usage users...I'm not quite sure what to do with that I rescind my statement, just to flame you...jk lolNot MCom's fault...I'm sure Verizon is the one telling them that their aggregate usage can't exceed 5GB per line of service. Though the use of "heroic" when describing high-usage users...I'm not quite sure what to do with that

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 to io chico

Member to io chico

You knew about the FAP before signing up, and you still signed up? That's HughesNet's problem how?



S_engineer

Premium Member

join:2007-05-16

Chicago, IL 1 recommendation S_engineer Premium Member This is bad This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!



DataRiker

Premium Member

join:2002-05-19

00000 1 edit DataRiker Premium Member Re: This is bad I disagree. This is a predatory company in more ways than one.



Firstly they advertise themselves a "broadband" but with their "FAP" your actually provided less bandwidth than dialup.



Secondly, Ive heard they have a pretty wicked ETF.



They market themselves to people who have no other alternative, but in reality, they are in many ways worse than dialup.

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: This is bad these people knew before signing up they had have a FAP in place. Like i said before, it's not HughesNets problem.



Anony_mouse

@direcpc.com Anony_mouse Anon Re: This is bad Most people aren't aware of the FAP. Sure, it's sort of explained on Hughes' website, in the fine print, and maybe everyone who signs up without doing much research should be slapped on the wrist. But the FAP, the packet loss, the mysterious perpetual 404s and the bandwidth and latency limitations of satellite are never explained to potential customers. Quite the opposite--they're concealed. This is sort of the central issue. The FAP and etc. are symptoms of Hughesnet's inability to provide the service they are selling ("broadband internet"). That's leaving out the myriad other issues people have with the company itself, and the unique way in which it practices business.

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: This is bad No its not what Hughes fails to tell the customers. It's the customers for failing to ask and read.



It's like having cable or telco bundles. After your promos run out and your service price goes up, it's not their fault that you don't call into get a better rate. It's your fault for not doing it.



Everything is explained and is in writing. This case needs to be tossed out.



donthetech

@verizon.net donthetech to Anony_mouse

Anon to Anony_mouse

said by Anony_mouse :



Most people aren't aware of the FAP. Sure, it's sort of explained on Hughes' website, in the fine print, and maybe everyone who signs up without doing much research should be slapped on the wrist. But the FAP, the packet loss, the mysterious perpetual 404s and the bandwidth and latency limitations of satellite are never explained to potential customers. Quite the opposite--they're concealed. This is sort of the central issue. The FAP and etc. are symptoms of Hughesnet's inability to provide the service they are selling ("broadband internet"). That's leaving out the myriad other issues people have with the company itself, and the unique way in which it practices business.

One thing I need to mention, potential customers of ANY business have to do their homework before entering into a contract....I work in an industry where we inform the customer about policies all the time through various means.. Most of the time people throw the info out without even reading it, then bitch about the policy when issues arise...



Expecting a business to hold a customer's hand is unreasonable in my view, they are in business for one reason, TO MAKE A PROFIT...the customer needs to take time and become responsible for their own purchases..

Filing suit will only make the lawyers rich, and the folks doing the filing are probably going to get enticed with crumbs, and the fools will remain with Hughes anyway, giving them MORE money......What they should do is bite the bullet, pay the fee, terminate their contract and move on...if enough people do this it will send a stronger message than this suit...It could put Hughesnet out of business....they need to be hit in THEIR pocketbook......In this economy, the CONSUMER has the power..... One thing I need to mention, potential customers of ANY business have to do their homework before entering into a contract....I work in an industry where we inform the customer about policies all the time through various means.. Most of the time people throw the info out without even reading it, then bitch about the policy when issues arise...Expecting a business to hold a customer's hand is unreasonable in my view, they are in business for one reason, TO MAKE A PROFIT...the customer needs to take time and become responsible for their own purchases..Filing suit will only make the lawyers rich, and the folks doing the filing are probably going to get enticed with crumbs, and the fools will remain with Hughes anyway, giving them MORE money......What they should do is bite the bullet, pay the fee, terminate their contract and move on...if enough people do this it will send a stronger message than this suit...It could put Hughesnet out of business....they need to be hit in THEIR pocketbook......In this economy, the CONSUMER has the power.....



