| Questions |
Answers |
| What is WildBlue Internet? |
WildBlue Internet is a satellite-based broadband Internet service for SOHO and commercial users. By "satellite-based," we mean that your connection to the Internet will be via a satellite rather than copper cables like telephone or cable Internet service. By "broadband," we mean connection speeds in excess of 128 kilobits per second (kbps). |
| How much is the equipment and installation cost for WildBlues Internet? |
to get the pricing information.WildBlue Internet pricing |
| What will be the monthly subscription cost for WildBlues Internet? |
For monthly service plans information |
| What do I need to have before getting WildBlues Internet? |
PC with 300 MHz Pentium III (or faster) class processor or better
- Windows 2000 or Windows XP
Apple Computer, Macintosh with 10.1 OS or better
Unix or Solaris OS varient type of system
All of the above need to have a network card (NIC) or be connected to an ethernet enabled network.
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| Can I use my Macintosh with WildBlue Internet 2 way high speed internet? |
If your computer is a Mac® you need to make sure that you have OS 10.1 or higher and updates have been applied. |
| Will WildBlue Internet work with RVs, motorhomes, and watercraft? |
Because this is a transmit antenna, directing power up to the satellite, the installation and pointing is tightly controlled by the FCC, therefore a certified professional must do the installation. |
| What exactly will I get when I buy WildBlue Internet? |
You will receive hardware and documentation.
The hardware will consist of:
A dish roughly 26" x 22" mounting hardware
1 satellite modem that will connect to your PC via RJ45 network connection.
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| Will I be able to install the system myself? |
Because this is a transmit antenna, directing power up to the satellite, the installation and pointing is tightly controlled by the FCC, therefore a certified professional must do the installation. WildBlue Internet is a sophisticated piece of satellite equipment and must be installed by a professional. Fortunately, WildBlue Internet has a network of satellite installation experts who can install your system and assist you in its use. |
| Where do I have to live to receive the signal from the satellite? |
This service is available in almost all of North America. Ideally,you should be below the 55th parallel, if you are above or require further information, please contact us. |
| Does WildBlue Internet require a credit card or will you accept bank checking account options? |
Primarily, the major credit cards are accepted - VISA, MC, Discover and American Express. If your bank offers a VISA or MasterCard checking account debit card, WildBlue Internet will gladly accept that as well. |
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| Exactly how fast will this connection be? |
The speed at which data will flow from the Internet to your PC will depend on which service plan you choose. If you choose the Professional plan it will be 1.5 megabit download speeds. The speed at which data will flow from your PC to the Internet will be at least 128kbps, on their entry level plan.
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| How does Wildblue compare with DSL and cable modems? |
These speeds are similar to what you would get from a competitively priced DSL |
| Will I need a phone line and a regular modem to connect to the Internet? |
NO |
| Can I use a NIC card with WildBlue Internet? |
This is the only means of connecting the WildBlue Internet system to your computer or router |
| Can I use America Online (AOL) with WildBlue Internet? |
While it is possible to continue using AOL with WildBlue Internet, AOL users can keep their email account with AOL and utilize WildBlue for their ISP services. |
| Can you use any browser with WildBlue Internet? |
All of the major browsers function properly in the WildBlue Internet environment. |
| Can you use any e-mail program with WildBlue Internet? (Outlook, Eudora, etc.) |
Yes! All of the e-mail programs we've tested work with WildBlue Internet.
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| Will WildBlue Internet offer a PCI card with an Ethernet port ? |
No, but usually the installer will have a network card that can be installed into the customers computer for an additional charge. |
| Will the ping times be quick enough for online multi-player games? |
You will be able to play the online games, but since the signal travels over 44,000 miles to the Internet, there probably won't be dramatic improvements in response times and in some cases may be worse than dialup. |
| What will the limits be, if any, for the size and speed on FTP downloads? |
As with any "pipe" and the medium being "pushed" through it, the limitations will vary depending upon the content type format used. |
| What is the latency of the connection? |
Like the speed and size issues related to FTP downloads, the latency issue varies but it is somewhat greater than in the direct connection environment. Latency is roughly 500-600ms.
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| Are any ports blocked? |
No. |
| Who provides the ISP service? |
WildBlue Internet is the ISP. |
| Is there a usage limit? |
No! unlike many of the ISPs, the WildBlue Internet system doesn't place limitations on usage. Your system is always on.
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| Does the WildBlue Internet system work in a Windows 95, NT environment? |
YES through a network connection but WildBlue will not provide support on it. |
| Does the WildBlue Internet system work in a mac environment? |
YES through a network connection to the computer..
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What is the largest dish size available?
I live in a remote area and was told I would need a larger size than the standard unit. |
At this time WildBlue Internet believes that the standard 0.65m antenna will perform properly in most populated areas of United States. However WildBlue Internet has also tested larger size dishes which should cover the most remote areas. |
| What video compression and transmission software does WildBlue Internet use? |
WildBlue Internet's software is proprietary and is designed to provide the maximum performance available. |
| Willd WildBlue work with my current cable/dsl router that I have connected by USB to my computer |
Some of the newer routers and cable/dsl modems have a USB port for connection. For the most part WildBlue uses only the RJ45 network connection |
| How fast will you be able to install my WildBlue Internet 2-Way High Speed Internet service once I purchase it? |
This will depend on the availability of a qualifiedinstaller in your area.
When you order your system, we will contact a qualified installer in your area to schedule the installation.
If no qualified installer is currently available in your area (according to our lists), we will try to locate one for you.
If we can not locate anyone qualified, we will have to consider special travel arrangements in order to perform your installation (this will add to your installation costs).
Note (1): If you are a qualified installer and if you would like to perform WildBlue Internet 2-Way High Speed internet installations, please contact us. |
| Why is a high speed satellite internet more expensive than residential cable or DSL? |
This is in part due to the fact that a satellite is much more expensive than a local cable or DSL hub and also because there are only a few dozen satellites over the North American skies, as opposed to tens of thousands of cable or DSL hubs in each city served by cable or DSL.
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| Will the subscription cost of WildBlue high speed internet via satellite always remain above the subscription cost of cable or DSL? |
The answer is yes, because cable or DSL will never be available in the middle of the desert, the prairies or even ice fields, while 2-way internet via satellite is available anywhere, anytime. This may not matter to you if you live in the city, but it matters a lot to anyone where internet access is limited! |
| Why is satellite television cheaper than cable television and why is it the opposite for internet via satellite? |
This is due to the fact that television and internet access are two completely different things:
- A single television signal, sent via satellite, can be received by an infinite number of users (within the coverage area of the satellite). As more people subscribe to that service, the cost per subscriber to transmit the signal goes down.
- An internet connection on the other hand, is only intended for one user. The cost of that particular connection (download or upload) can not be divided among multiple users.
- As an example, if only ten thousand users can log on to a given satellite at the same time, the cost of operating that satellite can only be divided by ten thousand. In the case of television broadcast, this limit would not exists.
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