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Satellite Internet??

Yahoo Message Number: 22393
Hi all,

We're considering installing satellite internet service and using it in our coach and in our home (we live beyond cable & DSN).

What's everyone's thoughts on:
1. The best service provider, both quality and consistency?
2. The best place to have it installed?
3. The cost of installation?

4. The monthly service cost?

Thx,
Brian

Allure 30507
Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22399
If we could convince the folks at www.wildblue.com to figure out how to make it available for the mobile traveler, this sounds like an excellent option. However, they only consider home base installations.

Gave up on DirectWay - too many problems.

Mike

brian_a2mi wrote:

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22400
If we could convince the folks at www.wildblue.com to figure out how to make it available for the mobile traveler, this sounds like an excellent option. However, they only consider home base installations.

Gave up on DirectWay - too many problems.

Mike

brian_a2mi wrote:

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22401
Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Satellite Internet?? It is a catch 22 between MotoSat and Ground Control. All are dictated by Hughes, the rest seems to be politics. We have an internet satellite through Ground Control and we've updated to the D3/7000. Works quite well and since we stayed with GC, we signed a contract for another 18 months for a reduced rate if we didn't go over so much megabytes. We use email quite a bit and do some surfing, but don't download movies etc. so we do ok.
I've tried cell phones, Pocket Mail, old dial up, and the mobile satellite. All have their issues, but at least this is always with us. Just have to get out of trees. If all the parks would have reliable and cost effective WiFi, that would be great, but so far, that is not consistent either. Some folk use the cell phone card in the computer and have reported that it quite fast. But you have to be in a data area that has that signal, or it doesn't work either. Hard to choose, for they all say they're great, but each will have it's issues.
I do not know an installer in your area, we had ours done in northern Montana. As for monthly costs. We're at $59.95. And over all we've had pretty consistent usage. Storms will knock you off line, but we have not been kicked off for days unless there was something wrong with our unit itself.
Good luck, not an easy fix.
--
Sue

'05-42' Allure #31254

Sitting at CC using their WiFi.

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22402
We're considering installing satellite internet service and using it in our coach and in our home (we live beyond cable & DSN).
Go to www.datastormusers.com forum for both automatic and tripod systems What's everyone's thoughts on:
1. The best service provider, both quality and consistency? Best ISP with service after the sale is Motosat www.motosat.com for automatic. Ground Control is another, but customer service is reported to be less than stellar..
2. The best place to have it installed? My installer was Scott Whitney at www.dustyfoot.com Always there after the sale.
. Scott sells the Datastorm as well as he manufacturesTripod systems Another excellent installer is Bill Adams at www. InternetAnywhere.us He only does Datastorm units. In the forums section of datastormusers. com look at the people that post. There are some dealers that are very helpful. Go with one of them.
3. The cost of installation?

For the automatic...$5200-$5500 for a tripod system figure $1800
4. The monthly service cost?

$79.95

You can have a fixed dish at home and then move the modems to your motorhome and you have the best of both worlds. Or you set up a wireless network in the coach and then park your MH close to the house and you can receive the signal off your system in the rig...rather than having a separate fixed dish.
Good luck to you.

Dexter

http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1092

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22405
Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Satellite Internet?? Please - if you're considering Datastorm, don't fail to contact Bill and Janet Adams about installation. They are, without doubt, the #1 experts in the field.

Tom Sims

05 Magna #6479

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22406
Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Satellite Internet?? I've not been pleased with Motosat. It took over one year to get my Datastorm system up and running and I had to pay over $200 out of my pocket to finally get it working. Warranty coverage was bogus. The woman in charge of customer service and warranty claims is unreasonable, promises to call you back, etc and doesn't. Motosat, as an ISP has cheated me and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. When my current contract is out, you can be certain I'll be changing.
I would have no one but Bill and Janet Adams of Internet Anywhere install or work on my system. Period.

Tom Sims
05 Magna

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22407
We have found a good combination of stellite, internet and phone service. We use Verizon Cel phones and their computer install program that uses cel phones at normal rates. Free after 9:00 PM at night and weekends. This is about 28800 speed in most locations, not the high speed or expensive system they also offer. We have had Dish Network for many years and purchased a spare Dish 500 that we set up when we want TV. It is easier to find a spot that gives a good signal remotely than from a builtin unit on top of the coach. We have observed others moving their coaches only to find that trees block the signal from the limited area where they park and can not receive a good signal. A satellite finding meter makes it fairly easy to find the right one. With local TV and regular channels it costs about $34 a month. The cel phones run around $81 for two phones and 600 minutes anywhere in the country except a few locations that you have roaming charges. In 11 states in the West last year there were only a couple of locations we parked that did not have Verizon. The extra dish, tripod and meter cost less than $200. Good luck on your search. John 2002 Allure
#30702

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22411
Brian,

First I would like to thank Tom Sims for his kind comments about Janet and me. We were disappointed to hear that Tom had so many problems with his DataStorm, but we were very pleased to finally resolve his problems.

