Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Exede service plans are available to me?
Within our service area, the service plans all have the same high speed 12Mbps download and 3Mbps upload service and vary only by data allowance:

Exede 12-10   10GB of data allowance a month.
Exede 12-15   15GB of data allowance a month.
Exede 12-25   25GB of data allowance a month.

2. So I get the same speed no matter which plan I buy?
Yes. We believe that you should not have to pay extra in order to get the highest speed we offer.  You buy the amount of data you need.

We even built a tool to help you estimate your monthly data usage. Click on the Exede Plan Selector Tool at the top of this page.

3. If I need more data allowance can I change my Exede service plan?
Yes. If you need more data allowance you can change your plan by simply calling our office during regular business hours. CTESC Internet Services subscribers can make a change to their plan, up or down, once every calendar month. Subscribers can also place their account on "Vacation Suspend" for a maximum of six months consecutive, at a reduced monthly charge. Vacation Suspend months do not count toward the 24 month term of the lease agreement.

4. How can you offer such fast speeds? Are the super fast services provided via a new satellite?
Yes. The rollout of Exede satellite Internet service is a major milestone in a process that began in 2008 when ViaSat started construction on its next-generation satellite system, representing the most significant capacity leap in the history of satellite technology. The system uses the breakthrough ViaSat-1 satellite that was launched in October 2011. ViaSat-1 has more capacity than the rest of the communications satellites over North America combined, and is designed to serve over a million subscribers.

5. What about latency?
To be honest, the effect of latency on satellite internet speeds has been exaggerated. Our satellites are in orbit a bit more than 22,000 miles above the Earth, but the speed of light is approximately 186,282 miles per second. The reason older versions of satellite Internet service were slow had more to do with the technology available at the time than latency.
 
That said, our new Exede service incorporates new, ground breaking web acceleration technology which dramatically speeds up page load times, minimizing the effect of latency. So in addition to the much higher speeds enabled by our high capacity satellite, you will experience a much snappier web browsing experience. The combination of ViaSat-1, our web acceleration technology, and all new home equipment make Exede Internet an incredibly enjoyable experience for our customers

6. What kind of new things can I do? Is the experience different than previous satellite Internet services?
We’re changing everything you think about broadband via satellite! With the new Exede service, you can now enjoy the full extent of what the Internet offers:
 •Watch streaming videos, TV shows and movies with fewer buffering delays
 •Better video chat with less jitter
 •Share more photos with friends and family
 •Download and stream music
 •Experience exceptionally fast web browsing and email
 •Connect multiple computers, smart phones, tablet devices and web-enabled TVs

7. Can I use VoIP on the Exede service?
Yep. VoIP (Voice over IP) services work fairly well on Exede. Since there are dozens of VoIP solutions out there, we can’t recommend a particular solution, but our customers have reported good results with many of the most well-known VoIP services, including Skype. We do recommend that you keep a landline or cell phone available in your home in the case you need to call 911 in an emergency.

8. Can I use VPN (virtual private network) on the Exede service?
Yes indeed. The new, much faster speeds available with Exede make VPN work much better than it has in the past on legacy satellite Internet services, including WildBlue. Please note: there are a myriad of VPN solutions out there, so we cannot guarantee that your particular flavor of VPN will work perfectly.

9. What about gaming with the Exede service?
There are some games that will not perform well over Exede, or any satellite Internet service. This is due to latency and the laws of physics, because the signal has to travel 22,000 miles up to the satellite and 22,000 miles down to Earth again. The types of games that will NOT work well are “fast twitch” or “first-person shooter” games like Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, Halo series, Xbox Live, etc.
 
The types of games that usually WILL work just fine are “turn-based” games (Farmville, Draw Something, Words With Friends, chess, backgammon, board game simulations, etc.) and many arcade-style games. Many people play these games on smart phones or tablet devices, which generally work great, too.
 
Here’s the rule of thumb: if the game requires you to shoot someone else before they shoot you, or something similar, it probably won’t work well on Exede. Most other games will be just fine.

10. What happens if I exceed my monthly data allowance?
If you use up your data allowance before your monthly reset date, your service will be slowed. On a monthly basis your usage will be reset to zero, at which point your speeds will be restored. If you find that you need more data than your plan allows, you can always upgrade to a higher data plan or "Buy More" data in 1GB increments. There is no charge to upgrade (or downgrade) your account between packages. A usage meter graph is available on the CTESC and Texas-Skies Rural Portal website, which can be accessed fom the top of this page.

11. What is “Buy More,” and why would I need it?
Many customers find that they occasionally need more data in a single month than comes with their Exede plan. "Buy More" gives you the flexibility to purchase more data in 1 GB increments when you need it, without having to upgrade to a higher data plan. You can buy 1-5 GBs in a single transaction for $9.95 per GB from the CTESC and Texas-Skies Rural Portal website, which can be accessed fom the top of this page.

IMPORTANT NOTE! The additional data purchased through "Buy More" expires when your data measurement cycle resets to zero every month.

12. How does Late Night Free Zone work?
100% FREE download and upload data usage from 12 midnight – 5 a.m. (local time) every night allowing you to take advantage of 5 hours of free Internet usage to download movies, games, music, and software updates. In addition, you can upload photo galleries, blog postings, videos, perform online backups, and a whole lot more. During this time period, the meter isn’t running, so your late night usage doesn’t count towards your monthly data allowance. If you have already used up your Data Allowance for the month, you can still use the Late Night Free Zone at the normal speed because speeds are restored each night.

13. What are my minimum computer system requirements to get Exede?
Most computers in use today will meet our minimum system requirements.
PC/ Windows: 300 MHz or faster processing speed, minimum 128 MB Random Access Memory (RAM), and Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems. At least 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required.
Macintosh: 300 MHz or faster processing speed, 128MB Random Access Memory (RAM), and OS 10.4 or higher operating system. 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required.

14. I’m a current WildBlue customer. Can I get the new Exede service?
Yes. As a valued current customer, we want to offer you an opportunity to upgrade to our new service. We are offering a $99 Upgrade Program for our current customers. The upgrade will require a brand new satellite dish and modem which will be installed and configured by a certified technician. Please call us at (830) 992-2240 so we can fill you in on all the details, including the $99 upgrade charge and other applicable fees.

15. What if I choose to stay with my current WildBlue service?
We remain dedicated to providing high quality service for customers who wish to continue their WildBlue service. In fact, we plan to begin implementing technology upgrades for our WildBlue customers later this year. Most importantly, you won’t have to do anything to get these benefits – they will be rolled out automatically as the new levels of service become available.
 
Even if you choose to remain on your existing WildBlue service, improving your service experience remains a priority for us.

16. Who is ViaSat?
ViaSat is the company that delivers both the existing WildBlue service and the new Exede service. ViaSat is an innovator and leader in the satellite industry, providing products and services for consumers, businesses, the U.S. military, and the U.S. government. For more information, please visit www.viasat.com.