JohnQuincyPublic

@bellsouth.net JohnQuincyPublic to S_engineer

Anon to S_engineer

Yeah, I guess you can kiss your raise goodbye now, huh?



cdru

Go Colts

MVM

join:2003-05-14

Fort Wayne, IN cdru to S_engineer

MVM to S_engineer

So companies should be able to advertise and charge for one level of service, but actually provide considerably less in return? Allowing this is a bad idea too.

jrose78

join:2005-02-10

USA 2 edits jrose78 Member Re: This is bad In reply to S_engineer



You can apply that logic to anything. Don't sue doctors health care will go up .. Don't sue cable companies there cable fees will go up. I am not buying it.



S_engineer

Premium Member

join:2007-05-16

Chicago, IL S_engineer Premium Member Re: This is bad you can also apply this litigation towards anything. I just think there are different avenues to be taken rather than a prolonged fight that only harms the carrier financially which of course will ultimately be passed onto the consumer.



Cingular wireless was advertising their "fewest dropped calls" campaign when I had them when in actuality they had the most. False advertisement;absolutely....Litigation worthy; hardly!



The problem is subjective. It will be interesting to see the argument for how a carrier could be held punitively liable for a network that is not uniformly providing a specific speed!....Now name a provider that does.

88615298 (banned)

join:2004-07-28

West Tenness 88615298 (banned) to S_engineer

Member to S_engineer

said by S_engineer:



This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!

This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea! boy you can sure tell who works for whom by their posts can't you?

k1ll3rdr4g0n

join:2005-03-19

Homer Glen, IL 1 recommendation k1ll3rdr4g0n to S_engineer

Member to S_engineer

said by S_engineer:



This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!

This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea! Oh but its ok for companies to give less than what they advertise? What do you suggest they do? Bend over for the companies and just give them money?



Bit00

Premium Member

join:2009-02-19

00000 1 edit 1 recommendation Bit00 to S_engineer

Premium Member to S_engineer

It's an excellent precedent.



What this means is if a company fails to provide the service as contracted, the company is in breach of that contract and the customer leaves without paying a punitive penalty.



As it stands now, Hughesnet can provide beyond horrible service and customers are forced to pay because they're bound by a contract.

dellt6

join:2005-10-27

Nursery, TX dellt6 to S_engineer

Member to S_engineer

Yes, it is bad - on Hughesnet's part. I only wish you had my service. I tried to upload a 253k file to my website yesterday evening, I tried for about 30mins before I gave up. My upload was zero and it was so bad the speed test would not finish.



Hughesnet needs more than sued, they need to be dissolved and never be allowed to sign up another customer.

iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX ·Time Warner Cable

iansltx Member Re: This is bad Do you live near anyone? Can you get cell phone service? How about 3G?



It'd probably be expensive, but you could band together with other people in your area and start a wireless internet provider. Get a T1, share it out with other people via Motorola Canopy, cap speeds at 512k or 768k so nobody hogs the pipe...expensive to start up? Yes. Better service than satellite could dream of being? By golly, yes.

me1212

join:2008-11-20

Pleasant Hill, MO me1212 to S_engineer

Member to S_engineer

said by S_engineer:



This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!

This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea! Dude I had sat internet it was crap. I paid over 2x what I paid for dial-up got about 3-4x the speed(I had 26k) and crappy ping and a cap. Now thankfully I am on an un-caped WISP, I pay for up to 512k/128k 95+% of the time I get 507k/256k. It works great for gaming VoIP and youtube. Sat internet should never have been born it is just bad, they give little to no support and it is ALWAYS you fault or your router's if you have one.



