JenniferandJosh
texas
Senior Member
Joined: 06/07/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
Wondering if we should invest in getting this? It sure would help us camp more considering my husband can do his work on the computer but needs to have internet.
If you have it, how reliable is it? I've heard horror stories of it going out a lot. I know it's double our current high speed internet services, but it would be worth it IF:
1. It was reliable
2. It would get us camping/ in the trailer more
Thoughts?
PS. Hoping this is in the right forum section!
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” -Jack Kerouac
|
1995brave
San Antonio, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 01/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
You normally need a landline telephone to send the information to the network. The satellite is used to receive the information (to your computer). The satellite system is not bi-directional.
|
sdianel
Tampa, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
We use Verizon Mi-Fi. They have VPN service. Don't know the cost but their regular internet service is secure. Not as fast as high speed at home but a close second.
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
Towing 2008 Chev Colorado 4x4
Semper Fi
|
2oldman
Wilson Creek WA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
1995brave wrote:..normally need a landline telephone to send the information to the network. The satellite system is not bi-directional. That may be true for some home setups, but certainly not the ones I see on the road.
Few people use sat internet anymore because it's expensive, clumsy, slow, and cell phone signals are almost everywhere and much easier to use.
JenniferandJosh wrote:
PS. Hoping this is in the right forum section! It should be in Tech, but it will probably be moved.
* This post was
edited 03/30/12 10:56am by 2oldman *
|
Phils
Paradise, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/23/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
We were on s-l-o-w dialup (26.4Kbs) for a couple of decades. I'd recently looked at sat internet and local microwave. I hadn't seen ANY good reviews of sat service, and the microwave was ready to dispatch someone to our home so I could learn which big trees I'd have to remove to get reception.
Then I found out about Verizon's Hotspot service. It's $50/month ($10 less than microwave, also less than satellite). We only have 3G (they say 4G is coming this spring) but even that is WONDERFUL!! After dialup, it's lightening fast. We have DSL at our office, and the hotspot is almost as good. We spent last weekend in a 4G area and it was ten times faster than our 3G.
Microwave isn't "portable", it'd only work at our home. Satellite IS portable, if you consider setting up and aiming the dish.
This hotspot is portable, the size of a credit card only thicker, and works anywhere Verizon has cell service... obviously slow when 3G isn't even available. It saved us from paying $12/day to the hotel last weekend for internet access.
We haven't yet taken it camping but know the service is available at our favorite spots because DW's smartphone worked.
Phil
'03 F250 7.3 deezle and '01 Komfort 27FS
Off the grid and outta sight at home
Go camping to have neighbors and amenities
|
|
|
rv2go
Fulltime (Knoxville, TN).... or someplace else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/26/2000
View Profile
|
I am happy to say that I have satellite internet and love it. Sure...There is an occasionally glitch, but name me one system that doesn't. The chief concern that I have going to a new CG is that I need an open view to the southern sky, the same as you need for a roof mounted TV antenna. I solve this by looking at a CG on Google Satellite maps, The Satellite Friendly website, or just ask when checking in. I have had my system for 6 years, and 2 months and have only once failed to get service and that was in a forest in Washington State among trees that you could not see the tops. When in remote locations, I have been known to share a internet connection with my neighbors. Just helping out.
Winnebago Journey
TN Lic. RV 2 GO
Jeep Cherokee 4x4
www.rv2go.us
I'm here #4335
Travel Photos
|
sh410
Northwest
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2007
View Profile
|
There two common sat internet providers for home use. Both have equal speed offerings at similar price points (can be expensive), and both suffer from latency because the data requests must be sent from your computer to the sat then down to a receiving station then to the server over the internet then back to the sending station then back to the satelite and finally back to your dish and to your computer. Usually a delay of 3-5 seconds. The dish setup is combersome and difficult to accomplish on a tripod. The typical download speed is 500kb/sec, 1.0MB/sec or 1.5MB/sec and the upload speed is 125kb/sec or 250kb/sec.
It is slower than most broadband services, but for those of us who have no other choice, it is better than dial-up by far.
DataStorm is another alternative for the RV'r, but I don't enough about it.
Campground WiFi can be unreliable.
If you have cell service at a campground, then cell providers can be OK
|
Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
After 6 years I've about given up on my Hughs/Datastorm/Motosat Sat Internet system. With cell coverage increasing it's going to be a thing of the past except for very remote areas. You can buy a used MotoSat automatic system for less than $1500 and pay from $60 to $90/month for service from Hughs. Yes, it works everywhere assuming a clear view of the southern sky and you can rig it to receive Sat TV from the same dish automatically.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
Where am I?
How I tow.
|
SWD
Land of Living Skies
Senior Member
Joined: 06/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
1995brave wrote:You normally need a landline telephone to send the information to the network. The satellite is used to receive the information (to your computer). The satellite system is not bi-directional.
Back in the late 90's we had a system like that but then the bi-directional systems arrived and we used that for almost 5 years. Then switched to wireless mobility and then to wi-max. Sat systems have a lag time which is OK so long as you dont intend to do any gaming.
|
Jim Cindy
Northcentral, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/24/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
We have Verizon MiFI. Ours is $50 a month for 5GB. You can get 10GB for $80. Used it on a 7 month trip around the country and it worked great. In you have Verizon cell, you have internet. We use campgound wifi when is free and actually works.
We frequently use an Ipad and a laptop at the same time. No problem with the MiFi. You suspend MiFi service when it is not needed.
PBH Portable Beach House
2008 GMC 2500HD Duramax Allison 
2009 Cameo 34CK3
MorRyde IS, Disc Brakes, G614's
PullRite Super Glide Hitch
Propane fueled Yamaha EF 2400is
|
|
|
