Updates

updated information.

On this page:

*Updated information
-
*Consumer protection links
-
*Software links

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Xplornet wireless: Motorola unit: Is the old network which is slowly being replaced with,

Xplornet wireless: 4G network. Non-motorola units. Newest network.


Lets also explain something here.
'Wireless' is terrestrial(ground) based Internet that is delivered via towers.
'Satellite' is from satellites.
4G is a fancy term done by the communications industry to make people think a higher number is better than a lower number. And guess what? 5G is coming out this year. Doesn't mean much, as it is only the next generation of hardware or software or firmware or looky shiny here my money for that pretty thingy.



Xplornet is listed with the actual satellite owners here, as Xplornet has only purchased Canadian capacity from those owners.


Low bandwidth capacity satellites:

Xplornet/Hughesnet KU band: Leased satellites(various ages and issues) using modem units of HN7000.
Hughesnet has slowly been removing users off of these satellites to the newer ones. As the leased KU satellites are more expensive per user.


Above low bandwidth but below medium bandwidth capacity satellites:

Xplornet/Telesat KA band: Satellite Anik F2(2004) , Anik F3(2007): is the older satellite network. Surfbeam Blue modems.


Medium bandwidth capacity satellite:

Xplornet/Hughesnet KA band: Satellite Spaceway3(2007). HN9000 modems.



High bandwidth capacity satellites:

Xplornet/Viasat KA band: Satellite Viasat 1(2011). Surfbeam Black modems.
http://www.satlaunch.net/2011/09/viasat-1-coveragefootprint-maps.html

Xplornet/Hughesnet  KA band: Satellite Echostar 17(2012). HN1000 modems.
http://www.satstar.net/satellites/echo17.html

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Hughesnet Echostar 17 and ViaSat 1 only cover high population areas. Generally the east and west coasts, some of the Prairies, leaving a gap in the mid-section of North America. The older KA band satellites will have their user numbers slowly reduced for added capacity and offering of higher speeds. Users would be transfered to the newer satellites based on coverage and the customers willingness to transfer. Hey new hardware and new contract of some term, oh crap.


People in the north of Canada? Yea, you are kinda screwed until someone comes up with another method to get you faster speeds and more bandwidth availability. Panic set in when the Anik F2 that serves you had a bad software update a year ago. Lots of ideas have been put forth but they take time and money so wait and wait and wait.

Next high capacity satellite sometime around maybe possibly 3 years from this posting. Those satellites hopefully will be full North America coverage. Until then, hopeful that there is no failures since there is no backups to them.
Anik F2 replacement around after 2020.


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People seem to be enjoying the newer systems(wireless and satellite). Your mileage may vary and please ensure your Rights are protected when dealing with all sorts of companies that tend to treat the subscribers(especially ones in a contract) as nothing more than a cash cow.


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Write a review of your service, good or bad, at DSLreports.
 https://secure.dslreports.com/reviewit

We love details in a review. Call for installation. Installation. How good the service was for the first two months. Any accidents where money left your bank account by some strange error, be it extra install fees or a computer glitch. How call support is. Oh yes, 'call support'. Please don't call it tech support. Many companies front line defense is people who read a script. Real 'tech support' is people who don't deal with customers unless needed due to major issues. Also known as 'escalating'.


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Ensure twice monthly that the monthly payments taken out of your bank account or credit card are valid withdrawals for the agreed amount.
?????Why you no check your money is being properly used?????


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Call support at companies is not your friend. They read a standard script. Some companies have better trained support agents. Anything technical may cause brain freeze to a support agent. Enjoy being hung-up on. Start all over again as the last agent left no notes on your account. Or the note says you were mean for stating your Rights and your refusing to be abused.


Sheeple run away when confronted by the dogs of call support.


