Are they 1.5Mbps both ways?!? 

  I read an article recently about WildBlue - - stated they would also be using "shared bandwidth" which translates to be identical to how DirecWay purchases/sells bandwidth  , and they are also going to have a "FAP-type" policy . ..though they are claiming it will be a "generous threshold limit," which is what DirecWay promised as well. 

Overall, I am seeing WildBlue as little more than a 'copycat' to DirecWay ...to include the use of (at least) 2 of the same satellites (after all, there are only so many 'birds' up there with 'footprints' covering the desired areas where there are no alternatives (much), so with shared bandwidth "rationing"  they couldn't possibly offer a superior plan except on paper.  For your sake, I hope they are intelligible when they answer their phones!  

If it were I, I'd give them about 30-45 days or more to "prove" themselves before leaping from the frying pan into the fire ...so to speak, IMHO of course.

Cheers!

http://www.spaceandtech.com/digest/sd2000-25/sd2000-25-001.shtml

Yes, I understand that WildBlue and DirecWay will be 'independent', yet I am stating that they'll be sharing the same bandwidths, such as the new satellite being built by Hughes (as indicated in the provided link).  Anything Hughes sticks up there means they get a piece of it, and there you go ...DirecWay and WildBlue will be sharing bandwidth on the same birds.  (Don't forget that WildBlue used to known as iSky as well ...they're just changing their name for some of the same reasons that DirecPC became DirecWay).

That's all I was trying to point out.  WildBlue is NOT new ...in fact, they are older than Hughes, and so they have older satellites that can't handle the newer technology (except for TV programming which is why WildBlue offers DirecTV!  Aha!  So you see, there are things taking place in the background that are being (basically) hushed.

That's all I was trying to point out.  I don't care who uses who for an ISP!   

Cheers!

Final Entry:  As I was explaining to wmmc, The satellite Hughes built for Wild Blue (Horizon 1)  (( H1)) is now in service and at the moment being completely dominated by DirecWay to provide service to Hawaii, Alaska and parts of the West Coast of The USA.  However, the footprint of this satellite turned out to be triple what was expected, so now DirecWay is having users from as far East as Ohio repoint in order to use Horizon 1.  I am unsure if Wild Blue is operating yet or not, but by the 2nd Quarter of 2005 they are supposed to be (at least) providing service to the Eastern Seaboard of the USA ....and all from a dual-band satellite originally intended for "far West" usage only.  Horizon 1 carries both Ka and Ku capabilities, so in theory Wild Blue's usage should not affect DirecWay's usage.  Time will tell.

"The Reverend"