Shann

@spcsdns.net Shann Anon Re: This is bad We just moved to P-Hill (on 58 hwy) and are desperately looking for an uncapped bb connection. Who are you using?

iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX iansltx to S_engineer

Member to S_engineer

Did you forget the /sarcasm tag?



funchords

Hello

MVM

join:2001-03-11

Yarmouth Port, MA funchords to S_engineer

MVM to S_engineer

said by S_engineer:



This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!

This sets a horrible precedent...I hope its struck down. While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This is a bad idea!



These companies NEVER stop selling because they are oversubscribed. They just keep adding and keep adding to the same-sized pool of bandwidth. No, it's not.These companies NEVER stop selling because they are oversubscribed. They just keep adding and keep adding to the same-sized pool of bandwidth.

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: This is bad If you want them to add more bandwidth then you should pitch in and help them build a new bird.

Spice300

Premium Member

join:2006-01-10 Spice300 to S_engineer

Premium Member to S_engineer

said by S_engineer:



This sets a horrible precedent... While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves. This sets a horrible precedent... While there is contract law that may be in play here, suing every company that had bad service will have the reverse effect it seeks. Costs will rise for the consumer as these companies become liable and have to pay to defend themselves.



Replying to those who think contract law trumps all other law, satellite ISP's use public frequency spectrum. The public has every right to demand by lawsuit or act of Congress that corporations who use it provide an acceptable level of service. Capitalism performs poorly when their are monopolies and cartels in control.

--

Wildblue Value Pack, beam 31, Riverside gateway HughesNet and Wildblue gross hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Spending a few million defending themselves is chump change for them and will not raise customer rates.Replying to those who think contract law trumps all other law, satellite ISP's use public frequency spectrum. The public has every right to demand by lawsuit or act of Congress that corporations who use it provide an acceptable level of service. Capitalism performs poorly when their are monopolies and cartels in control.--Wildblue Value Pack, beam 31, Riverside gateway



fireflier

Coffee. . .Need Coffee

Premium Member

join:2001-05-25

Limbo fireflier Premium Member AT&T?



I just got a notice from them informing me of a change in my service agreement that stipulates I will not join class action suits against them and that if I have unresolved issues I won't take them to court but agree to be bound by an arbitrator.



It doesn't look to me like AT&T has responded very positively to such lawsuits. I still have the same service but they're trying to force their customers in my region into staying out of courts to settle disputes with them. Interesting AT&T was mentioned as a byproduct of this.I just got a notice from them informing me of a change in my service agreement that stipulates I will not join class action suits against them and that if I have unresolved issues I won't take them to court but agree to be bound by an arbitrator.It doesn't look to me like AT&T has responded very positively to such lawsuits. I still have the same service but they're trying to force their customers in my region into staying out of courts to settle disputes with them.



birdfeedr

MVM

join:2001-08-11

Warwick, RI birdfeedr MVM Re: AT&T? said by fireflier:



I just got a notice from them informing me of a change in my service agreement that stipulates I will not join class action suits against them and that if I have unresolved issues I won't take them to court but agree to be bound by an arbitrator.

I just got a notice from them informing me of a change in my service agreement that stipulates I will not join class action suits against them and that if I have unresolved issues I won't take them to court but agree to be bound by an arbitrator.



That said, sequence of events should be to use all normal means to get the problem rectified, next resort to arbitration, finally join class-action suit.



Once arbitration fails, you're pissed. Then all you want is your pound of flesh. Service agreement be damned. Requirement for arbitration, and inability to join a class action suit would not hold up against effort by an individual determined to get something made right.That said, sequence of events should be to use all normal means to get the problem rectified, next resort to arbitration, finally join class-action suit.Once arbitration fails, you're pissed. Then all you want is your pound of flesh. Service agreement be damned.

bjbrock9

join:2002-10-28

Mcalester, OK 1 recommendation bjbrock9 Member Nationalize the broadband infrastructure... to deliver wired Internet access to every citizen that wants it. Internet access is too important to national security and the economic well being of this country to allow corporations to have a hand in its delivery. They have already proven that their limited agendas will take precedence over everything including the well being of this nation. After the Internet is delivered, corp's. can then make their money delivering services across the Internet.