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That contract you signed for a set term?
.....Any company.....
Validity of every portion may not be true.
Even the portion that says if part of it is invalid then the validity of the rest is not made invalid. 
Contract is very favorable to the company and unfavorable to the consumer.
Prices, package details,  are not supposed to change during term of contract. Changes by the company without explicit approval by the customer would result in contract being voided without penalty.
Oh you thought that it is no problem to get your monthly bandwidth usage chopped in half and still be under contract???  Company complains by saying that no monthly bandwidth was mentioned in the contract, but hey, screw you huh..
Need a faster package? Oh the company was so nice to allow you to get it changed without extending your contract. How sweet of them.

The only time a termination fee would be allowed for a change of contract terms during contract resulting in termination, would be a subsidized product(cell phone or bonus product) which would have a monthly pro-rated fee that would be reimbursed. A $300 product would be a $150 dollar pay out at half of a contract term.

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Arbitration is a very manipulative clause that a company puts in to discourage a customer from realizing that an arbitration clause is a fake.
You can sue.
You can sue.
Arbitrator should never be an employee of the company.
Why should you pay many dollars to an arbitrator for a resolution that is not proper for the situation.
Might as well get mugged.
Or burn your money and continue to suffer in silence.
Using the courts is your Right. You can get court costs on top of your settlement. Do not be afraid of the companies lawyers who keep waving a contract in your face that could be declared void.
You lightly poop yourself when the lawyers say they will charge you thousands of dollars for losing against their legalize. You claim 'monetary hardship' and lawyers lightly poop instead, as the Judge restricts costs. After all, you did have a valid case and are not a troll.
Oh you won? Nice. Lawyer didn't show up. Cost too much to even get a local lawyer. Or the lawyer showed up and you easily won.
Did you believe someone who said that the case had to be held near the home office somewhere in Canada? Your service is where you live, so is the court for that service dispute. Service not guaranteed.... Damn it!.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your service agreement said that "we don't guarantee service". Wow, you got a contract that says you have to pay money even when the service is either barely usable or completely dead.
??Signed a Contract?? Sure you did. Wink. wink. 'By using the service you are now in contract term that someone supposedly had you sign and....'. ?What contract?. What term is is is um, who put you in a 3 year contract anyways??? You agreed to $yadayada per month and an install fee of $yadayada, but no one ever mentioned contract term length. Damn you reading and comprehension skills!!!!
'By using the service, you are now abiding by terms of service'. ??!?!Whar terms of service??!?!?!?


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Do not be afraid of collection agencies. Oh noes, they called and said they will bankrupt you and ruin your credit history. Oh noes....
Why yes there are rules and legal protections from manipulative collection agents.
You can even make a few bucks when they repeatedly call your work and spew all sorts of 'private' information to your co-workers or boss about how you are a deadbeat, Or maybe they left a message on your answering machine or with your room-mate. Whoooppsy, privacy laws violated...


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Consumer protection agencies by Province:


Commissioner for complaints for telecommunications services:
http://www.ccts-cprst.ca/


Ontario ministry of consumer services:
http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/pages/default.aspx

Ontario ministry: Dealing with collection agencies:
http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Personal_Finance_Collection_Agency_Rights.aspx

Service Alberta: Consumer information:
http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/Consumer_Info.cfm

New Brunswick consumer laws:
 http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.200559.Consumer_Law__in_New_Brunswick_%28PLEIS%29.html

http://laws.gnb.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-18.1

British Columbia consumer protection:
http://consumerprotectionbc.ca/index.php

Saskatchewan consumer protection:
http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/cpb

Manitoba consumer protection:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo/

Quebec consumer protection:
http://www4.gouv.qc.ca/FR/Portail/Citoyens/Evenements/consommateur-renseignement-plainte/Pages/accueil.aspx

Newfoundland/Labrador consumer protection:
http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/consumer/

Nova Scotia consumer protection:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/access/individuals/consumer-awareness.asp

Prince Edward Island consumer protection act:
http://www.gov.pe.ca/jps/index.php3?number=1006678&lang=E

Yukon consumer protection:
http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/cp.html

These two are a bit sparse in data....
North West Territories consumer protection:
http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/?page_id=504

Nunavut consumer protection:
http://www.justice.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=CURRENT+CONSOLIDATIONS+OF+ACTS+AND+REGULATIONS&letter=C


Privacy Rights commissioner:
http://www.priv.gc.ca/index_e.asp


Ad Standards of Canada:
http://adstandards.com/en/
A problem with complaints made to the Ad Standards, is companies can avoid being named if they instantly correct the issue, which leads to a company looking like it never ever breaks any advertising rules.


