View Full Version : Beam 28 supposedly to be "shut down" to new users
kelton325
11-08-2005, 09:18 PM
I just found this message posted on my Co-op's website (http://www.southcentralpower.com/)
************************************************** ***
Important WildBlue Update
South Central has been informed by Wild Blue that beam 28, the Wild Blue that serves Ohio, will be shut down for new Wild Blue system activation on November 18. Customers currently receiving service will continue to receive service. We will not be able to hook up new customers after that date. Wild Blue has not informed us as to when new service activation will be possible. We will be attending a meeting soon to hear the details of this issue and will update our website when more information is available. We apologize for this delay, and will begin new installations as soon as we are allowed.
************************************************** ****
Glad I got installed last week, but this sounds a little scary
barney
11-08-2005, 09:33 PM
Superimpose the WB Frappr over the beam map. Extrapolate the numbers...says congestion problem to me.
-copyguy-
11-08-2005, 09:51 PM
This fits with what I was told by tech support last week that Beam 28 was oversold. ack! So umm...don't some of you beam 28'ers want to go to DWay or *band so I can have my wildblue goodness??? :D
barney
11-08-2005, 09:53 PM
Scary thing is, I've also read complaints on this board about 26 and 27. A big swatch.
bass_hunter
11-08-2005, 09:54 PM
I just found this message posted on my Co-op's website (http://www.southcentralpower.com/)
************************************************** ***
Important WildBlue Update
South Central has been informed by Wild Blue that beam 28, the Wild Blue that serves Ohio, will be shut down for new Wild Blue system activation on November 18. Customers currently receiving service will continue to receive service. We will not be able to hook up new customers after that date. Wild Blue has not informed us as to when new service activation will be possible. We will be attending a meeting soon to hear the details of this issue and will update our website when more information is available. We apologize for this delay, and will begin new installations as soon as we are allowed.
************************************************** ****
Glad I got installed last week, but this sounds a little scary
extreme south ohio is over lapped with beam 36. hopefully for me if beam 28 goes down i could still get service from 36. at least that is what the coop tech support tells me.
gee, how lucky!
at least they admit the problem. that is way more than direcway or starband would do. ;)
i also gotta say that uploads are not too important to me, it's the download speed i need and the download speed is just fine.
bottom line, i'll survive this just fine!
freightliner
11-08-2005, 11:30 PM
if we do the math ultimately all of the beams will be oversold - maybe with a couple of exceptions. sounds like the time to launch a second bird is drawing nigh ....
looking at the frappr map I think i will be ok for a while anyway :D
I hope we hear more about this.
With 13,000 customers on all beams at present, we were obviously all hoping that ka vs. ku would allow a heck of a lot more customers on a satellite than that... of course I have no idea how many customers are on beam 28 -- maybe wildblue intentionally shipped equipment to test-load a beam to see what it could support??? Sure doesn't seem like "everybody" is on beam 28 though...
barney
11-08-2005, 11:51 PM
I hope we hear more about this.
With 13,000 customers on all beams at present, we were obviously all hoping that ka vs. ku would allow a heck of a lot more customers on a satellite than that... of course I have no idea how many customers are on beam 28 -- maybe wildblue intentionally shipped equipment to test-load a beam to see what it could support??? Sure doesn't seem like "everybody" is on beam 28 though...
Extrapolate the numbers...as you can...we obviously have a small number of subs on the board, and even fewer Frapprs...but there seems to be a concentration in the East...Beam 28 is the whole upper Ohio valley...all of Ohio, eastern PA, SE NY, it's hard to figure out the whole thing from the beam map...but looks like high population density. I asked WB about this; beams are laid out based on "optimum geographic coverage"
We still need more Frapprs!
jlester
11-09-2005, 12:17 AM
This makes no sense. How can they be overloaded?
31 beams- 10,000 subs each beam= 310,000 maybe then.
barney
11-09-2005, 12:25 AM
This makes no sense. How can they be overloaded?
31 beams- 10,000 subs each beam= 310,000 maybe then.
Lumpy distribution...I expect beam 28 is a big lump...high population density in this region...lots of rural, but not a big empty space like out here...
davidjneff
11-09-2005, 12:41 AM
Well, at least the good news is they know the problem and are not signing up new subscribers. Many ISPs would not do that.
Launch that new satellite puppy!!!
barney
11-09-2005, 12:45 AM
Well, at least the good news is they know the problem and are not signing up new subscribers. Many ISPs would not do that.
Launch that new satellite puppy!!!
Hmmm....checking account may be overdrawn...
davidjneff
11-09-2005, 01:01 AM
Hmmm....checking account may be overdrawn...
Good point. WB is private isn't it? No SEC filings???
Maybe they will have a bake sale or cakewalk ....
barney
11-09-2005, 01:06 AM
Good point. WB is private isn't it? No SEC filings???
Maybe they will have a bake sale or cakewalk ....