If you don't think this is a good idea then let's turn over the nation's highways to corporations. And the military as well. We might as well let them control everything.

me1212

join:2008-11-20

Pleasant Hill, MO me1212 Member Re: Nationalize the broadband infrastructure... Ok, a few thing wrong with that. 1. Wireless would be a less costly way to do it, and wireless can work with VoIP online gaming and videos I do all that stuff with my wireless.

2.NO! Taxes are high enough already.

3.I don't wan to give the Government more power, I don't want them to say how long I can be on the net, what I can use it for, what I can say on it.

iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX ·Time Warner Cable

1 recommendation iansltx to bjbrock9

Member to bjbrock9

I actually wouldn't mind turning highways over to corps. Make 'em toll roads, and don't let the unions get too big...



For broadband infrastructure, it sometimes doesn't make sense to wire some people for internet service. The cost is just too great.



On the other hand, wireless service (terrestrial, WiMAX for example) is very doable and will provide decent speeds (you can get 10 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up over WiMAX if I'm calculating stuff correctly). All without breaking the bank.



boogi man

join:2001-11-13

Jacksonville, FL boogi man Member the horror of it all imagine a place where what you pay for is actually what you get and when it isn't the provider has to fix it or forfeit any additional money from the customer...



obviously this utopia doesn't exist yet but that's really the bigger point of the this type of lawsuit. is an effort get closer to companies actually doing the 'right' thing. they have lobbyist's and we the people have class action suits. still not quit balanced but over all it does have some good impact.



as for not taking something that doesn't perform well there are about 300 million here and it would seem that not all of us have learned that lesson yet or maybe when some of us get involved all of the facts aren't available and yes that's a risk hopefully one rewarded by good value and support and when it isn't then the contract is null. for both parties at that point.



and what about the fast talking salesman whose face you can't see? or when your only POC is a phone call. they aren't like the local power, phone etc that actually have a local presence in most towns. that even though it takes a drive to get there you can look someone in the eye and get a resolution.



Bit00

Premium Member

join:2009-02-19

00000 Bit00 Premium Member Wow, what a difference a few years make

Ahhh, those were the days At my vacation house in the early 2000's we didn't have digital cable or DSL available so I went with dial-return satellite. After looking into a few providers I went with AOL Plus DirecPC over SATMEX 5. AOL was lame, but their resold service had no FAP while Starband and regular DirecPC service did. With concurrent connections I routinely saw 3-3.5Mb, all day every day which at the time was even faster than my then Cox@Home service. And the kicker was the service cost only $45/mo ($24.95+$19.95 for the Plus service). Now with DirecPC (aka DirecWay aka hughesnet) people struggle to see 500kbps with some lucky to beat dial-up.

dellt6

join:2005-10-27

Nursery, TX dellt6 Member Re: Wow, what a difference a few years make I agree, only wish I could consistently get 500kbs, when it works in the mornings, I get around 1000kbs d/l and around 180-190 u/l, however around noon daily it's like someone turns off the bandwidth facet and I don't have internet until around midnight. Each new day offers the same of crappy service. I have threatened lawsuits, I sent a certified letter to their offices in Illinois without anyone even signing for it since it's been two weeks and no return receipt yet.



I can not say enough bad things about Hughesnet, if there is a God, this company will go the way of the NYTs and GM.



battleop

join:2005-09-28

00000 battleop Member There is only one winner. There is only one winner in these kinds of cases. It's not the consumer, it's not Hughes, it's the lawyers. Hughes is wrong for trying to enforce ETFs on service they can't deliver. If they could deliver the service as advertised then I would say that the consumer should suck it up or vote with their feet.



morbo

Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22

00000 morbo Member Re: There is only one winner. said by battleop:



There is only one winner in these kinds of cases. It's not the consumer, it's not Hughes, it's the lawyers. Hughes is wrong for trying to enforce ETFs on service they can't deliver. If they could deliver the service as advertised then I would say that the consumer should suck it up or vote with their feet.