All things Internet, general specifics of the law and the abuse from billionaires and their government servants that spew out against the people of the land every day.
Michael Geist:
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/


Open Media: things you won't see in the media that is owned by the Internet companies:
http://openmedia.ca/


DSLreports: Various news articles and many forums on all sorts of subjects.
https://secure.dslreports.com/


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As a generic bit of legalize, for when you sign a contract that is 99% in favor of the company and only 1% in your favor.
Contracts are to be mutual agreements that allow for both parties to be equal. But unfortunately many service contracts are written in a way to lock in the client for a set term with a large contract cancellation penalty and it punishes the client for the failures of service of the corporation.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/contract+of+adhesion
adhesion contract (contract of adhesion) n. a contract (often a signed form) so imbalanced in favor of one party over the other that there is a strong implication it was not freely bargained. Example: a rich landlord dealing with a poor tenant who has no choice and must accept all terms of a lease, no matter how restrictive or burdensome, since the tenant cannot afford to move. An adhesion contract can give the little guy the opportunity to claim in court that the contract with the big shot is invalid. This doctrine should be used and applied more often, but the same big guy-little guy inequity may apply in the ability to afford a trial or find and pay a resourceful lawyer. 


9) In most states, if a contract of adhesion (meaning a "take-it-or-leave-it" contract drafted by the more powerful party) would serve as an exculpatory clause (meaning a contract term that would deny the weaker party any effective means of vindicating its legal rights), then the contract (or at least the term that renders it exculpatory) is unconscionable.


Defined:
Hey, do you want a cheap internet install? Well sign this long term contract with a reduced install/setup fee, with still no guarantee of specified quality's of service for the contract term.
But hey, you could always stay on dialup and be a second class citizen. So take it or be a lesser human. 


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Software: some free, some with pay versions, some with trial versions on top of the free version:

Avast anti-virus:
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
In the settings: uncheck 'voice', otherwise when an alert happens and your speakers are loud, you will poop in shock at the noise.
uncheck: cloud based services. uncheck: community... if you want.

Comodo Firewall: installer has trial version of anti-virus, etc. you can choose to only install the firewall:
http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/


FoxIt PDF reader:
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

Malwarebytes:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/


SpyBot search and destroy(version 1.6):
http://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors16/
Perfect for those using Internet Explorer.


Firefox browser:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/


Thunderbird email client:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/


Firefox , Thunderbird extensions:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/


Opera browser:
http://www.opera.com/
Full version.
Please be aware that another version is the Opera 'mini browser' and it is done via a proxy server to compress your incoming data to deal with slower Internet speeds or bandwidth data caps. Any encrypted traffic that you do is not from client to website to client. The data stops at the proxy and is opened(not encrypted) for compression before being encrypted again. And is not recommended for secure encrypted communications.


Open office, Libre version:
https://www.libreoffice.org/
Should be able to open all or most types of document files along with saving in various file formats.


Google Gmail account without the extras of Google plus:
https://mail.google.com
After signing up for the account, go into your settings manager and delete the Google+ profile.
Gmail help section:
https://support.google.com/mail/?hl=en


Songbird online radio player:
http://getsongbird.com/desktop/
With menus of all sorts of online radio stations.



Two web camera programs:
http://www.ispyconnect.com/
Ispy has video recording capabilities but no remote monitoring without going through the makers website(free registration).

http://www.yawcam.com/
Yawcam takes still images and can be remotely monitored via its built in server. The web access portion of the program can be password protected or open.

