We bit and upgraded from our old Evolution 25mbps/20 Gig to a Choice 50mbps/100 gig plan offered via the loyal custmer email. It understandably cost more but totally increased our frustration level to the max. The reason we upgraded was primarily for speed and data, based on our usage. Our usage is limited primarily to emails and web browsing on two tablets and streaming Netflix on one smart TV. We are retired and Netfix is our major form of entertainment. No gaming, no Zoom, no working from home, no security cameras no spotify type plans etc. Our source of frustration is the speed fluctuations while we still have more than adequate data for the billing period. We are currently well under the data cap so there should be no issues with high speeddata. For last two days we have had major problems with buffering on Netflix making it unwatchable. The buffering is even worse than our old plan after exceeding our high speed cap at 20 gigs.
So, what I’ve witnessed with the Choice plan upgrade is the swap of equipment, i.e. modem/router where the internal router is disabled, adding the interface of an Aria 2210 router, different satellite dish and tria ( all installed by a Viasat tech. I’ve noticed
other customers who upgraded and were initially satisfied until the dreaded speed slowdown and diminished capacity occured. These speed issues especially with upgraded plans have been going on unresolved for months.
Whats the deal.
My theory is that the newer unlimited plans and equipment were engineered with the hope that the newest satellite, Americas 3, would accomodate more custmers and also provide better internet service. We all know that satellite failed, in August of this year, to deploy its antennae rendering it pretty much if not totally useless. So what are the repercussions of that to new and existing customers. Too much increased bandwidth traffic on too few satellites that cannot accommodate residential customers. I read recently that Viasats final determination of how to handle the Americas 3 satellite loss was to change their growth focus away from a redisidential service and to focus future endeavors on business and military business. I get that Viasat has suffered an immense monetary loss but seems that existing and new customers will pay the price by higher plan costs and diminished service.
I’m sure I am not the only customer who has gone on a tirade on this site. I didnt intend for that to happen, but the more I wrote the more frustrated and angry I got expecting no solution to my buffering issue…
I would not want your job, you are technicians who seemingly have an impossible task. Thanks for your ear.