There is only one winner in these kinds of cases. It's not the consumer, it's not Hughes, it's the lawyers. Hughes is wrong for trying to enforce ETFs on service they can't deliver. If they could deliver the service as advertised then I would say that the consumer should suck it up or vote with their feet. uh, then how are the lawyers the only winners here? it's the consumers that will also win as they will be allowed to leave hughes since they cannot provide the service they advertise.

ISurfTooMuch

join:2007-04-23

Tuscaloosa, AL ISurfTooMuch Member The issue The real issue is that HughesNet markets their service as high-speed Internet when it really isn't. Their ads don't tell people that the speeds they promise are rarely delivered, and they sure don't mention the FAP. I wouldn't have a problem with the service they provide if they simply were honest in their marketing.



And, as for why folks get the service, if someone doesn't know another HughesNet customer, how would they evaluate the service? From the commercials? They promote it as broadband, which we all know it isn't. And, even though we all know that DSLR is a great place to find reviews, not everyone does. They see the ads, think about how satellite technology delivers a pretty good TV service, and figure that anything must be better than dialup.



I'm not defending ignorant consumers, but HughesNet is clearly advertising a service they simply can't deliver. They either need to drastically improve the service to bring it in line with their advertising or come clean about what they're really offering.

Luminaris

join:2005-12-01

Waterford, VA Luminaris Member Re: The issue I agree and not only that, lower their prices to reflect the level of service you get.

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 to ISurfTooMuch

Member to ISurfTooMuch

It's called fine print, online, and contract. If you don't read any of that then that is your damn problem. Not the court's problem.

decifal

join:2007-03-10

Bon Aqua, TN decifal Member shoot em down I'm soo tired of satellite internet providers.. Its the buildout escape goat for everyone and everything thats against wider landline deployment.. Shoot the damn birds outta the skys, or convert them to satellite phone providers and never allow this failed technology again...



Roll out the fiber and lets get to hanging it!!

dellt6

join:2005-10-27

Nursery, TX dellt6 Member HughesNet Sued For Poor Service I can only hope for the very, very worst outcome for Hughesnet, if any company ever in history needs to be taken down for non support, false advertisement and a total lack of concern for customers, it's Hughesnet.



I obtained Direcway in early 2005 and it was great compared to the only other option in my area, dial-up. However I seemed to notice once the name changed to Hughesnet the service began to drop but it was at least still better than dial-up. I had been bombarded with annoying pop-ups via their downlink to upgrade, that my 7000 modem was obsolete. I didn't want to upgrade since my old modem was working fine. I called tech several times and they acted like they knew nothing about Hughesnet sending out pop-up messages to the 7000 modems wanting everyone to upgrade 'free' with the only kicker being an extended one-year agreement. I finally agreed and when the new modem came in I tried to commission it without success, it always failed the point test. I called tech and they sent out someone to realign the dish, after half a day he finally got it commissioned (around the first of April) and ever since then I can only use the internet from morning to around noon each day. I have complained to many times to their ignorant tech support I'm surprise they have not blocked my number. I have run speed tests since the modem was commissioned and about one third of them are 'o' zero on the upload from afternoon to after midnight. I told 'tech' my plan shows I should receive during peak times downloads no worse than 700kbs and uploads no worse than 100kbs, what a laugh. These people lower the up/down load threshold almost on a daily basis now. Seems if we get around 50kbs on the upload or around 300kbs on the download, we should be happy.



I wish Hughesnet could be forced out of business - they need to be held liable for conduct of over-selling their product and cheating all their customers.



However, in reality, I'm sure they will be in line for a 'bail-out' instead of actually being made to comply with what they advertise.



googlejesus

@comcast.net googlejesus Anon See Comcast Guys It Could Be Worse



Hpower

join:2000-06-08

Valencia, CA 1 edit Hpower Member gg Honestly how are these guys still in business? I see their commercial all the time and it just makes me laugh. Their service sucks.