To gain access to your Webcam without having to type in your possibly changing IP address:
http://www.no-ip.com/
A dynamic DNS service that your router or the companies software on the host computer will tell it what your IP address is. You can name your connection with a webname and point it at the particular port that your webcam is on.
A free service(log in once a month) or paid for.
If your IP address is not visible from the Internet to your machine, you will need a static IP address.


VLC media player:
http://www.videolan.org/
An alternative music and video player.


WiFi scanner:
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/
This program helps you to scan your local area for WiFi that may be interfering with your own signals. You need a wireless stick for your desktop if it does not have one and preferably a 6 foot long usb extension cable to get a clear signal. A laptop wireless can use it as is. There is also an app for Android.


Linux Mint operating system:
http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php
Linux.


Ubuntu operating system:
http://www.ubuntu.com/ 
Linux.


CPUid hardware monitor:
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
Used to view various monitoring sensors in your computer.


GIMP(gnu Image Manipulation program):
http://www.gimp.org/
Like photoshop but free.


Wireshark:
https://www.wireshark.org/
A tool to see what is happening on your Internet connection in terms of traffic. Study the help files for help to learn how to use it.


HDtune(free version 2.55):
http://www.hdtune.com/download.html
Help to determine future hardware failure of your hard drives. Note that the program will reset your power options when run(sleep time and require a password). You then change them back.


Oracle Virtual Machine:
https://www.virtualbox.org/
This program allows you to run another operating system inside of your operating system, in its own window. Useful for testing out alternate operating systems like the various incarnations of Linux. Recommended computer hardware would be a dual core CPU(2.4Ghz minimum) along with at least  4GB of ram. It shares your existing hardware so you don't want to run out of resources, otherwise a big crash may happen.

windows 8

For those of you on limited monthly bandwidth plans, Windows 8 may be a drain on your bandwidth limits.

Why?

The start screen has all those little live tiles.

Depending on how much bloat programs you got with your new computer, some of those tiles 'live update' via 'push notification'.

Why are they live?

Because people are stupid and no longer can go to a website via their browser to check for things like weather or news or the latest social media buzz.

Microsoft(plus your computers makers added tiles) decided to make the tiles update with those little pictures of stuff that is happening somewhere that is not in your home or office.

People are stupid and getting more stupid due to removing the thinking part of using a computer and making everything 'push a button'.

Why is Microsoft treating people like a baby?

Well life was so much simpler with your toy that you pushed a button and oh the excitement as the cheap piece of chewable plastic made a moo like a cow.

Supposedly you no longer shit your pants but thats what adult diapers are for.

Besides, your office workers will get upset when you constantly crap your pants and may discharge a fire extinguisher into your pants as a kind way of getting you to think again.



Microsoft has added a nifty small way to check for what program is using bandwidth.
Using the task manager, which you get to via right clicking over the clock section in your toolbar. Then you click start task manager. Then clicking resource monitor to get to see what programs or process is using bandwidth.


The drain from the live tiles may only be 50MB a month. As that is the minimum setting to avoid pricey bandwidth charges from your ISP who still needs a few more coins from you to top up the executives money bin.

Oh paper bills are preferable after the incident. But in order to get clean money and not your icky money, the ISP makes sure all your payments are direct withdrawals from your bank account.

Nice crisp bills, fresh off of the production line.

The ISP may occasionally need a 48 hour loan and may take a double payment from you at no charge to you at all.

Some customers are extra special and the ISP may take a loan every month for an undisclosed term.

Customer service agents love the swear-word tirade from the customer when the long term loan is finally noticed as the customer gets their credit card or check denied and a non-sufficient funds penalty comes from the bank or the establishment that doesn't like deadbeats.

You pose now for picture to be taken of you for the wall of shame in store.

Its not your fault that some company defrauded you and caused you to get your picture on the wall of shame, but you are weak minded and stupid for not fighting corporations abuse of their customers.



Other programs can also drain your bandwidth.
Then again if you only know how to click an icon to make something do something on your computer, you shouldn't be on the Internet.

Don't cry for you being called a derelict of society. Well not you, but maybe you over there...

