Satellite Broadband

michaelg

michaelg

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Michael
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Hi all,

I've just moved house and seems will take two months for BT to have lines put in for phone and Internet (not even fibre-optic). As I work from home online and my nearest office is a bit of a trek, have been considering satellite broadband as a possible alternative. Has anyone else got this and if so how do they find it as it isn't cheap! It's cheaper than a second car however which might be our only other option.
 
From a relative who had it - it was slow to request a page - then whoosh - fast download once telephone line had sent request to satellite connected server. Satellite bit was only down - upload request was via telephone line. He gave up and used a 3G dongle till he moved!

Perhaps a "3" wifi dongle, or mifi device for multiple users, might be better for a couple of months? Can be bought contract free from many places.

Mel
 
it's useless, I didn't think you could still get it
 
admirable said:
it's useless, I didn't think you could still get it
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It's not if you live somewhere like the middle of Utah... Horses for courses.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys - think I will give the dongle a go. My phone is on Vodafone and the 3G is a bit temperamental here. Maybe 3 are better in my area so will maybe get one of them. I presume you pay as you go for the data then? Any one website that tells you which network has best coverage in your area as the individual networks I think are likely to exaggerate their coverage?
 
michaelg said:
. I presume you pay as you go for the data then? Any one website that tells you which network has best coverage in your area as the individual networks I think are likely to exaggerate their coverage?
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You can (could when I looked a few months ago) buy "3" prepaid 3G Sims with 3GB of data for about £12 from the rain forest. A "MyFi" device is good as several people can use it at the same time. Creates a local wifi network around itself. I have used mine on family holidays to keep up to 5 people happy where no free wifi is available.

Mel
 
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Mel_P said:
You can (could when I looked a few months ago) buy "3" prepaid 3G Sims with 3GB of data for about £12 from the rain forest. A "MyFi" device is good as several people can use it at the same time. Creates a local wifi network around itself. I have used mine on family holidays to keep up to 5 people happy where no free wifi is available.

Mel
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Thanks, Mel. Got a 4G my-fi with 3Gb data for £69 - hopefully can expense it to my work! If it saves me spending a fortune on petrol and the stress of a commute I suppose it's worth it ! What is rain forest?
 
Amazon! Used on web sites where competitors names can't be used - e.g. Overclockers!

Quite often cheaper to buy another Sim than top up an expired one. On holiday with 5 people using it got through 7GB of data in 8 days - greedy lot. Managed to buy 5GB for 20€.
 
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But I thought michaelg only wanted this as an interim measure till proper broadband was installed? That's why I suggested PAYG.
 
Mel_P said:
Amazon! Used on web sites where competitors names can't be used - e.g. Overclockers!

Quite often cheaper to buy another Sim than top up an expired one. On holiday with 5 people using it got through 7GB of data in 8 days - greedy lot. Managed to buy 5GB for 20€.
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Ahhhh, gotcha. Wanted to try it out before an back at work on the 5th to see if I could avoid a drive so bought it in the shop rather than online.

Seems to work with my phone ok but my work laptop doesn't seem to want to cooperate so might have to have the IT people allow the necessary things via Admin login.

So frustrating! 1st world problems!
 
Mel_P said:
But I thought michaelg only wanted this as an interim measure till proper broadband was installed? That's why I suggested PAYG.
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That's right, BT officials told me 16Jan but engineer I spoke to said could take two months. So don't want to subscribe to a year long contract as am hopeful BT can sort it before then!
 
Latency has always been the prob with satellite broadband, there are schools down here that run it as well as some residents as 3g/HSDPA is rare!

For web-browsing its workable, and audio/video applications now work fine as the tech has come along in recent years, the equipment is still expensive though so even in a PAYG scenario you'd be looking at a £300 outlay to get it running.

3G routers work fine, but 3G gets to be expensive should you require decent usage limits AND a static IP.
 
Another option could be to buy a Directional WiFi Antenna that will pick up signals from a few 100 metres around you (in built up areas). If you've already joined BT you will be able to log onto the FON network which has loads of access points all over the place (Map Here).

I have this system in my motorhome and it works brilliantly. I work from beaches, Bodmin Moor etc quite often using it. When I moved house I had to wait a couple of weeks before our lines were connected so moved the antenna to my main PC in the house. Worked great.

You can get a descent one for around £30-£40 that just plugs into your PC/Laptop via USB. If you have FON then you would have no further charges.

Of course once you have the antenna it's also great to take on holiday or use in the car when static.

EDIT - If you are interested in knowing a little more about these antenna's I wrote a piece on them on one of my sites here: http://myselfbuildcamper.co.uk/internet-access-motorhome/
(Hope this is okay to post - Sorry if against the rules (it's not a commercial site))
 
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Good news is that I should have BT installing ADSL on 22 Jan after all. Have been using 4G my-fi in the meantime which is pretty much as fast as my old broadband was although seem to be flying through the data! Will be expensing it thankfully!

Thanks to all for your helpful advice and suggestions! Much appreciated!
 
ecoleman said:
You will still need a phone line for the up link. Satellite only works for data coming down to you.
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You don't actually, satellite works both ways with most providers.
The latency problems the cost and the small allowances are enough to disregard it unless there is no other choice.
 
Zimmer said:
You don't actually, satellite works both ways with most providers.
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Well I didn't know that - didn't used to be but this is available now - cuts the latency a bit I expect. Set up costs a bit high though.
 
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