I am about to buy direcpc because I have no other options, I have seen no good recommendations for this but under circumstances I have no choice should I go for it?

The biggest problem is it STILL requires an analog modem and phone line to operate (you can only use the satellite to receive, not send). So, while it's fast for download it's not as convenient as DSL or Cable modem... and limited to modem speed for email sending, web site uploading, etc.

I use directpc and direct tv. It works great since I do not have DSL or cable modem access. The downloads scream and it has been very reliable. I have been satisfied. I needed an elongated dish, USB modem and was all set.

DirecPC works well and stable. There are some latency issues with outbound requests going via telephone, but if you are not deathmatching or things like that and just normal surfing and doing big downloads, it works great.

You may want to wait a while as Dishnet and Microsoft are teaming up to bring a better solution. My brother is currently testing and it is 600k each way I believe.

jeff

I would take a trip to the dirctpc forums on the news groups first and have a look at what others are saying first. There is also a web site out: http://www.direcpcsucks.com that has the feelings of different DPC customers. The largest complaint seems to be when you download a certain amount of files (nobody knows how much yet) your bandwidth is cut to a trikle. I would think that wanting DPC would mean that you want to download lots of "stuff". This is the ONLY reason why I won't go with DPC. The price of equipment is pretty low and I may also be able to use my exsisting equipment. But why bother if I can't download what I want, when I want. There is an alternative out now at: http://www.tdenney.com/
Lower price in the long term and they don't seem to care how much you download. The initial price of equipment seems a little steep though.
There are also two way high speed sat/internet service coming out next year. You then won't even need a phone line or isp. From what I read they are targeting people in areas that don't have cable or dsl access and people with dsl access that want to keep the speed at a lower monthly cost.
But I would, with out a doubt, think twice about DirecPC.

600k both ways? I don't think so. Unless the backchannel is a DSL link or cable modem. VSATs are hitting around the 300k mark for expensive models currently. And that requires transponder space for up and downlinking.
The push next year will be ATSC and sub-$250 receiver cards which require (guess) a simple $10 antenna to receive digital terrestrial signals.
I know this, I develop/work with/on this technology.

Here is a link to information on the Echostar/Gilat service due out later this year. One dish provides satellite forward and backward data links as well as the Dish Network A/V channels. They showed this on the Dish Network tech talk earlier this week. Prices are supposed to be comparable to cable modems. Time will tell.

[Link: gilat.com]

TD- I don't know that for a fact yet, because I haven't been over to my brothers to check it out, but it appears to be the one mentioned in dougw's link. They gave my brother a new sat dish, free Pentium3 computer and free access just to test it for them. I reply back here and give some real facts after I check it out.

Jeff

I've had a DirecDuo (DirecPC/DirecTV combo) working for about 2 mos. now and am pretty satisfied. I would prefer a cable or DSL connection but none are available in my area. I previously installed 2 DirecTV systems so was comfortable installing DirecPC myself.

However, dish alignment is super critical, much more so than DirecTV. It took me along time to align. As for downlink speed, mine usually runs 2-6 times faster
than my V90 modem did (120k+ bps-290k+ bps v. 49.9kbps)
so far. I got these speeds by logging onto Microsoft's site, URL: [Link: computingcentral.msn.com].

Incidentally this site will check cable/DSL T-1 connections.