You'd be amazed at how much it takes to get people to wake up and change their damn lives into something more than just pissing their pants while giggling at the pictures of people meals.

Look around at the injustices in this world.

You may think that no one has ever screwed you over, but ........................


If you can't recognize sarcasm in some of these sentences, get off the peoples Internet as we fart in your general direction.

a journey from dialup to satellite and then future

Interesting 5 part article on a tech writers journey from dial up in a rural area in New Mexico, to a faster data speed(600ms ping as a minimum and a 25GB cap) on the ViaSat 1 satellite connection.


http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57395500-1/bringing-broadband-to-the-boonies-the-odyssey-begins/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57401255-1/bringing-broadband-to-the-boonies-part-2-dsls-dark-side/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57405223-1/bringing-broadband-to-the-boonies-part-3-fibers-not-free/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57405731-1/in-rural-new-mexico-no-3g-for-me/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57406436-1/at-last-broadband-in-the-boonies-but-at-a-price/

On the last article, a comment from someone in Canada, who does not seem to realize that the new satellite(ViaSat1) that just got put up a couple of months ago is the same one he thinks was put up by Canada:

I believe Canada through up an internet satalite a couple of months ago with another one soon to follow. I don't like the cost or the cap. But it's sure worth inquiring. 7 MBS is fantastic .

The satellite the person is referring to is the ViaSat 1 of the ViaSat company. Number two to be launched is the Hughesnet Jupiter 1(also known as: SpaceWay 4/EchoStar 17). Even the Anik F2 and Anik F3 is owned by Telesat.
Xplornet only purchased the Canadian bandwidth capacity of the ViaSat 1 and the Hughesnet Jupiter 1 and does not own any satellites. It does seem to be a common misperception by Canadian tech reporters who do not realize who owns what. Even the Internet Fiber lines in the ground is owned by various companies who then rent capacity to other companies who are at the consumer ISP level. I do not know who owns the Canadian based NOC's/gateways for the new satellites, but as with the tech support for the backhaul portion of the satellite itself, is Hughesnet or Viasat would be the head support agents for major issues, along with load balancing.

*0*0*0*0*0*
Edit may 15 2012:::  I see that
http://www.xplornetsucks.com/
is back online.
*0*0*0*0*0*

why patents suck the life out of progress

The problem with some patents is there is only so many ways to do a specific thing.

Open source is far more desirable for the future of mankind.

Patents need to be resolved into a proper justification to be granted the patent. For to give out patents that are guaranteed to stomp out the competition, while the creator of the product strangles the marketplace for all eternity, is just a recipe for disaster.

For those that have seen how Apple and Samsung are busy filing lawsuits(link) all over the World against each other(Apple does not seem like open competition and is using 'vague patents for the look of a product' to get their wins over Samsung). Rich people sure love to pretend to bring exciting new products to consumers, while making sure the competition is eliminated to avoid competition.
Have some fun and actually question what that commercial on the TV is actually saying. Is the product truly being advertised as so much better than the competition? Or is the advertising kind of vague? Which leads to assumptions on what you are actually getting.
When a cell phone network claims massive speed and massive coverage: Is the massive speed only in the city? Can their cell phones roam onto another companies cell phone network?, Or do you lose signal until you get to the next city?
When a company gives a warranty for their product?, Is the warranty designed for short of what the expected life of the product is?
Does signing a longterm contract actually make sense?, Or is it better to go month to month? Or what can you get for a highly discounted rate by signing a contract?





ViaSat is suing Space Systems/Loral, for building the new Hughesnet 'Jupiter 1' to being so much like ViaSats 'ViaSat 1' in technology.

http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/120315-viasat-wont-block-loral-delivery-sat.html
Satellite broadband provider ViaSat Inc., which has sued(link) satellite builder Space Systems/Loral for patent infringement and breach of contract, will not seek a temporary injunction to stop Loral from delivering a broadband satellite in May to ViaSat’s biggest competitor.
ViaSat Chief Executive Mark D. Dankberg said the late arrival of ViaSat’s patents relating to satellite broadband systems have left the company with too little time to mount an effort to get a court order forbidding Loral from delivering the Jupiter-1/EchoStar 17 satellite to Hughes Network Systems.