If you need a DataStorm installed on your coach as well as a system installed on your home we would be happy to help you with that. You can give me a call or drop by our website at www. InternetAnywhere.US and we would be happy to help you.

Quote from: brian_a2mi
Hi all,

We're considering installing satellite internet service and using

it

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22412
At my home location I use Direcway, no DSL or Cable service in our area. Service is ok, howerver expensive I use the Professional version 99.00 per month & the equptment was 999.00 installed . There are lower cost options.
I've noticed on our maiden voyage to Disney a number of Direcway systems setup on tripods, thinking this was a good idea and will follow up with Direcway next week, wondering what the costs are to add the extra equiptment to my acct while traveling.
I remember when the equiptment was installed the tech person used a metor to quickly find the signal which would be key for a quik easy setup while traveling. I'll be also setting up a wireless hub/firewall in the bay below with the power connections, this way I can use wireless access though my satellite connection. Also being the good neighbor I'am it would provide a wireless connection for others in close proximity
My profession is IT so can not live without high speed internet access, with this solution I can go anywhere and always be connected. My question will be to Direcway is can I add extra equiptment without setting up an additional account, paying another 99.00 per month would not be a good solution.
In my situation I cannot easily packup and take my home system while I travel it's pretty much permanently mounted to a pole incased in concert. I also access my IP cams (for security reasons) when we travel.

Mike & Allison
06 Inspire 51595

brian_a2mi wrote:

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22413
Bill by your comments I'm assumming your in the Satellite biz, with that assumption what are the costs for the equiptment, and service options as they relate to bandwidht.
Also using at my home and and while I travel I essentially need both systems running, would I need 2 accounts?

Mike

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22414
We have had a Datastorm mobile internet system in our Intrigue since we purchased it new in April of 04. We also have a fixed dish on our beach "casa" in San Felipe, Mexico. Since we travel extensively for the summer 6 months and are fairly remote in Mexico for the other 6 months, we absolutely could not be without the Datastorm. If you absolutely must have internet wherever you go, this is the only solution.
The best service provider in my opinion is Motosat in SLC, Utah. They manufacture the dish and have a great reputation for service.
When we move from the house to the coach we simply take the modem and plug it in to the other system. We have only one account with Motosat. In two full seasons of travel from Mexico and throughout the west, northwest, and Vancouver Island in Canada, we have only been without service 2 times due to trees.
Bandwidth is adequate for all but extreme graphcis work and speeds are typically 10-15 times faster than dialup for downloads, and the same to 1.5 times faster for upload.I have monitored the Datastorm users forum daily for two years and you are in good hands with Bill Adams. adios.

Dick B

04 Intrigue 11830

Quote from: Mike Robertson\[br\
] > > Bill by your comments I'm assumming your in the Satellite biz, with
that assumption what are the costs for the equiptment, and service options as they relate to bandwidht.

Quote
>

Also using at my home and and while I travel I essentially need
both systems running, would I need 2 accounts?

Quote
Mike

Bill Adams wrote:
 Brian,

First I would like to thank Tom Sims for his kind comments about > Janet and me. We were disappointed to hear that Tom had so many > problems with his DataStorm, but we were very pleased to finally > resolve his problems.

If you need a DataStorm installed on your coach as well as a system > installed on your home we would be happy to help you with that. You > can give me a call or drop by our website at www. InternetAnywhere.US > and we would be happy to help you.

[quote author=brian_a2mi"

>

> Hi all,
>

> We're considering installing satellite internet service and using > it

> in our coach and in our home (we live beyond cable & DSN).
>

> What's everyone's thoughts on: > >

> 1. The best service provider, both quality and consistency? > >

> 2. The best place to have it installed? > >

> 3. The cost of installation?
>

> 4. The monthly service cost?
>
>

> Thx,
> Brian

> Allure 30507
> Ann Arbor, MI
>

SPONSORED LINKS

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Automotive technician training Recreational vehicle financing Automotive equipment Recreational vehicles

Quote
>

Visit your group "Country-Coach-Owners" on the web.

">Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >

Quote
>

How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone

call rates.

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22425
Question?

Will a DataStorm work in the far North? in Alaska? Thanks.

Jim C., Hillsborough, NC
2003 MADP

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22430
Our Datastorm worked as far north as Dawson Creek, BC which is the start of the Alaskan Highway. We have the .74 dish. Some folks with .98 dishes have been connected all the way to Anchorage and some folks with .74 dishes have managed to access the internet from Homer but no further north. I wouldn't invest in the .98 dish just for a trip to Alaska unless your livelyhood depended on it. The cost about twice what the .74 dish costs. That said, many many parks in BC, Yukon, and Alaska have wireless internet available. We got an Earthlink subscripton for the 4 months we spent on the trip and only used it twice.
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Quote from: Cheryl Connelly\[br\
] >

Question?

Will a DataStorm work in the far North? in Alaska? > Thanks.

Jim C., Hillsborough, NC
 2003 MADP

Bill Adams wrote:
 Brian,

First I would like to thank Tom Sims for his kind comments about > Janet and me. We were disappointed to hear that Tom had so many > problems with his DataStorm, but we were very pleased to finally > resolve his problems.

If you need a DataStorm installed on your coach as well as a

system

Quote
installed on your home we would be happy to help you with that.

You

Quote
can give me a call or drop by our website at

www. InternetAnywhere.US

Quote
and we would be happy to help you.

[quote author=brian_a2mi"

>

> Hi all,
>

> We're considering installing satellite internet service and

using

Re: Satellite Internet??on

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22431
Hi Brian,

I might as well throw in my two cents. We've had a Datastorm system installed on our MH for several years. Right now, we'e the only camper in Tucson Meadows RV Park with Internet access, and this is not an uncommon situation when traveling. Alternatively, a former Tucson Meadows camper had a tri-pod mounted dish, which he manually positioned, and he paid DirecWay (now HughesNet) about $60 per month for broadband Internet access, while our ISP, Ground Control, charged us just under $100 per month for their services. We finally switched from Ground Control to MotoSat for several reasons that I won't go into here; that's another story.

We started out with a DW 4000 system, installed in NH by a Ground Control certified technician. The installation cost was close to $6,000. Not long after that, we had trouble with the system and upgraded to a DW 6000 system. When the DW 6000 failed less than a year later, Ground Control didn't have a replacement, so we ordered the DW 7000. We didn't know it at the time, but when the DW 7000 was commissioned, MotoSat (at the behest of Hughes) transferred us from the G4R(99W) satellite to the IA-8 (89W) satellite. We also didn't know that in order to make that work, we had to have a new and different "bird-on-wire" installed.

So after having this system for several years, here's what I think: The sytems is great for someone with some technical savvy, but for a guy like me, it's just too expensive to install and maintain, as compared to the convenience it offers. If you operate a business and can get some tax write-offs, it might be a good sytem for you, but not just for sending/receiving e-mail or surfing the Net. Or if you're rich and just want it bad enough to spend thousands of dollars buying, installing, maintaining and subscribing to it, be my guest. I like the system, but it's out of my league.

Gary and Sandy Collins
'05 Inspire 51491

In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, "brian_a2mi" wrote:

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22448
For TV, I use Dish 500 via roof or ground antenna, as required due to overhead clearance.

For internet, I use Directway (sp?) via ground antenna. Directway is a lot slower than I was led to believe it would be. We use AOL, which is too intricate for Directway in that although AOL can be accessed "superficially" and for e-mail, going through too many pages at a website will bog down to less than snail's pace, and I usually sign out at that point and switch to Internet Explorer for on-line purchasing, news, extensive browsing, etc. Internet Explorer works pretty well with Directway, but also not as fast as with home cable or DSL systems. Directway reminds me of what old dial-up used to be, but it does work with only occasional hickup.

Cost for both is pretty much as expected for in-home systems--not cheap.

Terry

Allure Newport 2004/31001
San Diego

Quote from: brian_a2mi
Hi all,

We're considering installing satellite internet service and using

it

Satellite Internet??

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22482
Larry,
B = bytes
b = bits

8 bits = 1 byte

Dial up can not do 19KBPS. It is theoretically capable of 53 KbpS or about 7 KBpS.
Downloads last night @ 17 K bytes per second were fast enough for me using the aircard & Verizon.
Aircard is not WiFi.