What I said before...doesn't have the same degree of transparency as a publicly traded company...it's buried as an investment behind a bunch of companies, some public, some private...but believe me, backers of this thing are a bunch of cutthroats...if it doesn't fly, it'll be gone.
They did keep working at it since the year 2000 or 2001 until finally launching it this year. It's not as if they're just flipping a dime in the air.
barney
11-09-2005, 01:15 AM
They did keep working at it since the year 2000 or 2001 until finally launching it this year. It's not as if they're just flipping a dime in the air.
Good concept...they have to execute...apparent at this time that additional capital injections will be required:D
s012adh
11-09-2005, 05:35 AM
Does anyone know if there is a way to find out what beam you are assigned to for an install? I am near the Wilmington, OH area (zip code of 45177) and I know it'd be close whether or not I could get service by beam 36 vs. beam 28. I know a guy posted that he was from Williamsburg and was on beam 36 and I'm only 35 miles NE of that. I am scheduled to be installed this Friday (was supposed to be installed last Friday but the installer's equipment died on him) and am wondering if I should go ahead with the install (since it's before 11/18 and I still can be installed) if I'm on beam 28 or not? What's people's thoughts concerning this?
Hmm this will be interesting since I'm scheduled to be installed on the 16th. I'm not sure I really want WildBlue if the uploads are going to be horrid. :( Is it possible to direct another spot beam into the area affected?
Edit: Just ran my zip code through the WildBlue website...
We apologize, but due to overwhelming demand, we are not currently performing installations in your area. We hope to resume doing so in the coming months. Please register and we will inform you as soon as installations resume in your area.
The Zip Code you entered: 14006
Search Another Zip Code
s012adh
11-09-2005, 07:08 AM
I just looked at www.wildblue.com and noticed that my zip code of 45177 comes up with the message of not accepting any new installations at the time while a zip code adjacent to me (and less than 10 minutes from me) shows the list of available installers in the area. I wonder how specific the cutoff is for being on 1 beam vs. another beam...Is it possible for an installer to put me on beam 36 and if that doesn't work, put me on beam 28 or is it not that easy?
-copyguy-
11-09-2005, 07:20 AM
yup...beam 28 is definitely cut off. I get the same message for my SW New York zip. My parent's zip code (50 miles away) is still offering installations though...with the top dealer being the one that installed me.
I contacted my co-op. If this is true and there will be some frekin beaurocratic method of fixing it (i.e. never) than I will be cancelling my service and asking for some refunds - if they cannot deliver what I bought then I will be asking for my investment back aka lemon law.
I have had it with high tech crap - cell phones are a joke.....broadband internet access in the us is a disgrace... there are so many ripoffs it isnt funny...:mad: :mad: :mad:
randyvsatus
11-09-2005, 09:16 AM
...I have had it with high tech crap - cell phones are a joke.....broadband internet access in the us is a disgrace... there are so many ripoffs it isnt funny...:mad: :mad: :mad:
I understand they have lots of "free stuff" including broadband in France these days...but don't take your car with you :eek:
grohgreg
11-09-2005, 09:32 AM
Beam 28 is the whole upper Ohio valley...all of Ohio, eastern PA, SE NY, it's hard to figure out the whole thing from the beam map...but looks like high population density.
Don't know how far you can actually go with that population density logic. Consider first, that satellite internet is not generally targeted at significant population centers, primarily due to the existing and expanding availability of terrestrial broadband connections.
Second, I associate "population density" with cities - metropolitan areas. See the NRTC mission statement (http://www.nrtc.coop/us/main/about_nrtc/mission.html). The operative word is Rural.
I'll agree though, that it's a congestion thing - but am inclined to believe this is a server-related issue. Once WildBlue sizes the gateway server farm properly, I'm betting Beam 28 will start taking on new subscribers again.
//greg//
satguy
11-09-2005, 09:41 AM
I'll agree though, that it's a congestion thing - but am inclined to believe this is a server-related issue. Once WildBlue sizes the gateway server farm properly, I'm betting Beam 28 will start taking on new subscribers again.
//greg//
Given the current information, it is hard to believe this could be anything other than a server issue.
Briarhopper
11-09-2005, 10:25 AM
I'm not worried.
Give it time, after all, this isn't Direcway! lol! ;)
:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 161 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 kB)
Upload Speed is:: 20 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (server1)
Test Time:: Wed Nov 9 11:19:35 EST 2005
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 1039 Kbps about 1 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 127 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (server2)
Test Time:: Wed Nov 9 11:22:17 EST 2005
average ping @ yahoo.com = 604ms
outbreak
11-09-2005, 02:01 PM
****************WB BEAM INFO FOR BEAMS 27 & 28****************
A number of the Wildblue beams straddle the Canadian border and are shared
with Canuck subscribers of another Internet service (not Wildblue). As a
result of performance management issues Wildblue will be temporarily
suspending new installs in two specific beams (#27 and #28).
