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guice
1meg is your median average speed around here. Innovative DSL only goes 1meg. BBVI cap is 1.5megs (BBVI is also wireless DSL). Choice cap is 3meg. I don't know of any satellite options--satellite tends to be very high latency (very bad for gaming).

But one thing to be careful of, is what's supported where. BBVI has a very strict "direct line-of-sight" requirement to their tower, this includes lack of foliage. I was unable to get BBVI due to excessive trees, even though I'm practically facing a tower of theirs. Choice is very, very hit or miss. When it's a hit, speeds are super fast, and runs well (aside from higher latency -- it's WiMAX, high latency prone). When it's a miss, no method of jury-rigging will make it work. I was a miss.

That left me with Innovative. It works, and for the most part pretty well. It's not super fast (I'm at 1meg down), but gets the job done and gaming isn't too affected. The connection, in general, is stable -- even if it's too shaky for gaming, I can still use the general internet.

Outside of satellite, those are your options. Innovative may be the only "more-guaranteed" option, simply because they are the standard wired DSL, using your existing phone line. So, if you can get a phone line, you can get Innovative. The same can't be said for the other two.

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djacobh
Quice- you strike me as a gamer with your references to online gaming. Do you play xbox live at all and if so how does your connection fare there?I myself play it with mostly shooter games that need a good connection to succeed.

Thank you in advance for your input.

PS I will be on STJ near Mongoose Junction assuming this information is important based on the factors you mentioned.

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threestak
... and when it works, it works well, but when it doesn't work, it doesn't work at all... It drives me crazy.

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guice

It's with a 'G' by the way>

I play mostly online PC games, MMOs (WoW, Rift), and never really got into XBox online gaming. My ping ratings, to google, while on Innovative, can be vastly sporadic. Recently, I think there's something going on in the US -- a lot of fellow US gamers are having the same issues I'm having: really high-high latency and ping rating to the servers. We're talking averaging over 500ms! (sometimes a good 1k+ for and hour or so). And I'm not the only one. I've been unable to determine where the issue lies, but it's definitely not Innovative (pings to innovative / default gateway are good)... Sucks.

However, before all that (basically, before Irene -- I think that's causing a lot of after effects), I was averaging a 50s to 70s ping to Google, making online MMOs very playable, but probably still iffy on FPSs. However, FPS servers differ from MMOs servers, so you may get better ratings.

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djacobh

Alright cool, yea, Im not really getting my hopes up, I plan on buying a bunch of RPG's to keep me entertained on the rainy nights. Also, do you know who all delivers to STJ? I know Best Buy will because they use USPS but Amazon refuses due to the PO Box. Know of any others I could use for my video game (and I have to order a TV) needs?

Thanks

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East Ender

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threestak
... and when it works, it works well, but when it doesn't work, it doesn't work at all... It drives me crazy.

Ah, then you will fit right in Raj! My internet service is usually very, very nice. But then there are those days when it stops. You call them on Friday and they say no one can look at it 'til Monday. Ha, ha. I didn't want that stinky old internet anyway.

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xXxRUDExXx

I frequently play FPS games on PSN & XBox Live using my Innovative DSL connection. My pings are usually excellent (60-70ms to MIA test servers) other than peak usage times of 6-10PM. My Choice WiMAX connection can adequately be used for FPS games with borderline moderate latency (120-170ms to MIA test servers), once again except for peak usage times.

FYI, Amazon will ship to a P.O. Box. Some 3rd party suppliers that sell via Amazon may not, but Amazon itself will. Best Buy sometimes gets silly with shipping games & software to the V.I., citing export restrictions. WalMart.com is an OK source for games & software with decent delivery times via USPS Priority Mail. Finding a reputable seller on eBay, IMO, is a valuable source. Or, patronize the local FYE in the mall. They carry most PS3 & XBox 360 games & usually have them available on release day. You will pay a higher price, though with shipping it usually balances out, & having the game on release day may be worth it on occasion.

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djacobh
Ah my bad Guice

Alright cool, yea, Im not really getting my hopes up, I plan on buying a bunch of RPG's to keep me entertained on the rainy nights. Also, do you know who all delivers to STJ? I know Best Buy will because they use USPS but Amazon refuses due to the PO Box. Know of any others I could use for my video game (and I have to order a TV) needs?

Thanks

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djacobh
As for FYE, I am guessing that is on STT? So I def wouldnt be in for day of releases haha but I am glad to hear there is a videogame store on island for those games i want urgently

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djacobh
Guice-

How would I go about getting the PMB once I am there and how does it work?

Also, just to check I had been trying to use my works address as a shipping address for Amazon and it always says they cannot ship there because it is a PO Box? any Idea on how I would avoid having the po box part in the address? I DO know that it goes through Connections and that theyll hold the package but for some reason Amazon just refuses to acknowledge that it will send to that address.

Would I do like you say and just list Connections physical address as the mailing address ? (Instead of the Buddha place you use) And then they would put it in my box or hold it for me?

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Linda J
If you are talking about books, etc shipped directly from Amazon, I don't understand your problem. We've lived on STX for 8 years, always used a po box and I've had Amazon ship hundreds of things to the PO box with no problem.

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guice
Getting a private mailbox has to be done in person, btw. They are acting on behalf of the US Postal Services; there are restrictions, blah blah, to attend to.

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guice

Just wanted to know if there is no house-to-house mailbox system there. It's not a big deal, I'm just curious.

By the way, thank you for all your useful info. Even though I'm not asking some of these questions, I'm getting a lot of useful feedback!!!

Raj H.

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threestak
Just wanted to know if there is no house-to-house mailbox system there. It's not a big deal, I'm just curious.

By the way, thank you for all your useful info. Even though I'm not asking some of these questions, I'm getting a lot of useful feedback!!!

Raj H.