RR Conductor

Ridin' the rails

Premium Member

join:2002-04-02

Redwood Valley, CA ARRIS SB6183

Netgear R7000

1 edit RR Conductor Premium Member Re: gg said by Hpower:



Honestly how are these guys still in business? I see their commercial all the time and it just makes me laugh. Their service sucks.

Honestly how are these guys still in business? I see their commercial all the time and it just makes me laugh. Their service sucks. Easy, there are a lot of rural areas in CA and the US where wired and wireless broadband isn't available, and there are even areas where there are no landlines (we have a number of folks here in Mendocino County in Northwestern California who live off the grid) so not even dialup for those folks. This is the only choice for some.



mrkevin

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.

Premium Member

join:2007-08-07

Aurora, ME mrkevin to Hpower

Premium Member to Hpower

If you thought broadband wasn't available in your area...you're right"



RiseAbove

Premium Member

join:2004-01-30 RiseAbove Premium Member The Alternative to poor Sat Service- go to 3gstore.com and get yourself the kyocera Kr2



then get yourself either a Sprint or Verizon EVDO card and pop it in. chances are you live in EVDO territory even if you are kind of in the country.



Now you will have 1.4mb connection and performance that will far out strip Sat service.

BB_Hunter

join:2008-05-16 BB_Hunter Member Re: The Alternative to poor Sat Service- said by RiseAbove:



go to 3gstore.com and get yourself the kyocera Kr2



then get yourself either a Sprint or Verizon EVDO card and pop it in. chances are you live in EVDO territory even if you are kind of in the country.



Now you will have 1.4mb connection and performance that will far out strip Sat service.

go to 3gstore.com and get yourself the kyocera Kr2then get yourself either a Sprint or Verizon EVDO card and pop it in. chances are you live in EVDO territory even if you are kind of in the country.Now you will have 1.4mb connection and performance that will far out strip Sat service.



I actually looked at Satellite a while back but found out EVDO just hit my area. It took a high gain antenna and amp to get service but its pretty decent and allows me to game. They have been advertising it quite a bit and I've noticed my speeds decreasing. Its 5pm here and this is what I'm getting now.



Yes that will be great. Lets move all the satellite users to EVDO and slow that to a crawl.I actually looked at Satellite a while back but found out EVDO just hit my area. It took a high gain antenna and amp to get service but its pretty decent and allows me to game. They have been advertising it quite a bit and I've noticed my speeds decreasing. Its 5pm here and this is what I'm getting now.



RiseAbove

Premium Member

join:2004-01-30 RiseAbove Premium Member Re: The Alternative to poor Sat Service- said by BB_Hunter:



said by RiseAbove:



go to 3gstore.com and get yourself the kyocera Kr2



then get yourself either a Sprint or Verizon EVDO card and pop it in. chances are you live in EVDO territory even if you are kind of in the country.



Now you will have 1.4mb connection and performance that will far out strip Sat service.

go to 3gstore.com and get yourself the kyocera Kr2then get yourself either a Sprint or Verizon EVDO card and pop it in. chances are you live in EVDO territory even if you are kind of in the country.Now you will have 1.4mb connection and performance that will far out strip Sat service.



I actually looked at Satellite a while back but found out EVDO just hit my area. It took a high gain antenna and amp to get service but its pretty decent and allows me to game. They have been advertising it quite a bit and I've noticed my speeds decreasing. Its 5pm here and this is what I'm getting now.





Yes that will be great. Lets move all the satellite users to EVDO and slow that to a crawl.I actually looked at Satellite a while back but found out EVDO just hit my area. It took a high gain antenna and amp to get service but its pretty decent and allows me to game. They have been advertising it quite a bit and I've noticed my speeds decreasing. Its 5pm here and this is what I'm getting now.