Do you have an old computer? But no Windows operating system for it? Why not try Linux? Free, open source and will do most of the things that Windows can do.
But at this time, there is no support of desktop Linux by the Netflix video player site(html5 hopefully will resolve that one day, edit: but this particular news item shows the future is not very good, as it is pro-copyright B.S. lobbying crap: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/74929.html ). And yet another edit: Netflix says the lobbying is about other stuff and not about how to unlawfully invade the privacy of the consumer with all sorts of unlawful internet monitoring B.S. : http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120409/14562618435/no-netflix-has-not-formed-pro-sopa-superpac.shtml
"Instead, Netflix has engaged on other issues including network neutrality, bandwidth caps, usage based billing and reforming the Video Privacy Protection Act.”"Netflix's product can't get to the consumer if the consumers ISP is busy throttling the speed or mandating a tiny bandwidth cap in order to make a large profit on 'extra bandwidth purchases'.
Download size's of approximately 800MB(.8GB) or 1GB.
Linux Mint:
http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php
Ubuntu:
http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
A note for people still on dialup. Seems that part of the computing world has forgotten you. This post points out a flaw in Ubuntu: http://www.goodbyemicrosoft.net/news.php?item.697.4 Operating Systems on disc should always contain the code to make sure dialup works at install.
Distro Watch. Top ten Linux distributions.
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Please refer to each Linux products forums for details on using it. Use is fairly simple, but some people freak out when things are not where Windows had that thing that does that other thing that makes the user squeal with joy.

Alternative applications for avoiding that $60 piece of name brand software.
http://alternativeto.net/

Mozilla browser and email clients:
https://www.mozilla.org/

__________________________________________________

Windows 8 testing edition: valid until jan 15 2013: Windows 8 release preview. free download. Warning: Please do not install to the hard drive that you have a current operating system on(not even in a separate partition). As it could accidentally delete it and all those files.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview
Windows 8 ISO of consumer preview:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

there is also a 'product key' listed on the download page for the versions.

edit::::: Windows 8 'release preview' for early June release and then mid August for 'release to market preview' and then late October for windows 8 full version(pay). Tweaks of the OS continue(like elimination of 'Aero' in order to boost performance).

Virtual Box for Windows. Allows you to run another operating system on a virtual portion of your main systems disc, without the need to make a new partition or resize a partition.
The Linux operating systems have Virtual Box in their respective repositories(software packages).
https://www.virtualbox.org/


edit: and noting that the 'start' button will be gone in Windows 8, so have fun.
Lots of people hate that you can not just use the desktop without having to go initially through the 'Metro' interface. The Metro interface is designed for the world of tablets and not desktops. You can use desktop mode only(after accessing it via Metro), but it's a slightly more of a pain to navigate through the depths of the operating system without the start button(move mouse to corner and right click for lists).
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2017873245_nomura_on_windows_8_microsoft_will_not_be_adding_b.html

___________________________________________
Did your LCD/LED TV die? Or is the TV slow in booting and eventually comes to life after a few minutes? On the power board there is a few capacitors and if they have failed, you get no picture or sound. They can be replaced for $30, which is a few capacitors and a soldering iron with a small bit of solder. Much cheaper than a new TV or monitor. It is a quick fix and hopefully gives new life to the unit.
http://lcdalternatives.auctivacommerce.com/Default.aspx
edit: new link:  http://store.lcdalternatives.com/Default.aspx
If the back light in the TV died, you may get sound and no picture.

viasat 1 article video pics

A walk through on the components of the home users ViaSat1 service.
Your data mileage may vary.


http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/viasat-residential-satellite-broadband-internet-hands-on-video/

http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/01/how-viasats-exede-makes-satellite-broadband-not-suck.ars?


