Don Bradner wrote:
> On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:26:35 GMT, David Spain <nospam@127.0.0.1>
> wrote:
>
>> I have an old 4000 modem. If I wanted to get it commissioned, could I buy
>> the additional brick that turns it into a 4020 and still get it
>> commissioned?
>
> That falls in the "maybe" grey area. I don't believe Direcway/Hughes
> ever had a direct plan for the 4020, and I'm reasonably sure you
> couldn't get anywhere with them. VARs could possibly have some billing
> IDs for business plans on the 4020, but they would activate with
> reluctance.
>
> The bandwidth cost of a 4020 (to Hughes or the VAR) is roughly three
> times what a 7000 runs.
>
> Since you can get a used 7000 pretty cheaply, and it will upload at
> 2-3 times the speed (downloads around the same) for less per month,
> why would you consider a 4020?

Because at first glance, since I already have the 4000 hardware, it would seem
on the surface to be easiest to try to upgrade to a 4020 since that would
appear to leverage the hardware I already have to the max. However, as you
note, the per month charges to run a 4020 through a VAR might eat up that
advantage in just a few months, depending upon the expense. It depends on how
cheap I could get a DW7000 I suppose. Granted the performance would be better
on a 7000.

The only way I'd consider satellite would be through some sort of business
plan or maybe an upgraded "pro" plan. Residential wouldn't make the grade.

Dave