by Allen Teal

Created on: October 18, 2008

Having been a Direct TV subscriber for half a decade, I have a good feel for how this service measures up. Direct TV has an excellent customer service department. I have needed it more for my TiVo service than for internet help, but they are always helpful and available.

The satellite internet service is just as reliable as the television signal that I receive. I have found it to be excellent in quality. When using the internet service, it has one edge over the television service. Direct TV does not feel compelled to update the programming in the satellite modem every few weeks as they do for the television equipment. This is a nuisance that is not a problem for internet users. The easiest way to deal with a review of this type is just to list the good and the bad. These are basically the same as you will find with any satellite service provider.

A look at the good:

Direct TV satellite internet competes well with cable when comparing speed and accessibility. You can buy the service with a range of connection speeds. Even the slow ones are fast. Depending on what you buy, it may or may not beat cable or DSL. Satellite will always leave dial up in the dust.

Satellite internet service is always up and ready to go. You do not have to worry about tying up a phone line for the connection.

With Direct TV, you can use an internet phone service provider like Vonage without having to deal with the local phone provider. This should become a benefit on cost and service for everyone.

When you move, you can take the dish and modem with you and never have to deal with a service technician to set up your internet service in a new place. This means that if you can set up your dish to be portable, you could even take it with you on vacation and not be at the mercy of a WiFi service.

Now for the negatives:

Direct TV prefers to set your satellite dish on a permanent mounting. That is, it is only at your home location. Getting access to some of your home services can be more difficult when traveling.

Stormy weather affects Direct TV satellite internet service. Lightning and strong winds are the main culprits here. You need to keep your dish clean of too much snow and ice, also.

Direct TV internet service is not cheap. In fact, it is not Direct TV at all. It is Hughesnet. It can cost as much as 3 or 4 times more than a DSL. Frequently, it will cost more than cable service. This is even more true if you have a package plan on cable or phone service. Direct TV has not figured out how to put a package together to offer a bundled savings.

If you do not already own the dish and modem, you will have to pay a high price for it or sign at least a two-year contract with an expensive buyout clause. This means that you are proposing marriage to the Direct TV internet service when you sign up. You will be together for two years or pay the consequences unless you die.

In conclusion, if you are in an area that high speed service is unavailable any other way, Direct TV internet service can be a blessing. If you hate the cable and phone companies, you have an alternative for a fast internet connection without having to buy an expensive cup of coffee. Direct TV internet service is not for everyone, but it might be for you after you have investigated your options.

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