-----

viasat1 coverage map
 http://www.satlaunch.net/2011/09/viasat-1-coveragefootprint-maps.html


----

Plus a reminder of Hughesnet Jupiter 1 to be launched around mid 2012.
http://www.satbeams.com/satellites?id=2497


spot beam map for echostar 17
 http://www.satstar.net/satellites/echo17.html



New user terminals/gateways for Hughesnet Jupiter 1 tested. Launch of satellite possibly in April 2012. edit: June 2012 for launch.
https://secure.marketwatch.com/story/first-hughes-jupitertm-gateway-commissioned-and-delivering-high-speed-system-traffic-2012-02-01

DSLreports news article and forum discussion.
https://secure.dslreports.com/shownews/HughesNet-Prepping-20-Mbps-Service-118705

https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r26931353-Hughesnet-Generation-4

version 1 portable internet goes bye

Lets once again thank greed for removing an affordable choice for remote areas Internet. Call up Ottawa and your corrupt Canadian government and rake their ass's over the coals for moving Canada further into the grave of slow and expensive Internet choices. Better yet though, Stampede Ottawa and demand answers as to why the Canadian government allows crap like this to happen. And don't take" free market" for an answer. Lobbyists tell the government what to do(also known as 1%'ers). Former Telco and Cableco executives run the CRTC and are not 100% willing to put a stop to crappy service that is only excused by "up to" bull shit.

Rogers shutting down portable Internet(Inukshuk) as of march 2012. Will Bell possibly follow depending on whatever excuse to continue at customer affordable levels(a post in the dsl reports link says Bell also shutting down Inukshuk). Or since 1/2 their competition just disappeared, will prices go up while GB's of use per month go down?
A glimmer of hope is the newer rogers(and others) LTE network, bla freaking bla. Might as well put your rural home up for sale and move into the big city. If you can sell it that is. New buyers want 'high speed Internet' as a priority for a new home. Oh wait a minute... People want high speed Internet, plus a high cap on the monthly/daily/hourly bandwidth limit.

https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r26649253-Rogers-shutting-down-Portable-Internet-service

Another thread............
https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r26648806-Rogers-and-possibly-Bell-shutting-down-Portable-outdoor

http://www.digitalhome.ca/2011/12/rogers-shutting-down-portable-internet-service-and-moving-users-to-more-expensive-3g-service/
In a letter to customers this week, Rogers has announced it will be discontinuing its Portable Internet service on March 1, 2012.


Might as well add the instant media sound bite from those Billionaires that like taking your money and then flinging poo back at the consumers in reply: "Shutting down of the Inukshuk system will obviously be blamed on aging and failing hardware at the towers".
So why no maintenance and upgrades to keep system in good working order for years? Consumers get f*cked hard up the anus again.


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Xplornets new satellite plans for the new ViaSat1 of ViaSats that should be up and running for consumer use by February.
http://www.xplornet.com/SatPlans.aspx

ViaSat1 satellite coverage. Well at least the map shows more coverage in Canada than earlier data, now just need enough people to get off of the Anik F2 and move to the ViaSat1 in order to free up some bandwidth for the Anik F2.. Edit: Is the Prairies coverage the upgraded spot beams on the older Anik F2? Apparently viasat1 does cover you along with spotty echostar17 coverage. You need to be aware of what satellite you are being put on, for your own technical support. National coverage map of viasat1 and echostar17. http://www.xplornet.com/media/2587490/national-canada-map-test.jpg
http://www.xplornet.com/4GSatCoverage.aspx
Eastern half of BC covered to far western Manitoba. Then southern Ontario to southern of east quebec. North west New Brunswick covered.

And how fast can you burn through that tiny consumer monthly limit at 5Mbps speeds? Well don't think that you can be YouTubing and NetFlixing to your hearts content. A 5Mbps speed can easily do over 100GB's per month. That is without filesharing at all.

