For the Exede employees, is there any difference in the way the plans are prioritized during congestion periods regardless if the threshold has been hit , ie ., 2 users in same beam , will someone on liberty 12 , get any more priority over a unlimited user if neither have hit the data quota for their plans , do the the different plans have higher or lower priority levels ?
Posted 2 years ago
Stephen Rice, Champion
This stuff isn't rocket science people.
I'm on a Liberty 12 plan. The prioritization works great for me however I am on a plan that offers me speeds of 1 to 5 mpbs on the Liberty Pass. That means there is no priority to give me speeds beyond 5 mpbs. Yes, I do get speeds beyond 5 mpbs at times but it depends on what resources are available.
The time right now is 9:10 am and I am getting 6.8 mpbs on testmy.net.
Someone on an Unlimited Silver plan is paying for speeds of up to 25 mbps. This means they will be given more priority than someone like me on a slower plan. If they run the same test, at the same time, on the same beam their speed will be closer to 25 mpbs.
I'm on a Liberty 12 plan. The prioritization works great for me however I am on a plan that offers me speeds of 1 to 5 mpbs on the Liberty Pass. That means there is no priority to give me speeds beyond 5 mpbs. Yes, I do get speeds beyond 5 mpbs at times but it depends on what resources are available.
The time right now is 9:10 am and I am getting 6.8 mpbs on testmy.net.
Someone on an Unlimited Silver plan is paying for speeds of up to 25 mbps. This means they will be given more priority than someone like me on a slower plan. If they run the same test, at the same time, on the same beam their speed will be closer to 25 mpbs.
Not sure that's the case but that's what these two are trying to find out (I'm interested too in exactly what the difference in price buys). The real question being asked is does paying a higher price give you a distinct priority advantage during periods of congestion?
What you're saying is that the affluent can buy their way to happiness - not that theres anything wrong with that - after all "you can always buy more data" implying that's what they sell not priority services. Prioty has nohting to do with speed but rather the order in which your requests/responses are served during congested periods.
ViaSat could end all the debate/questions with a simple one word answer (yes or no). we're not asking for the code to the traffic shaping. If so, say so one way or the other - it just helps people to make a more informed plan decision.
At the same time, they could end all of the "optimization" debate by simply stating what's now becoming obvious - what are the speed thresholds applied to influence video streaming content providers to deliver at a lower quality. Knowing that would allow users to know exactly how to set the content provider's preference for those providers that don't implement adaptive streaming.
Sorry, bbwithdrawals I know i promised elsewhere not to muddy the waters further on this subtle question as noted, but with that I'll respect the qualifier on your original post... "For the Exede employees," in hopes that I may have clarified the question.
What you're saying is that the affluent can buy their way to happiness - not that theres anything wrong with that - after all "you can always buy more data" implying that's what they sell not priority services. Prioty has nohting to do with speed but rather the order in which your requests/responses are served during congested periods.
ViaSat could end all the debate/questions with a simple one word answer (yes or no). we're not asking for the code to the traffic shaping. If so, say so one way or the other - it just helps people to make a more informed plan decision.
At the same time, they could end all of the "optimization" debate by simply stating what's now becoming obvious - what are the speed thresholds applied to influence video streaming content providers to deliver at a lower quality. Knowing that would allow users to know exactly how to set the content provider's preference for those providers that don't implement adaptive streaming.
Sorry, bbwithdrawals I know i promised elsewhere not to muddy the waters further on this subtle question as noted, but with that I'll respect the qualifier on your original post... "For the Exede employees," in hopes that I may have clarified the question.
(Edited)
Brad, Viasat Employee
Stephen Rice, Champion
Do you mean the Liberty Pass has a hard cap on monthly data limits?
I might be shooting myself for admitting this, but I used 60 gb last month on a Liberty 12 plan. I seem to be on a very good beam and I'm a happy camper.
I might be shooting myself for admitting this, but I used 60 gb last month on a Liberty 12 plan. I seem to be on a very good beam and I'm a happy camper.
Brad, Viasat Employee
More of a "soft cap". People have gone WELL beyond that mark
Stephen Rice, Champion
And the soft cap is awesome. I don't mind slower speeds that are in the range of 1 to 5 mpbs. Those speeds are perfect for me. And I perfectly understand that it will slow down during prime time. I use the Playon software to download videos during the day so I can binge watch stuff at night during periods of conjestion.
Bev, Champion
Stephen Rice, Champion
People on unlimited plans are paying for speeds ranging from 12 to 30 mpbs.
I am on a Liberty 12 plan that only offers speeds up to 5 mpbs after using my priority data.
I'm not an Exede rep, but it would only make sense to me that someone on an unlimited plan would get higher priority than me on a Liberty 12 plan.
You are paying a premium for unlimited and faster service. I am simply paying to enjoy the crumbs that fall on the floor. The crumbs are good enough for me.
I am on a Liberty 12 plan that only offers speeds up to 5 mpbs after using my priority data.
I'm not an Exede rep, but it would only make sense to me that someone on an unlimited plan would get higher priority than me on a Liberty 12 plan.
You are paying a premium for unlimited and faster service. I am simply paying to enjoy the crumbs that fall on the floor. The crumbs are good enough for me.
