About Lollipop

I appreciate the input and suggestions, but I beg to differ on a couple points:   I disagree that people would leave if ground-based (or viable cellular) service came to be.  There is always a cost, and sometimes being able to deal with "the devil you know" is easier.   So if the "product" (Hughesnet service) were set up to be such that people didn't feel they were being ripped off and angry in order to have what is fast becoming recognized as an important part of modern life (we'll leave that debatable value for another discussion, eh?) then they might opt to retain it.  I might, in fact, if it came to pass, since my property is down a very long lane, and is very secluded.  So regardless of the speed and reliability, or even a cheaper month to month cost, I would weigh the benefits of changing over very carefully before dropping HughesNet IF (big IF) the plans were tailored more to actual people and actual usage.   I had an 80GB cap on my DSL service in my last location.  What really rankled were the 1M upload speeds.  10M down, 1M up, 80GB cap, BUT .. with data rollover ... yeah .... so I never really had to worry, as my usage drops considerably in the summer, and then I could use the rollover (data I PAID for) in winter.  Other than the stupid slow upload speed, it worked well.  I was very happy with 10M download, and could actually stream Vimeo.  However, with what speedtest reports for me now, as 35M down, I cannot stream Vimeo.  So it's not a 1:1 comparison anyway.  The speed itself, due largely to latency, most likely, is another red herring.  Fast, yes, and I LOVE the faster upload!, but the speed test results are not "real world".   So usability is a thing, yeah.  There are times when the several seconds "wait time" rankles, but I get over that quickly.  I don't mind not being able to play games online (I'm not allowed to anyway, marital bliss being the primary factor) and since cellular service works here so well, I no longer have need for VOIP.  So it's "mostly" working for me.   I have the data of my usage.  I can look at my history.  So I know what I want, and how I want to use it.  But it seems like internet and cellular companies design their services to PREVENT people from customizing their accounts.  Yes, they do.  And they do it for one reason:  If people actually were able to avoid spending thier money in wasteful ways, they would not pay as much, and the subsidization of the "deadbeat" customers (yeah, those who pay attention, and curtail their spending) would not occur, and the company would not make enough money to pay for theri own expenses, much less make a profit.  I get that.     My usage usually is NOT just downloads.  I manage video on sites, and upload, and tag, etc.  A lot of my usage is not just upload/download, but actual activity, which requires me to be somewhat awake.  Like now.  (lay off the coffee, buddy)   But I am very very surprised that no-one else has thought of being able to control data tokens (on/off).  I've always wanted one, but never had one (original thought) ... so I'm a little bit complimented, but again, really surprised no-one has conceived of such a thing.     Speaking of tokens, you did not mention my comment regarding "satellite internet is limited" in that I stated I could buy a thousand 50GB tokens ... how is that limited?  I would like your thoughts on that, if you please.  (not being snarky ... I really think it is a DECISION to artificially limit the bandwidth, especially here in Alaska, where we share a time zone with ... um ... no-one ...  in order to maximise profit at the expense of customer's happy feelings).   I do like hearing that the company has ears though, and if a way could be found to allow for the use of data token control, there would be a lot more happy customers and perhaps the satellites would not become space junk so soon.   At least HN is light years better than Starband!!! (which I had 2002-2005, and I HATED them ... !)         ... View more

Sure, if it's limited, then how and why could I actually defeat that limitation by simply throwing money away on tokens?  There is no limit to the amount of tokens I could buy.   This is a very low population area.  There are fewer people in this entire state than many counties in the lower 48.   My suggestion, if implemented, would certainly help HughesNet NOT lose customers as soon as the "real" broadband this community is talking about (rural Alaska) becomes a reality.  No-one I know (or have ever talked to about it) WANTS satellite internet.  It's only a stopgap until either fiber/cable or even cellular internet (which we already have but it's slow due to limited reception).  That may change, and in fact, already is ...    But if HughesNet made tokens something we could control the use of, then maybe they would not have people dropping their service in droves as soon as the new company comes in.  Having customers routinely feeling ripped off is just not sustainable, is it?   If (when) ANY other option came to pass, we'd ditch the satellite "Lollipop" fast than I could dig it up out of the yard.  And mainly because of the cost to actual service ratio being so darn low.     I'd happily trade most of this "speed" for bandwidth.   The 50GB "Bonus" is a red herring.  I've yet to figure out how to use it, and my bedtime IS 2:00 am.   ... View more

There is not a larger package that supports what I do.  Read my post again, please.  Even the 50GB package is too small, and it costs too much.   I bought my $9 token, and got my plugin downloaded in a couple minutes, and now I'm frittering my bandwidth away using things that dont' require speed.   I want control over how I spend MY money.   Thanks.   ... View more