Alternative to starlink

[atree]

I have to think this has been discussed somewhere on here, but can’t find. Are there any decent alternatives? Looking for something hopefully less expensive, and for sure not musky.


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[stuckathuntermtn]

How's Hughsnet nowadays?

[doebedoe]

Decent alternatives in what sense? In coverage, availability, and throughput? There's no competitors. There's a reason Starlink collection of satellites are seen as important in geopolitics.

[Ima gapper]

Hughsnet or viasat might be a viable alternative if you are not using a ton of data or don’t have a need for low latency. But I’m not sure you will save much money with either.
We recently switched from viasat to Starlink. I’m no musk fanboy but I could not be happier with the actual Starlink service. With viasat we were paying $120 a month for what was marketed as unlimited data but was actually throttled to unusable speeds at 150gb per month. That was enough at first but as the kids got older we were blowing through that in 20 days. We are now paying the same amount each month but with actually unlimited data. Speeds are great, we can steam multiple shows at the same time. Additionally with the viasat service Zoom was kind of shitty due to latency issues, not a noticeable problem with Starlink.



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[NBABUCKS1]

there is nothing at the moment and they are all trash.

i hate musk, but it absolutely blows away any competition. Buy the starlink and don't tell anyone.

In time hopefully amazon's solution comes to market, but starlink has an insane head start.

https://www.aboutamazon.com/what-we-...project-kuiper

[mcski]

With all the space junk floating up there now, it’s hard to believe the lack of competitive solutions

[Cruiser]

Hughes and viasat suck compared to starlink. Pricing sux. Speed sux. Hardware sux. Right now, is starlink or nothing as far as I'm concerned.

[Snow Dog]

It depends where you live. There are 5G solutions for home use (like Telus Smart Hub in Canada).

[adrenalated]

I'll piggyback on this thread.

Anyone used Verizon 5G Home Internet?

There are no wired options for internet where I live. Most people are boomers on line of sight wireless systems and those of us that need fast internet are on Starlink. Verizon 5G just became available. On my phone I get speeds/latency on 5G that are comparable if not better to Starlink, plus it's less than half the price, and I don't have to give money to Elon. Hopefully that hardware is also better which wouldn't take much because my experience with Starlink hardware is that it's hot garbage. I don't need the portability of Starlink. Anything I'm missing?

[atree]

Thanks all. That’s kinda what I thought. Those of you that use starlink, is it possible to activate/deactivate service depending on when you need it, or are you tied to an annual subscription?


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[SoVT Joey]

Two tin cans and string is an option


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[NBABUCKS1]

I'll piggyback on this thread.

Anyone used Verizon 5G Home Internet?

There are no wired options for internet where I live. Most people are boomers on line of sight wireless systems and those of us that need fast internet are on Starlink. Verizon 5G just became available. On my phone I get speeds/latency on 5G that are comparable if not better to Starlink, plus it's less than half the price, and I don't have to give money to Elon. Hopefully that hardware is also better which wouldn't take much because my experience with Starlink hardware is that it's hot garbage. I don't need the portability of Starlink. Anything I'm missing?

if you have service it'd be a no brainer to go vz 5g. But 5g usually doesn't have a signal that travels far so in the sticks i'd be shocked if you had 5g.

If you have cell as an alternative most companies usually provide a free trial? If it's cheaper, runs better or as well as starlink it's worth a shot.

In my case I'm by 3 cell phone towers and line of site in Wyoming

- vz - towers are over loaded in summer - ok in winter
- att -tower is literally 3/4 mile away direct line of sight - tried the cricket $50 100 gb plan - speeds were ass
- union wireless line of site plans - the phase array puts me in a dead zone (they also don't have a hot spot)

starlink is plug and play and ludacris speeds (300 mb/s) compared to the cell options and is 'unlimited' so I go with starlink.

[NBABUCKS1]

Thanks all. That’s kinda what I thought. Those of you that use starlink, is it possible to activate/deactivate service depending on when you need it, or are you tied to an annual subscription?


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yes you can cancel and reactivate residential ($120 month stationary single location)

you can pause roam ($150 month take anywhere)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/co..._subscription/

[atree]

yes you can cancel and reactivate residential ($120 month stationary single location)

you can pause roam ($150 month take anywhere)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/co..._subscription/

Thanks. Do you have to forfeit moral superiority over Tesla drivers when you own a starlink? Would really like to be able to continue looking down on those wankers.


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[NBABUCKS1]

Thanks. Do you have to forfeit moral superiority over Tesla drivers when you own a starlink? Would really like to be able to continue looking down on those wankers.


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yes and you must praise/fluff elon on twitter, i mean x

[TAFKALVS]

Been running starlink for 6mo, often get 150 - 200mbps download speed, latency that is comparable to rural fiber service. Can do video calls with no delay issue. Big fan so far.

[Buster Highmen]

I'll piggyback on this thread.

Anyone used Verizon 5G Home Internet?

There are no wired options for internet where I live. Most people are boomers on line of sight wireless systems and those of us that need fast internet are on Starlink. Verizon 5G just became available. On my phone I get speeds/latency on 5G that are comparable if not better to Starlink, plus it's less than half the price, and I don't have to give money to Elon. Hopefully that hardware is also better which wouldn't take much because my experience with Starlink hardware is that it's hot garbage. I don't need the portability of Starlink. Anything I'm missing?

Yeah, we do. Dumped Ziply DSL, which was shit and expensive and got a verizon 5g box.

We're about 2 miles from the nearest cell tower, but uploads and downloads have been great, much better than DSL in the range of 850-900 mbps where DSL was more like 150.

[El Chupacabra]

We had AT&T DSL for a long time, because it was all that was available at my house. Shitty speeds, even shittier service, expensive, data caps and overage charges, slow (6 mbps max speed download, Speedtest real speed maybe 4.5 on a good day).

Didn't want to give Elon any money, so went with local company Skyfiber, which is around Tahoe and Nevada rural areas. I don't know if they are in other states. It works based on a small dish shaped antenna pointed at a broadcasting antenna somewhere nearby - - for us, on top of Mt Rose ski area. Speeds have been very consistent. We only have the cheapest and slowest 25 mbps plan ($70/mo), but it's fine for two people and streaming TV, usual internet usage. If there's a problem, I call and get tech support located in Reno.

Totally satisfied with Skyfiber.

[mcski]

Any impact from snow? We have basically the same thing in SF but much cheaper and better speeds and have wondered if it would work up in Tahoe area if someone built it

[El Chupacabra]

Any impact from snow? We have basically the same thing in SF but much cheaper and better speeds and have wondered if it would work up in Tahoe area if someone built it

Skyfiber serves Tahoe. Call them, they're helpful, no pressure.

No snow issues, no wind issues. I expected both, but nothing. Our antenna dish is mounted in a big tree (we have Jeffrey and ponderosa pines), and they definitely sway in winter storms, but no problems.

[RShea]

If there are no cellular options- (T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon Home Internet, AT&T does not really have a competitive alternative unless you try their unlimited tablet plan) or local WISP (wireless ISP that typically use a tower and point to point antenna or similar to transmit their data), then Starlink is the way to go usually. Hughsnet and Viasat are absolutely not competitive with the Startlink setup. Usually similar price point and installation fees for their dish mounting and all.