U.S. spot beam maps....
http://highspeedinternetnow.com/wildblues-12-mbps-coverage-map

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A discussion on the new pricing of Wildblues data/speed packages. Some interesting things about how the AnikF2 speeds are going to be increased, but people possibly needing new hardware(modem/dish) to get those speeds.
https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r26644227-New-qData-Allowanceq-packages


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CRTC complaint page...
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/rapidsccm/register.asp?lang=e

Commissioner for complaints for telecommunications services.
http://www.ccts-cprst.ca/


Open Media
http://openmedia.ca/

http://openmedia.ca/blog/lobbyists-behind-warrantless-online-spying
Warrantless spying on all your Internet data. What a Republican thing to do by Canada's Republican Prime Minister(also known as George W. Bush's servant).
DPI(Deep packet inspection) can easily harvest all your unencrypted data to see what you are doing online, or just to harvest data to be resold for profit by the ISP(note disclaimers by the ISP of 'not selling personal data', which only leaves 'aggregated data'(called 'non-personal', but can be traced back to individuals)..

Internet censorship(Great Firewall of America and Canada) continues to be pushed by private companies that are failing due to antique business models.
https://secure.dslreports.com/shownews/Internet-Inventors-Warn-of-SOPA-Stupidity-117455


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A final note.... Ask your politician where the hell all that broadband build money went too. Whether government gave out money or whether the Internet provider said they spent billions, when they really only spent ???. Did the government give grant money to a big company, resulting in a quality small company being devastated or wiped out?


HTTPS: extension(add-on) for FireFox to encrypt your data streams, based on sites that have encryption. Notation of it will seem slow for satellite users and oversubscribed systems with high LAG. Notice some of the links in this post: encrypted links.
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere

FireFox web browser.
https://www.mozilla.org/

internet satellites and the future

Very important to have backup satellites for your Internet connection. As a new generation of higher speed(same lag) satellites get put up, you need a backup, that uses the same hardware at the user terminal.

https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r26302400-general-Tooway-KA-Band-Read-
The European "Too-Way" ViaSat1 user terminal should be the same as the North American terminals. A notation is about there being only one send and receive cable(instead of two). The European model also has a self install feature(maybe a hand held unit, along with a user interface in the modem) which would probably be not allowed in North America(government regulations against self install, but a user interface in the modem would be allowed for tweaking).


http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/111014-hughes-viasat-order-sats.html
Satellite broadband providers ViaSat and Hughes expect to purchase big Ka-band satellites within the next year to back up and expand their existing and soon-to-be-deployed capacity, the two companies’ chief executives said Oct. 13. Hughes’ priority for a second model of its Jupiter satellite now under construction appears to be to duplicate its North American success in Brazil, India or China. ViaSat’s expected order of a ViaSat 2 spacecraft would provide in-orbit backup for the company’s North American business


The interesting part in the article has to due with 'propitiatory hardware' or 'patents' and that's bullshit. Patents are destroying future innovation in the World. It's one thing to create a product and be given a certain short time frame for profit on that creation, but there are companies out there that are using very vague wording to prevent competition, via patents.

Even Apple is suing Samsung out of the Tablet markets, as the Apple tablet is black with a glass screen and the Samsung tablet is black with a glass screen. And so is every other Tablet as well. There are many products out there that the only difference is the makers brand name on the product. There are products that are 100% the same, except the maker sold labeling rights to a discounter of the product.


Dankberg said intellectual property rights over the ViaSat-2 satellite’s design will be a focus of the contract. ViaSat had voiced suspicions that Hughes’ Jupiter spacecraft bore too close a resemblance to ViaSat-1, which Dankberg said the company designed pretty much on its own.
“We feel like some of the IP [intellectual property] around our first satellite wasn’t protected as well as it should have been,” he said. “This time we’re going to do better.”
Space Systems/Loral, prime contractor for ViaSat-1 and Jupiter, strongly denied that it had taken ViaSat proprietary technology to build Jupiter.
Dankberg said that in addition to patents over high-throughput Ka-band satellites that ViaSat expects to register, the company will take extra care in structuring its ViaSat-2 contract to assure that no technology slips away.