Have you heard of Star Bandhttp://www.dslreports.com/reviews/1652?r=1
The reviews generally seem good and I believe they have been bought out after bouncing around owners for a few years.
On the new modem the 481: 500 down had been promised but talking to installers you can see downloads higher then that. Uploads are slow 100-150. The 481 comes with the modem and the router built together.
I don't really know much about Starband. They filed for bankrupsy back in 2002. I think their primary owner is Gilat Satellite Networks.
That DSLR thread is an interesting read. Pros and Cons.
Personally, I'm a speed and reliability addict. I don't game, but I get hopping mad when my service is down or slow. The lag and weather issues of satellite service would drive me insane.
I can't believe I am in San Diego and can not get broad band
The need for speed. :) Bonded V.90, ISDN, xDSL, T-x, Cable, Satellite...
How close to your home are high-speed services available?
The big fad these days is for neighbors to build their own "neighborhood ISP"... Find a close-by small business (store) that can get business-grade services, then run a hop to your home (wireless, fiber, cat5, etc).... Lotta work, but sometimes worth the effort. Sometimes local ISPs are willing to help out.
Another possibility: When a LEC tells you that you can't get their DSL service because you're too far away, they're really telling you that you can't get their rated speeds out of it. Sometimes you can negotiate with them -- get the DSL anyway but accept the slower speeds. ...I had 120 Kbps DSL for a while, from Verizon. :)
- Dan.
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