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Internet access

Yahoo Message Number: 4953
Hi Everyone, We are wondering if anyone has installed a high speed cable modem in their coach? If you have one, does it work well, does it work on any cable tv line? Thanks for any input. Dale Affinity 6129

Re: Internet access

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4961
Hi, Dale

Just as at your home you can not just go out and buy a cable modem, bring it home, plug it in and have "high speed internet access" without subscribing to the service through your cable company, you would need the service to be available at the campground (in your name) for your modem to work.

There are a growing number of campgrounds that have set up cable or dsl connections at the campgrounds, then set up wireless networks in the park. You can, for a fee, log onto the network if you have a wireless card in your computer. If they had run network wire through the park, (cat5) you could hook up directly if you had a network card in your computer, you would not need a cable modem in either instance.

Bill Harris
03 Allure 30912

Re: Internet access

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4970
Dale,

If you're really looking for on the road internet access, there's another relatively new solution available with the new data services from Sprint and Verizon. With Sprint there are two ways to go: 1) use a 3G cell phone connected to your laptop (or PDA) or 2) get their special PCMIA card for the laptop that talks directly to Sprint's wireless network.

I chose to use the 3G cell phone and Sprint's PCS wireless data service to get to the internet, very similar to using a modem to connect a PC to the internet. I'm still running into bugs with the setup, but when it's working, I'm happy with the performance. It's about 2x the speed of a 56k baud land line connection for downlink and something slower than that for uplink. I'm using a Samsung N400 phone and Sprint PCS Vision data service. Normally, the phone itself provides Internet Access to a limited set of websites via WAP for the small screen on the phone. But with a data cable and PC SW from a company called FutureDial, you can make the phone direct the internet data stream to your laptop's USB port. This allows the wireless connection to provide normal access to the internet and any website as you would with a land line, cable modem, etc. to an ISP.

What's neat is that the internet access and data service costs only $10.00/month more than the cell phone service. The plan I have allows unlimited data, so I've dropped my old ISP and just use the Sprint connection. This service has been available for about 6 months or so.
Sprint is not encouraging the laptop connection anymore, as the service was really intended for the low data volumes expected when the endpoint is the cell phone's tiny screen and keypad. Therefore, Sprint user groups are asking their readers to "take it easy", lest Sprint curtail the service for everyone.

For more information, check out Futuredial.com and also sprintusers.com as well as Sprint's website. The FutureCom data cable and PC SW are available at Radio Shack stores.

Paul

'03 Magna 6239

Re: Internet access

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4957
DSL is provided by the phone company, through phone lines, you just cannot pull into a park and hook up.

Internet access

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14395
Internet access
Over $2000 for a portable satellite internet system is too much. My system for Starband did cost over $420.
Near as I remember it cost:
$40 roll of RG6 Coax.

$10 bag of twist on coax connectors.
$10 pocket knife & $12 wire cutter to prepare coax ends.
$5 pair of 4 port lightning arrestors for both ends of long coaxes.
$55 large survey tripod, delivered, ebay.
$7 adaptor between tripod & Starband dish, made of pipe, steel washers, bolt, nut & welding rod.
$349 Starband refurbished system delivered. It was all new, except possibly interior parts of modem.
$8 compass

$3 bubble level

End wrenches, 7/16, 1/2 & 9/16

Clear 3M Silicone grease to seal coax ends.
$20 TV satellite signal meter.

$1 tarp strap to hang weight on tripod if very windy.
2 hours study of pages from Starband training site.
1 hour on internet passing Starband test. Passing test made me a "certified Starband Installer", able to do first install without any hired installer or installation fee.
$70 monthly fee. The second year is $50 monthly. Downloads during busy last week of year from FTP sources ran about 70 K baud.
After 11 months of Starband service I have small enough investment to be comfortable with prospect of buying new for any reason.
Less than $500 will buy a 480 modem for much more speed & easy wireless networking. The monthly fee is higher. During the 11 months my system has been operating, Starband tech support has been good.

Re: Internet access

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14396
Hi Eric,

Could you please advise as to where the Starband might be purchased.
Looks like a great system.
Fred Kovol

Quote from: Eric Elliott"
[quote
uote] >]
Over $2000 for a portable satellite internet system is too much. My

system

Quote
for Starband did cost over $420.
Near as I remember it cost:
$40 roll of RG6 Coax.

$10 bag of twist on coax connectors.
$10 pocket knife & $12 wire cutter to prepare coax ends.
$5 pair of 4 port lightning arrestors for both ends of long coaxes.
$55 large survey tripod, delivered, ebay.
$7 adaptor between tripod & Starband dish, made of pipe, steel

washers,

Quote
bolt, nut & welding rod.
$349 Starband refurbished system delivered. It was all new, except

possibly

Quote
interior parts of modem.
$8 compass

$3 bubble level

End wrenches, 7/16, 1/2 & 9/16

Clear 3M Silicone grease to seal coax ends.
$20 TV satellite signal meter.

$1 tarp strap to hang weight on tripod if very windy.
2 hours study of pages from Starband training site.
1 hour on internet passing Starband test. Passing test made me a

"certified

Quote
Starband Installer", able to do first install without any hired

installer or

Quote
installation fee.

$70 monthly fee. The second year is $50 monthly. Downloads during

busy last

Quote
week of year from FTP sources ran about 70 K baud.

After 11 months of Starband service I have small enough investment

to be

Quote
comfortable with prospect of buying new for any reason.

Less than $500 will buy a 480 modem for much more speed & easy

wireless

Quote
networking. The monthly fee is higher. During the 11 months my

system has

Re: Internet access

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14397
Eric,

What is your average setup time?

I have seen some people struggle with it.
I assume you'll get better at setting up a tripod satellite dish with experience and good tools.

If you're staying at places longer, and you don't care about accessing the internet on shorter stops (for lunch, etc), the tripod setup is a good alternative to the datastorm system I use.
I bought mine 2 years ago when it was around $7K. Today, I think you can get it installed at about half that price -:(
To me it's a big plus that I the system is usually fully up in about 5 minutes, and I am online to check email, read news and check stocks, etc.
A benefit of the tripod is that once you're in a tree-studded campground, you can move the tripod, rather than the motorhome to get a clear view of the southern sky.

Still costing $99 a month. Ground Control (the ISP) now gives you a month "free" if you pay for a year ahead. I didn't go for it, as it could well be that they know someone may be coming out with a system with somewhat lower rates.