Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2018 13:53:11 +0000
From: “Cockrum, Danie”
Subject: Internet Satellite Options; other than HughesNet
My family is also bummed about the lack of internet choices in rural Chatham, but here’s my PSA (Public Service Announcement)…
If you’re considering HughesNet as a viable internet option, as a previous customer of HughesNet; believe me, this option isn’t at all what they advertise.
Reception vs. Bad Weather
Consider we live in “rural” Chatham, which for us means… trees! And lots of them! If you already have satellite for your TV services, remember what it’s like when the clouds are too thick or the rain too heavy? That weather effects your HughesNet service as well, if not worse so. Where I used to live, we had an unobstructed line-of-sight directly to the satellites (meaning there were absolutely no trees, brush, power lines, nothing, between us and the sky). On a perfectly clear day with mild temperatures we had a pretty decent signal, but it was never 100%. Too hot, too cold, even too windy on a cloudless day, all had adverse effects on the signal.
Let’s not forget the ice & snow. Conditions on some of our Winter/Spring days could go from scarves/shovels to shorts/sandals back to scarves/shovels again, right? If there’s ice or snow on your HughesNet receiver, you’ll have to go outside and clean that off (or carefully thaw it out), but be careful… that plastic breaks easily and isn’t covered under “normal wear & tear” replacement costs.
Customer Service
If the weather-related issues aren’t bad enough, try calling customer service. For new customers/installation, your call is answered almost immediately and always politely. Afterwards… well that’s a different story. Before you make that call, be prepared to be on hold.
People in China (where your call will probably be routed to) have no idea what the weather in rural Chatham County, NC, USA is like, so when you call, be prepared to be a meteorologist as well. If you’re lucky enough to have someone answer from the USA, they will first assume that you (1) have a degree in Information Technology Services, (2) have a clear satellite signal so you can email them the problem directly, and (3) if all else fails, they’ll ask you to shut down/restart both your computer & satellite. If you’re still having trouble connecting, then you have to request that they send someone out to your home, but keep in mind… better check the weather first before you schedule that!
Danie Cockrum
[New to the list & the Plainfield Church Neighborhood (6/2018)]