NRTC is aware of this and has informed all Members/ISPs within those two
beams that there will be a freeze on new installs for a limited period of
time.
If you have an Installer or representative from the Member/ISP querying
the situation please direct their questions/concerns to their NRTC
Contact.
WildBlue is NOT full just having Some Issues with the crossover.
davidjneff
11-09-2005, 02:02 PM
****************WB BEAM INFO FOR BEAMS 27 & 28****************
A number of the Wildblue beams straddle the Canadian border and are shared
with Canuck subscribers of another Internet service (not Wildblue). As a
result of performance management issues Wildblue will be temporarily
suspending new installs in two specific beams (#27 and #28).
NRTC is aware of this and has informed all Members/ISPs within those two
beams that there will be a freeze on new installs for a limited period of
time.
If you have an Installer or representative from the Member/ISP querying
the situation please direct their questions/concerns to their NRTC
Contact.
WildBlue is NOT full just having Some Issues with the crossover.
Darn Canadians! Shades of South Park the motion picture. Time for another war???
-copyguy-
11-09-2005, 02:10 PM
Darn Canadians! Shades of South Park the motion picture. Time for another war???
Hey Canada! Give me back my upload speed! :p
jmd1023
11-09-2005, 02:38 PM
Beam 28 is the whole upper Ohio valley...all of Ohio, eastern PA, SE NY, "
!
Eastern PA is Beam 29
randyvsatus
11-09-2005, 03:17 PM
...it's buried as an investment behind a bunch of companies, some public, some private...but believe me, backers of this thing are a bunch of cutthroats...if it doesn't fly, it'll be gone.
Not quite so fast there Barney :D They have dropped over $500 Million into this.....they won't pull up stakes that quick.....cutthroat or not. They could get bought out by a backer or a competitor (Dway maybe? :eek: :eek:...just kiddin), but they won't throw in the towel any time soon.
davidjneff
11-09-2005, 03:29 PM
Hey Canada! Give me back my upload speed! :p
Dawned on me that the Pacific Northwest beam 12 also overlaps into Canada!
Somebody up in Northern Washington wants to put up a HUGE wall to keep the bandwidth on our side of the border?
Well, it is a Canadian Satellite, but lets not worry about technicalities ...
Since service just is rolling out in our area though hopefully WB will have sorted out the problem before it happens to us.
barney
11-09-2005, 03:31 PM
Outbreak, thanks for the info. Now we can go back to speculating about other issues:D
barney
11-09-2005, 03:37 PM
Not quite so fast there Barney :D They have dropped over $500 Million into this.....they won't pull up stakes that quick.....cutthroat or not. They could get bought out by a backer or a competitor (Dway maybe? :eek: :eek:...just kiddin), but they won't throw in the towel any time soon.
Yeah, well, OK, maybe not next week. I'm sure there'll be some patience to get the kinks worked out, and keep the new subs coming. If so, maybe more $$$ coming at it from the backers. If not...hard to get excited about buying a $500M platform with a few tens of thousands of customers.
CelestialStorm
11-09-2005, 03:41 PM
Hopefully the downtime everyone is experiencing and problems of late, are as a result of load balancing that most probably needs to be done so that the best up and down speeds can be had as advertised. I'm sure it is just alot of growing pains.
randyvsatus
11-09-2005, 03:41 PM
...hard to get excited about buying a $500M platform with a few tens of thousands of customers.
Potential is right up, as News calls it, EchoLizzard's alley :D
grohgreg
11-09-2005, 04:06 PM
Hopefully the downtime everyone is experiencing and problems of late, are as a result of load balancing that most probably needs to be done so that the best up and down speeds can be had as advertised. I'm sure it is just alot of growing pains.
Don't believe load balancing as you know it will come into play with this spotbeam technology. With Ku-band, a couple dozen transponders share an antenna and a common footprint. With Anik/F2, each of the 45 Ka-band outroute transponders has it's own footprint. Subscribers within any given footprint simply don't have a transponder choice. And from what I hear, currently no frequency choice either.
Those 45 footprints are also at the top of the list of reasons why you're not going to see WB at any RV campgrounds in the near future.
//greg//
CelestialStorm
11-09-2005, 04:14 PM
Thanks for the excellent explanation of that Greg.
Yeah, well, OK, maybe not next week. I'm sure there'll be some patience to get the kinks worked out, and keep the new subs coming. If so, maybe more $$$ coming at it from the backers. If not...hard to get excited about buying a $500M platform with a few tens of thousands of customers.
The whole lanuch strategy of offering equipment so extremely cheaply compared to the rest of the market (and free installs through NRTC) seems to suggest that they have the money/confidence and are not worried about not being able to pay the bills for a few months at least ;)
nolangro
11-09-2005, 07:45 PM
this may be a pouplated area but wild blue has only just started to install in july and with only 13000 total subscribers and 45 beams do the math.
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