ViaSat Satellite Internet Service.......

[Axxe55]

Maybe we could hire out as consultants?

Edit: somewhat tempted to get a small chunk of copper 4x4x1 to use as a heat sink and keep this POS seeing as its all I have out here.

In some ways, the HomeFi device does work very well honestly. When just using it with the Roku and streaming on TV, there was very little buffering compared to the HughesNet internet. On the computer, it works decently.

But the customer service issues and pretty much being ignored when I decided I wanted a refund, was the deal breaker. I understand that things can have issues and need to be worked out. But customer service and how they deal with those issues is a huge deciding factor for me.

 

[Davetex]

Just a shot in the dark here..... If you're able to get a decent T-Mobile signal, the home internet package they offer is good. But I'm not out in the country, so I don't know if that helps.

 

[Darqhelmet]

SpaceX losing satellites.

A geomagnetic storm may have effectively destroyed 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites

Premature atmospheric reentry

www.theverge.com

 

[dmh]

Best information I can gather, it's not available yet, or at least here. From what little I have read, it's suppose to be pretty good. Better service and much faster speeds.

I get around 180 Mbps downloads on Starlink.

 

[Axxe55]

I get around 180 Mbps downloads on Starlink.

Not going to be available in my area until late 2023.

 

[FireInTheWire]

Starlink is showing an eta of the end of this year for us. I have eyes on it....

 

[Psssniper]

Still showing mid 2022 for Corsicana Starlink. The HomeFi experiment which was basically an 4G LTE cellular device was prone to over heating, poor support and getting billed even after you had cancelled, has been sent back.

 

[Axxe55]

Still showing mid 2022 for Corsicana Starlink. The HomeFi experiment which was basically an 4G LTE cellular device was prone to over heating, poor support and getting billed even after you had cancelled, has been sent back.

I kept mine!

 

[Psssniper]

What?? thought you were going to bail on them. Did you figure out a method for cooling it off?

 

[Axxe55]

What?? thought you were going to bail on them. Did you figure out a method for cooling it off?

I tried several times to get a refund, but all I got was crickets. And I'm not going to pay for two different internet sources, so the HomeFi is relegated to the scrap pile.

 

[Darqhelmet]

Still showing mid 2022 for Corsicana Starlink. The HomeFi experiment which was basically an 4G LTE cellular device was prone to over heating, poor support and getting billed even after you had cancelled, has been sent back.

Download the app and check your LoS to the constellation. It was unusable on my property.

 

[Psssniper]

I went after my refund by disputing the charges. They responded:

Hi Paul,

My name is Rianne, one of the Support Managers here in HomeFi. I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience and the experience you've had with us thus far. Please allow me to hop in and address the concerns you raised.

I saw that you originally requested for cancellation within 14 days upon your device delivery, which would warrant you a refund, and that our representative was not able to send you the return instructions. I do apologize for dropping the ball on our end and I'm attaching a prepaid return label that you can use to return the device.

Upon further checking, you were charged for the following orders:
Order 3918 - December 19, 2021
Order 5243 - January 19, 2021

We've received the dispute notice from your bank for order 3918 and we'll accept it accordingly so that the funds will be reverted back to your credit card as soon as possible. As for order 5243, I'll be issuing a refund for it upon returning the device.

Also, you weren't able to receive confirmation emails or any shipping information as the email address used upon placing the order is XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Our system is not able to automatically detect typographical errors on email addresses. However, if you wish to get copies of your order confirmation emails and sales receipts, please let me know and I'll resend it to your correct email address.

Let me know if you have further questions.


Best,
Rianne

 

[Axxe55]

This was the last email they sent me on Jan. 3rd.

Hi John, We weren’t able to renew your subscription due to an issue with your payment information. To continue enjoying HomeFi’s high-speed internet, please update your billing information. Update Billing Infromation​ Please click on your active subscription and click Update under Payment Method. A link to update your credit card information will be sent to your registered email address. Please make sure that your payment card details are up to date. It will be automatically retried in 1 day(s). If you have any questions, please contact us by replying to this email or text us at 650-459-3911. HomeFi

 

[Axxe55]

Decided to try something different. Just ordered Kinetic Internet by Windstream. $80 a month for unlimited fiber internet with a $50 hook-up fee. + taxes of course! No data caps, up to 3 mps upload speeds.

 

[Daley_G]

All things considered, that seems like great pricing. Hopefully you'll be happy with it - I look forward to your results.

 

[Axxe55]

All things considered, that seems like great pricing. Hopefully you'll be happy with it - I look forward to your results.

Will be updating this thread as the ongoing saga unfolds.

A lot of people live in very rural areas, and sometimes internet options are very limited. They are, I think getting better, but still for some, they are limited.

I have been fighting with getting decent internet for over seventeen years where I live. Our first internet system was basic dial-up and that was awful. You couldn't use the internet and the phone at the same time. Then we got DSL, while markedly much better, (when it worked) the provider as far as service and technical issues left much to be desired. Satellite internet was decent, but the data limits are troubling and small for the price paid. The internet hot-spot device was promising, and as detailed previously, did work, and could have been really good, had it actually worked as advertised. Pricing for the amount of data was very good.

So now we go in a different direction. I'll be keeping the HughesNet satellite for a back-up, just in case. I'll still be exploring other internet options as they become available in our area to see what works the best.

I know there are many others here on the forum that are in the same boat as myself with living in a rural area, and getting reliable internet is a huge issue for them as well.

 

[Darqhelmet]

Keep us in the loop

 

[Axxe55]

Always..

Keep us in the loop

Just got a confirmation text message to confirm that my appointment for installation is set for next Monday, Feb. 21st at between 9 and 11 in the morning.

 

[Kar98]

I went with T-Mobile Home 5G a couple of months back. $50/month all inclusive, no data caps, free gateway, blazing fast speeds.

 

[glenbo]

I went with T-Mobile Home 5G a couple of months back. $50/month all inclusive, no data caps, free gateway, blazing fast speeds.

Have you measured the speeds with a speed test? Their website says it is only about 1/3 the speed of our Xfinity DSL, which seems slow but tests at 517.5 Mbps just a few seconds ago.