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Wade44

Ohio Farm Country

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Posted: 05/07/22 05:50am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Satellite internet IS THE FUTURE


Not really, companies such as the former Level3 and quite a few others spent over a decade and billions of dollars running fiber networks all over the US. I don't think you'll see anyone digging up or ripping things down off utility poles for awhile, if ever.


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philh

Belleville MI

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Posted: 05/07/22 06:37am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I use cell based routers. I also have a hot spot on my work cell, and personal cell. If all that fails, I can attempt to use park wifi.

At my permanent park model, I have a night hawk cell router. In the 5th wheel, I have the winegard cell router. Both give me fantastic speeds.

bsteinagel

Tucson

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Posted: 05/07/22 08:21am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Wow! Lots of good advice here and lots of responses. Lots to think about. Thank you!

bsteinagel

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Posted: 05/07/22 08:24am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

wires wrote:


I RV fulltime and work remote spending an average of 4 hours every day on Teams meetings. I also frequently need to send and receive very large files. I currently use Starlink along with cellular data as a backup. I use a Pepwave Max Transit router and it can be programmed to use the cell data in tandem or as a fallback if Starlink is down.

I've been running this configuration since December and have travelled from Nevada to Indiana. So far it has been rock solid and works as well as the hard-wired DSL in my former home.

I'd rate my Starlink connectivity 99 out of 100. Based on data from its configuration app and also from my router logs I average less than one minute of down time per day. The only time I've seen the connection drop from rain has been if it's a torrential downpour and then usually only for a very brief time. For normal-to-heavy rain I haven't observed any interruptions.

For 'normal' use I run my cell connection in a backup configuration. If Starlink has an issue my router will almost instantly changeover so a Teams call might hang for a few seconds then it's back online.

For 'important' calls (i.e. presenting to a large audience) I can set the router to run Starlink and cell in tandem. The data is split across both connections and if one drops packets you don't notice because the other path was still intact.

The router I use is also configurable for traffic routing. I have mine set up so that the TVs and Directv receiver can only use the Starlink connection. That way video streaming can only utilize the unlimited Starlink data. My cell data is reserved and can only be used by my PCs.

Before I received my Starlink setup I had the Pepwave router, but the model I have only supports a single cell connection at a time (with another carrier as a backup). Over an average day I would typically run into a couple of disconnects/reconnects which caused brief interruptions in my Teams calls.

Based on my experiences, if you need 100% rock solid connectivity for work I suggest a system which supports two simultaneous connections. You'll either need a cell router which supports two active cell connections, or Starlink into a router with a cell backup.

If you'd like to discuss hardware or configuration in more detail please feel free to PM me.


This sounds like a very intriguing option. I'm comfortable with technology so this is something that is doable for me.

bsteinagel

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Posted: 05/08/22 09:35am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

valhalla360 wrote:

If you will be stationary for 6months then stationary for 6months, a lot of parks, you can get a landline brought to the trailer. This is your best bet.

If you will be moving around, cellular is likely your best bet.

Big question is beyond reliability, how fast and how much data do you need? Just because you are on the computer all day doesn't necessarily mean you need a plan that is really fast or needs massive amounts of data.


I agree. I think reliability is more important than speed in this case. I think a land line is the best option if I'm stationary for extended periods. Seems to be the most reliable option.

Microlite Mike

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Posted: 05/08/22 10:47am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Satellite internet IS THE FUTURE and for some lucky individuals it is here now. It is not as reliable as a landline.



Perhaps the future for areas so remote there isn't even Cell Service.

Where I live the "Future" appears to be in 5G Home Internet as being marketed by T-Mobile (and others I guess). Far less expensive to install Cell Towers that can serve thousands than bury fiber optic lines or coax for "cable" systems. 35-115 mbps depending on plan ($30-$50/mo).

Satellite will still be the only option for those who like to live or camp in remote areas just like Sat Phones were the only option when Cell Service wasn't even available.

The "perfect system" will of course depend on what one's specific needs are. A long retired individual like me can get by with a Cell Phone Hotspot. Since I really don't need Internet at all times, and my travels often take me totally off-grid, I carry an InReach Mini for emergency communications.


"Knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is looking both directions anyway."


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LittleBill

Scranton, PA USA

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Posted: 05/08/22 11:30am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

wires wrote:


.

For 'normal' use I run my cell connection in a backup configuration. If Starlink has an issue my router will almost instantly changeover so a Teams call might hang for a few seconds then it's back online.

For 'important' calls (i.e. presenting to a large audience) I can set the router to run Starlink and cell in tandem. The data is split across both connections and if one drops packets you don't notice because the other path was still intact.




Sorry bud, I don't want get deep on this, but this doesn't work this way, backup works, (failover is not instant, it takes time for a connection to be determined to not be working)

tandem also does not work remotely that way. what your trying to describe is called bonding, which is required on both sides of the connection, data is not split for a single connection, its more of a round robin setup, where each connection gets a different path.

i would be surprised if your cell is barely being used at all.

i just don't want people to think your doing some kind of miracles with your router. your simply doing load balancing.





philh

Belleville MI

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Posted: 05/12/22 06:58pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If you "MUST" have internet, then you MUST have multiple source.

I have a cell based router #1
Work cell #2
Personal cell #3
Park Wifi #4

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