I use the Verizon air card, too. You can check with Verizon for a coverage map, but it is not necessarily up to date. Our area was not covered on the map, but we actually had coverage at home, and we have also done well along the Natchez Trace Parkway, fairly far from major population areas. I am sure there are remote places in the western states that do not have good coverage, but it's hard to beat the cost and convenience.
As other posters have noted, it is entirely possible to have a single dish to receive satellite internet and satellite TV - I have this setup. I use HughesNet for my internet and DirecTV for the TV service. I also have a Verizon air card.
The question you need to ask yourself is how important in internet connectivity to your daily life. For me, I must keep constant contact with my office, even when I'm off in the "boondocks". Thus, internet connectivity is a necessity for me. Also, I use Skype with my system for telephone connections, for the same reasons.
This equipment has allowed me to go wherever I want to go without concerns about internet and phone coverage.
Wayne Lee
Out West Somewhere
2007 36' Class A HR Endeavor | 2006 Hummer H3 Dinghy | DataStorm Satellite Internet
I know your asking about Satellite Internet, but I will put in my .02 on air card. We had Hughes Net at home before we sold the house.
Now that we are fulltime I am using a Aircard from Sprint with an external antenna. We travel doing trade shows All of the Midwest, south east and north east, we haven't gone west yet, so I can't comment on west. 80% of the places I've been my sprint connect has been faster than my Hughes Net ever was at home (and I was paying for the "Pro" level service). Setting in a parking lot in Ft. Worth, TX I was getting 2 meg download speeds with my sprint card. Deep in the sticks, I have always gotten a connect good enough for email, etc. (similar to dial up).
I drove from Corpus Christ, TX to St. Louis, MO and never lost my internet connection the entire trip.
1989 Elite Diesel Pusher
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Gillig Chassis
250HP Caterpillar 3208T
4 Speed Allison MT643
Xantrex Combi 458 2000 watt inverter/charger
HWH 400 Series BI-AXIS Computerized Leveling System
Dish 500 Sat with VueQube 2000
2007 Chevy HHR toad
sealbay wrote: Question is - is there a satellite system that anyone is aware of that will provide TV and internet programming at the same time??
Yep... here's what I use
It slices, it dices and even doubles as a Hot Dog cooker
But seriously, I use the F1 Datastorm mfg by Motosat for internet with the optional Bird on a Wire for Direct TV. The TV 'Bird' is the light gray thing sitting on it's perch on the left side (in the picture). With this system I park the RV, push a button and within about 5 min. I have both satellite internet and TV.
A new Datastorm installed runs between $4-5 grand. Used ones are available starting at about $2,000. A similar antenna and 'Bird' can also be used on a tripod, new for about $1,400 or used starting around $3-4 hundred.
Monthly costs for basic internet service is around $60 and you also need to subscribe to either Direct or Dish for the TV service.
What you see in the photo is just the antenna. Connected to the antenna is a modem for internt, which is included in the antenna price, and a receiver for satellite TV which you need to provide.
Greg
'96 Holiday Rambler Endeavor DP/'03 4wd tracker
Datastorm F1/D2/7000/on SatMx5 See where I am today
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