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Datastorm ...

Yahoo Message Number: 15628
We have a full T1 line at home, and cable modem at our house in FL.
My wife gets really cranky with the Nextel dial up speeds we get whe we travel, she is spoiled. Not me, I have whittled a complete chess set while waiting for this forum to load.

We need a Datastrom setup ...

For some reason, the idea of having some stranger saw a big hole in the roof of our brand new Affinity, and run wires around really bugs me. I know there are good installers and bad, but even going with someone you folks recommend leaves a large pucker factor.

Someone please make me feel better about this. If something can go wrong, it will, as evidenced by our latest Lazy Days adventure, so I hate going and looking for trouble.

I am very computer savy, so setting up another wireless network in the coach does not bother me ... but that big hole in my roof ... arrrrggggg.

Tell me things will be fine ...

Puckered John

2005 Affinity #6453

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15629
John:

I can appreciate your apprehension!
The hole in the roof really isn't that big and if done properly it is a no brainer. When I had mine installed I even had the guy put an extra hole for an external antenna for my Garmin GPS. This was all accomplished in June of 2003 with no problems to date.
I recommend you check out www.datastormusers.com It is an excellent information sharing group. There are quite few participants covering the full spectrum of technical abilities including installers who provide excellent advice. If you need a warm fuzzy these guys can provide it.
I have the older system utilizing the 4000 modems. Yours will most likely be the newer 6000 setup. I'm uncertain how familiar you are with the Datastorm/Direcway system, you will get good transfer rates that vary from time to time depending on the variables such as number of users online, weather, your location and your satellite. I say this because if you are used to a T1, this is a different animal. You may want to begin the wife preparations.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me.

Chuck Penque

03 Intrigue 11673

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15630
Quote from: John Keene
We have a full T1 line at home, and cable modem at our house in

FL.

Quote
My wife gets really cranky with the Nextel dial up speeds we get

whe

Quote
we travel, she is spoiled. Not me, I have whittled a complete

chess

Quote
set while waiting for this forum to load.

We need a Datastrom setup ...

For some reason, the idea of having some stranger saw a big hole

in

Quote
the roof of our brand new Affinity, and run wires around really

bugs

Quote
me. I know there are good installers and bad, but even going with > someone you folks recommend leaves a large pucker factor.

Someone please make me feel better about this. If something can

go

Quote
wrong, it will, as evidenced by our latest Lazy Days adventure, so

I

Quote
hate going and looking for trouble.

I am very computer savy, so setting up another wireless network in > the coach does not bother me ... but that big hole in my roof ...
arrrrggggg.

Tell me things will be fine ...

John,

I had one installed in my '04 Magna about a year ago. Cal Thorne in Junction City, OR installed mine and did a good job as far as I can tell. He installs lots of these on new CC's over at the factory, so he must be as good as installers get - or they wouldn't use him.

Glen

Magna #6362

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15665
John, It's really not that big a hole ! Compared to putting in a roof top air !!. Actually it's about a 1' hole for the cables. lots of little holes to hold the dish on.

Ron

Innovative CoachWorks Inc.
( DataStrom Certified)

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15672
John,

Have you concidered the ATT...now Cingular...Edge card? This card goes into a slot in the computer uses gprs network with edge technology. Speed varies, but I normally get at least twice dialup.
Can be as fast as 4 times dialup. The card is free with a contract and 80 dollars a month unlimited service. I believe you can try it free for a month to see if you like it. I have been able to connect just about everywhere we travel so far.
My husband and I fulltime and seriously concidered the Datastorm..but I also didnt like the idea of the big dish on the roof and all the wires etc. I feel technology is changing fast and these card via cell towers will be much faster in the near future and the technology to beat.

In the meantime I am happy as a clam, while my husband drives the coach I can surf the internet (cant do that with a datastorm) I am on everyday now and loving it.

I know there are a few other Edge card users in this group, maybe they can give you some input before you decide to drill that hole in your roof.

good luck on your decision,

Dawn Fine

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15673
Quote from: jeffefine
Well . . . we have both. The Edge Card is great! We use it constantly while traveling down the road. The speed varies, as said, but it is very acceptable most times. I, too, think this technology will advance and be the way for all of us to go in the future. Having said that, though, we also have the DataStorm.
Generally, the DataStorm is faster than the Edge Card (but not always). The big advantage is that when we are camped in remote areas where cell service is not available, we have internet service at a good speed. This doesn't happen often because we usually stay in RV parks in or near cities. Lots of the parks now have Wi-Fi, which is another option for about five bucks a day. This is usually the fastest of the technologies and sites are increasing everyday.

I don't really worry about the "hole" in the roof. A competent installer will pretty much ensure that the "hole" won't be a problem. I've had mine for over a year with no problems so far.

In summation, I like options, and both technologies give me my options. So far, the DataStorm has been all that was advertised -- I really like it. Likewise, the Edge Card has been maybe even more than advertised -- I really like it. The DataStorm also gives me DirecTV, which is another bonus for it. If the dish is up to receive DirecTV, we use it then for internet service, which is usually somewhat faster than the Edge Card (sometimes lots faster!). Come to think about it -- when we are in remote areas without TV reception from the antenna, or in RV parks without cable TV, our DirecTV tunes us in when others can't!

I say get both, if you can. As for "holes" and installations, I highly recommend Cal Thorne of Advanced Satellite in Junction City, Oregon. Guarantee RV can get you in touch with him if you are in that area and want a quality installation.

Glen Gieg
Magna 6362

Quote
John,

Have you concidered the ATT...now Cingular...Edge card? This card > goes into a slot in the computer uses gprs network with edge > technology. Speed varies, but I normally get at least twice

dialup.

Quote
Can be as fast as 4 times dialup. The card is free with a contract

and

Quote
80 dollars a month unlimited service. I believe you can try it free > for a month to see if you like it. I have been able to connect

just

Quote
about everywhere we travel so far.

My husband and I fulltime and seriously concidered the
Datastorm..but

Quote
I also didnt like the idea of the big dish on the roof and all the > wires etc. I feel technology is changing fast and these card via

cell

Quote
towers will be much faster in the near future and the technology to > beat.

In the meantime I am happy as a clam, while my husband drives the > coach I can surf the internet (cant do that with a datastorm) I

am

Quote
on everyday now and loving it.

I know there are a few other Edge card users in this group, maybe

they

Quote
can give you some input before you decide to drill that hole in

your

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15674
John, we also use the Edge Card. We concur with everything Dawn said. One of the best things is that we can be on the internet while driving down the highway. With technology changing we feel we could get out of the contract for $160 and move on to something better if the opportunity arises. There are a lot of happy Data Storm users as well as air card users. The good news is, you have choices. It comes down to which system fits your lifestyle best. Regards, the Hollicks 05 Affinity 6370

Re: Datastorm ...

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15741
Quote
Have you concidered the ATT...now Cingular...Edge card? This card > goes into a slot in the computer uses gprs network with edge > technology. Speed varies, but I normally get at least twice

dialup.

Our first Nextel setup was a Motorola IM100 ... a pc card like you are talking about. My wife also did the AOL instant messenger thing while driving thru metro areas. Lots of troubs with the software, but our Dashboard software and Nextel phones work better. I like the pc card much better but have not messed with it.

Packstream Gold is unlimited internet for about $60 a month but is 19.9K with compression (30-50K net thruput).

TMobile also offers a high speed option in limited areas.

Not sure Datastorm is the answer having read some posts about slow speeds at peak times.

Thanks to everyone for the info and assistance.

John and Terry
Durand, IL
Polk City, FL

2005 Affinity #6453