Maxwell Satellite has been at it a long time and has a good reputation. We have met them. The Pro plan is the way to go and what many, including ourselves, are on.

We did not buy from them, but they provide a similar service to others. Many of the mobile tripod dealers have moved to Starband only because of Hughes changes, but Maxwell is holding on.

I know people with Starband and they are fairly happy.  The dish and transmitter are similar in size but incompatible with Hughes.net, but the tripod adapter is compatible.  Starband will directly support tripod users with U.S. tech support as long as you have had the proper training from a Starband dealer.  A good Starband dealer is http://www.mobileinternetsatellite.com/, who are full-timers. They are in Yuma, AZ right now and should be able to answer more questions.  
The two systems both work quite well in the continental U.S. and have some Mexican and Canadian coverage.  If you get on the right satellite with Hughes.net you can be online in Alaska.  Starband limits your usage by the week while Hughes.net limits you by the day, the limits are the plan you pay for.  Each has many hours in the night where there is no limit so you can schedule downloads then or stay up and start them.
I know about Starband only through others so I could have details wrong.  I have been a Hughes.net tripod user since 2003, starting with the 4000 modem, then a 6000 and now a 7000s.   Tripod internet is not for most people since they can sometimes be tricky to set up and setup takes 15 to 30 minutes.  When satellite internet was the only real option more people would put up with the downsides.  Now most people should get a Datastorm automatic dish if they need satellite or live with the limits of datacards, tethered phones, and/or wi-fi availability.

I am a good student with a good memory and have learned much of what I know from others.  I try to be accurate but it is a moving target.  I do have a Verizon datacard and Cradlepoint router and use it when in trees, for overnights and as a second internet source other times. 

If you are looking at Wilson amps and antennas you might also look at the competition, http://www.maximumsignal.net/. I know Jack Mayer likes their stuff. I have Wilson equipment but bought it before I knew there was good competition.

This is what I said a few months ago here on the forum:
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How limited are you really going to be? There are no unlimited options once you cut the cord to the phone (DSL) or cable company. Most singles do not come near 5GB as long as they stay away from much video downloading. There are programs to monitor your usage available, but I don't use them so all I can do is point to one for Windows (Linux has it built-in in most distros and I don't know Macs):

DU Meter (a 30 day trial, well liked by others)

DU Meter is free for 30 days and $25 after that.  You should know how much you really use in 30 days. 

Satellite limits you to 200MB a day for $60/month or 375MB a day for $70/month with Hughes.net on a tripod. You can also get Hughes.net with an automated roof mounted Datastorm which is on the 375MB per month. There is also Starband for tripods with plans that limit you per week. Both Hughes.net and Starband have free periods in the middle of the night that do not count.  A tripod system with support and training (needed, you can't do this on your own) runs $1,200 to $1,800. A Datastorm automatic roof mount with a .74 meter dish runs about $5,000 installed. There are more expensive options that are less limiting, but they require dishes that cost over $12,000 and monthly rates higher than $200. If you want to be on all the time and travel into Canada or Mexico then satellite is your only choice.
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Your current broadband supplier might also have the information somewhere on the monthly bill, which might be online, or somewhere else associated with your user profile.  Ask them.

DU Meter needs to be installed on all of your computers so you can total the usage if you can't get the information from your broadband supplier. 

5GB is 5120MB in Verizon's terminology. 

flyone: For part timers the normal response is to get a cell phone that can be used as a modem, that way you can turn the internet service off and on by the day and not commit to a two year contract and $60/month. I will use Verizon for my examples since that is the one I know.

3Gstore.com has a list of phones that can also be hooked to a Cradlepoint router somewhere, call them and they will help. This is what Howard and Linda do when they stay where their roof mounted satellite internet is blocked.
If you get a non-smartphone from Verizon like our Motorola W755 and add a $20 (or less) USB cable you can add the feature of tethering for $50/month and it can be turned off and on on a daily basis with a phone call to Verizon and it will prorate (use for half the month and pay $25 extra). An aircard is $60/month. The phone will only handle calls or internet so if you get a call your internet will pause.
If you get a smartphone from Verizon, like a Blackberry or Droid, they charge $30/month extra for the life of the contract for the data plan on the phone and for the phones that can be officially tethered they charge $30/month more for tethering. No price break for smartphones over aircards. But the extra $30/month for tethering can be turned off by the day also. You can also get a Palm plus smartphone from Verizon that works like a wireless router for $40/month extra to share the connection via wifi for up to five devices (computers, iPod Touch). There is a program pdanet (search the internet) that will tether many smartphones that Verizon does not allow tethering on. Lots of people do it, but it does violate your agreement with Verizon.

Cheapest cost is a free phone without a data plan and a $20 cable to use with one computer at a time. I think you can still get such phones. Then $50/month prorated to your usage while on the road. More expensive is to add a Cradlepoint router that will share your cell phone as a wifi hotspot, the cheapest model is about $85 if you search for it.   Then you can add external antennas and amplifiers to get the cell phone (or aircard) to work in fringe areas, that can be $35 to $500 depending.

Of course here we are way off the topic of "looking into satellite internet".


-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 31st of March 2010 07:09:54 PM

Hey, no problem with wandering a bit off my original post.  If it prompted discussion and/or helped anyone else....that's great!