Bev, Champion
Yes, after you use 12 GB, but, not before that, before you use 12 GB we get equal priority.
As Exede Brad said "I do not really know an answer to this..." - I'll take him at his word on that. There are actually several circumstances to be considered. Exede Brad covers a couple and he qualifies it with "I think". Sometimes the question is more difficult to phrase than the answer.
He's guessing too and he works for them and BBwithdrawls is looking for the "official answer" as he awaits the "official answer" to his rephrased question.
At least a consensus is slowly developing - not that opinions, assumprions and guesses matter and the difference between throttling and deprioritization is emerging for some ;) - even if guessing at the cumulative effects of each.
The definitive answer can only be surmised through the longer 5-page Network Management Policy document (and others) over at the legal page... those that know the real answers (the engineers implemented the traffic shaping algorithms aren't talking and won't be; they probably did the best they could with some nebulous specs from on high) - although I do think in some areas ViaSat does need to be a bit more specific about what we all actually get for price differential in plans.
FWIW, Liberty user's pay for more speed too (Boost 25 is optional for most 12 Mbps plans) - yet another permutation. Being capable of more speed and getting it are two different things altogether and if I pay for a Ferrari but get stuck in traffic behind a lower or even slower vehicle, well... I'm pretty sure there's some road rage involved.
Is this a lug wrench? Maybe... it sure looks like one but if you provide me with the source code I'll give you an answer in the form of a truth table.
He's guessing too and he works for them and BBwithdrawls is looking for the "official answer" as he awaits the "official answer" to his rephrased question.
At least a consensus is slowly developing - not that opinions, assumprions and guesses matter and the difference between throttling and deprioritization is emerging for some ;) - even if guessing at the cumulative effects of each.
The definitive answer can only be surmised through the longer 5-page Network Management Policy document (and others) over at the legal page... those that know the real answers (the engineers implemented the traffic shaping algorithms aren't talking and won't be; they probably did the best they could with some nebulous specs from on high) - although I do think in some areas ViaSat does need to be a bit more specific about what we all actually get for price differential in plans.
FWIW, Liberty user's pay for more speed too (Boost 25 is optional for most 12 Mbps plans) - yet another permutation. Being capable of more speed and getting it are two different things altogether and if I pay for a Ferrari but get stuck in traffic behind a lower or even slower vehicle, well... I'm pretty sure there's some road rage involved.
Is this a lug wrench? Maybe... it sure looks like one but if you provide me with the source code I'll give you an answer in the form of a truth table.
(Edited)
Brad, Viasat Employee
If you haven't met the data caps you are all on the same priority...so go nuts! However speeds can fluctuate. A multitude of things can cause you to slow in that circumstance and that varies by beam. Some beams are going to be busier than others and as a result speeds may be like a roller coaster at times. During peak hours I think no beam is safe from varying speeds either. When it comes to pricing you're really paying for data since that's how plans are split with Exede. Speeds are really dependent on what modem you're on. Our Exede pre-Liberty Plan standard modems are all going to be up to 12mbps whereas the new wifi modems and the ones that come out with ViaSat 2 have the capability to go faster.
Of course the speed advertised is what you can expect a lot of the time of being UP TO but in our busier hours it may drop.
Of course the speed advertised is what you can expect a lot of the time of being UP TO but in our busier hours it may drop.
thank you
"When it comes to pricing you're really paying for data since that's how plans are split with Exede"
Not true, IMO. I have the Silver Unlimited plan, 150 Gb of data that I should be able to use, but can't because of unacceptably slow speeds. If the plans were based on how much data a person uses and Viasat charged by the Gb, that would be a fairer plan. Instead, they charge me $150 and I can only use 50-60 Gb per month. I understand the fact that everyone on a beam slows down the speed, but 250-700 kbps is unusable for the price I'm paying. Very disappointed. :(
GabeU, Champion
What Brad stated is correct. And this thread is two years old. If you're having an issue, I suggest sending ViaSat an email at viasatlistens@viasat.com .
She has the 150GB "unlimited" plan. That is just how that plan works now.
(Edited)
GabeU, Champion
She should have gotten the email about those plans, too.
I have contacted Viasat, by phone twice and through Viasatlistens. Neither mentioned to me that the plan I'm on has changed and this is the crappy service I'll get until I change my plan! Had to do some reading on this forum to find that part out.
I'm on 150GB plan too. Freedom Plan. I too suffer during mostly evening. 300-700Kbps. It's ridiculous we get punished regardless of data use all because we have more. $135 a month I am paying.
Change your plan or drop Viasat. Those are basically your options. They don't want people on the Freedom plan, so they changed the way the plan works to get people off it.
The hell too I will. I'll be dropping to a liberty plan if I did that. It's not my fault they chose to oversell it. They should be making it right. Not punishing us.
Liberty plan can actually be better. I didnt even have the option for it though so I dumped Viasat a few months ago and have got along just fine without it.
The plans in my area changed 35,45,65 GB at 12 Mbps for $100-$200 a month now. No longer is the 12GB $60 plan offered. Wonder if that is in response to the mass exodus to wireless through cell carriers in my area that could have relieved congestion. When I had Viasat 6 months ago it was so slow and unreliable I could not have used 65 GB of data if I tried.
(Edited)