Just wait a few more years when LTE rolls out and everybody can get some great speed wirelessly.



I installed a few EVDO systems in homes in the country and had to do much like you did with high gain antennas and amps to get some great speeds. They were extremely excited to have high speed and not have to worry about dialup or high costs with Sat service and startup. That's not bad for country living. I remember the days when even Sat was highly impractical.Just wait a few more years when LTE rolls out and everybody can get some great speed wirelessly.I installed a few EVDO systems in homes in the country and had to do much like you did with high gain antennas and amps to get some great speeds. They were extremely excited to have high speed and not have to worry about dialup or high costs with Sat service and startup.



jhalleau

join:2003-03-04

Vancouver, WA jhalleau Member If only it wenty back to the Direcway days Maybe I could then join in on the suit and get some of the money I got robbed / raped for. Sounds like things haven't with the transition to hughesnet



Moving from the house where I had direcway sucked, but having Direcway nearly cost me my job.



Qoiz

join:2005-06-26 Qoiz Member i hope to god hn gets "screwed over" as much as possible



so sick of hearing of people getting screwed by their bullshit, it shows one of many million examples how disgusting our near useless society is these days I say "screwed over" with the "'s because they are really not getting screwed, just getting what they deserve.. but they will finally know how almost every customer of theirs feel!so sick of hearing of people getting screwed by their bullshit, it shows one of many million examples how disgusting our near useless society is these days



Oaf Ended

@verizon.net Oaf Ended Anon It's the commercials that bother me For a while Direcway and then Hughesnet used the same actress for their commercials. Her name is Margaret Easley. She was a little weird, and transparently insincere, but pleasant enough. She played the character "April Blessing" on the HBO series BIG LOVE.



Then she was gone, and now Hughesnet uses an actress who is some kind of a midget or deform-o. She has the same smarmy delivery as Easley, but she has NO WAIST and a huge head and she looks like a mutant or something. I have DirecTV and when the Hughesnet commercials come on every hour, my wife and I scream "Ahhh, the mutant dwarf beast!" It's a thing we do.



Thank goodness I don't live in an area in which the only option for "broadband" is satellite internet. That would be a poop situation.



rda

@cablelynx.com rda Anon About Time!! I had a horrible time with Hughesnet! I am one of those living in a rural area, having no other internet option at the time. They totally ripped me off.

They cancelled my internet service for 24 hours because I downloaded software for my iphone and it exceeded my download limit for the day! What???????

It was slower than dialup. When I tried to cancel my service they charged me an arm and a leg and said I breeched contract. When I asked to see the contract because I never got one (therefore never signed one) they told me they really didn't have a contract......?????????

When I asked to speak to the manager they told me there was no direct line to the main office. I asked for a mailing address and they said they couldn't give me that information.

RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



TBcatdiva

@aol.com TBcatdiva Anon Searching for faster internet My bf and I have been wanting to get a faster connection than dial-up so we have been doing some research as to what is available in our area,(South East) there's a local communication company (If you can call them a Communications Company, Ugh!) that controls the landlines/dsl ,so we can't get AT&T, which I had when I lived alone, and there's Local cable TV (Charter Comm.) that doesn't come as far as we live, although they say the neighbor above us has it. And then there is Verizon that offers the usb modems/pc cards. And of course we have a satellite with Dish network for our TV viewing so we considered getting Hughes net or Wild Blue sat through them, but after reading all these remarks and responses to HN's lawsuit... NO THANK YOU, I do think I will pass. And THANK YOU ALL for the wealth of info!!!

hottboiinnc4

ME

join:2003-10-15

Cleveland, OH hottboiinnc4 Member Re: Searching for faster internet WildBlue is a seperate company. And this law "firm" is out just to make a quick buck.



These customers knew ahead of time about the speeds are "upto" just like every other provider and they have a Fair Access Policy. It is outlined on their website and in the contract. If you call them they'll tell you that.



But if you're neighbor up stairs gets Charter Cable why not just split HSI with them via wifi?