Eric Lee Elliott

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

We have been using the T Mobile aircard service for three years and
get unlimited internet access for $29 per month. I believe many
people shy away from it because they hear that it's too slow. I
think it is faster than dialup and it gets the job done. Usually
with dialup you get speeds of 39KBPS, 28KPS or even 19KBPS. With T
mobile, we usually get about 46 KBPS and it seems much faster to me
than dial up. It has been very reliable in the lower east U.S. As
previously mentioned, it works under trees and in-motion. We don't have to rely on unreliable WIFI, but use it also on wifes laptop when free and available. If all you want is internet surfing and emails it's a great service for the price. I am an avid internet surfer and T-Mobile works great for me. I don't do much downloading though, but if you don't mind waiting, you can down load large files without worring about being disconnected in the process.

Larry 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22489
ygrps-yiv-715027940 v0003a* {} ygrps-yiv-715027940 v0003a* { }

I believe I saw this in a Sonic commercial.

John Bicknas 97 Magna 5416

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22490
Hello Brian,

Have you considered the Cingular or Verison aircards? When we first started fulltiming five years ago there weren't many options other than satellite and we kept putting it off. We used dial up whenever we could, very slow. Then wifi when that came out. We always considered satellite and were very close to purchasing it several times...didn't like the idea of the big thing on the roof and all the wiring that needed to be done, and of course the cost.
For two years we have been using the cingular edge card. We are able to connect most anywhere we travel. There have only been two campgrounds in two years that we haven't had a good connection, but a little drive solved that. Our speed varies according to area. Tree cover doesn't seem to matter, just need a cell tower nearby. There are new 3g cards out now,I am considering, and it rivals cable speeds in the 16 areas it is available in. The new card reverts to edge speed in the areas it isn't available in. Which can be up to 200kbps. I love that I can surf the internet while my husband drive to our next destination. From what I have been reading this technology is only getting better. The cost of the edge card was free....We pay 59.99 a month unlimited service.

Don't know what the speed would be like in Ann Arbor but it might be worth checking out.
Good Luck
Dawn Fine

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22493
Hello,

We use the same system and have good luck with it. You can increase you signal strength by purchasing a Wilson Cellular Trucker antenna along with an adapter to plug into the card. If needed they also have an amplifier.

Joe

2006 Intrigue 12054

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22494
Brian,

We have the Verison air card and have been well pleased. Anywhere that you can get Verison wireless service you can use the aircard. We have not found anyplace yet that we don't have service. Plus if you are near a large city you will be connected to the Verison Broadband service. We think it is great! Mike

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22508
Mike and Brian:

I'm also happy with the K650 AirCard.
Verizon is building this form of BroadBand access across the USA.
Last year this type of BroadBand service (EVDO) was tested and available only in San Diego and Wash. DC areas. Its now available in about 60 city areas and spreading.
Verizon offers 2 aircards, the 5740 and Kyocera 650.
The advantage for RVers and truckers with the K650 AirCard is that an antenna plus an adaptor designed to fit the K650 can be attached to it. This will boost the area's Cellular signal to maximize internet performance. The antenna can be the trucker (tree type), or magnetic type, etc, can be attached to the K650 with its adaptor ($10.00). Secondly, you can also attach these antennas to your Verizon cell phone with an adaptor fitting for your model cell phone to aid cell phone performance. Wilson Electronics makes the antennas, adaptors for Verizon phones and the K650 AirCards.
I have no affiliation with Wilson products.
Don, 2000 Allure,#30580

===================================================================== =

Quote from: MICHAEL HUFF\[br\
]
Brian,

We have the Verison air card and have been well pleased.
Anywhere that you can get Verison wireless service you can use the aircard. We have not found anyplace yet that we don't have service.
Plus if you are near a large city you will be connected to the Verison Broadband service. We think it is great!

Quote
Mike

jeffefine wrote:
 Hello Brian,

> Hi all,
>

> We're considering installing satellite internet service and

using it

Quote
in our coach and in our home (we live beyond cable & DSN).
>

> What's everyone's thoughts on: > >

> 1. The best service provider, both quality and consistency? > >

> 2. The best place to have it installed? > >

> 3. The cost of installation?
>

> 4. The monthly service cost?
>
>

> Thx,
> Brian

> Allure 30507
> Ann Arbor, MI
>

Visit your group "Country-Coach-Owners" on the web.

">Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22525
I remember the originator of this thread asking about satellite, but I think the responses from Brian and others are worthy of being appended to this thread.

Hopefully mine will be too.

About two years ago I posted an opinion that Wi-Fi would make satellites obsolete when one factored in price. My experience since then has only reinforced that opinion.

For the past two years I've used a combination of Verizon aircard (the National Access/Broadband Access for $60 monthly) and Wi-Fi, traveling, in that two year period, more than nine months. We've been to New Orleans via Washington through California and Texas (including dry camping), and then Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. By using a combination of aircard and Wi-Fi I had internet all but two weeks in two years. For one of those weeks I paid $10 for internet access and for the other, in Death Valley, I turned off all electronics in the coach and stared at the stars.

I didn't think to track Verizon download speeds last year, but have done so this year using the Speakeasy speed test (http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/).

Download results have ranged from 132 kbps (0.13 megabytes (MB) per second) near Yuma, Arizona to 591 kbps (.58 MB) in Chula Vista, California.

For comparison a "fast" dial-up is 56 kbps (0.0547 MB).

To put this in perspective for those of you with broadband at home, my Comcast Broadband recently tested at 3,037 Kbps (3 MB per second).

The Yuma connection was great for email but frustrating for web pages (though still twice as fast as a good dialup in the RV park office).

I'm envious of those of you have satellite internet and would gladly pay $100 monthly for what you have. But today I can't cost justify the satellite purchase and installation. . . especially because Wi- Fi gets better and better every month.

Jim Gregory
10613

Quote from: MICHAEL HUFF\[br\
]
Brian,

We have the Verison air card and have been well pleased.
Anywhere that you can get Verison wireless service you can use the aircard. We have not found anyplace yet that we don't have service.
Plus if you are near a large city you will be connected to the Verison Broadband service. We think it is great!

Quote
Mike

jeffefine wrote:
 Hello Brian,

> Have you considered the Cingular or Verison aircards? When we first > started fulltiming five years ago there weren't many options other > than satellite and we kept putting it off. We used dial up

whenever

Quote
we could, very slow. Then wifi when that came out. We always > considered satellite and were very close to purchasing it several > times...didn't like the idea of the big thing on the roof and all

the

Quote
wiring that needed to be done, and of course the cost.

For two years we have been using the cingular edge card. We are

able

Quote
to connect most anywhere we travel. There have only been two > campgrounds in two years that we haven't had a good connection,

but a

Quote
little drive solved that. Our speed varies according to area. Tree > cover doesn't seem to matter, just need a cell tower nearby. There

are

Quote
new 3g cards out now,I am considering, and it rivals cable speeds

in

Quote
the 16 areas it is available in. The new card reverts to edge

speed in

Quote
the areas it isn't available in. Which can be up to 200kbps. I love > that I can surf the internet while my husband drive to our next > destination. From what I have been reading this technology is only > getting better. The cost of the edge card was free....We pay 59.99

a

Quote
month unlimited service.

Don't know what the speed would be like in Ann Arbor but it might

be

Quote
worth checking out.
Good Luck
Dawn Fine

> Hi all,
>

> We're considering installing satellite internet service and

using it

Quote
in our coach and in our home (we live beyond cable & DSN).
>

> What's everyone's thoughts on: > >

> 1. The best service provider, both quality and consistency? > >

> 2. The best place to have it installed? > >

> 3. The cost of installation?
>

> 4. The monthly service cost?
>
>

> Thx,
> Brian

> Allure 30507
> Ann Arbor, MI
>

Visit your group "Country-Coach-Owners" on the web.

">Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22527
Jim,

You have a point...

Even better...WiFi and Verizon are both in line for even higher speeds and better service.

WiFi will eventually be "upgraded" to WiMax (One of the reasons that Verizon is working so hard to get their system rolled out.
WiFi will be made to work while on the road like Verizon's cell/internet system.

The Sat systems will slowly be phased out for sure'

Russ
Intrigue
11883

Quote from: Jim Gregory
I remember the originator of this thread asking about satellite,

but

Quote
I think the responses from Brian and others are worthy of being > appended to this thread.

Hopefully mine will be too.

About two years ago I posted an opinion that Wi-Fi would make > satellites obsolete when one factored in price. My experience

since

Quote
then has only reinforced that opinion.

For the past two years I've used a combination of Verizon aircard > (the National Access/Broadband Access for $60 monthly) and Wi-Fi, > traveling, in that two year period, more than nine months. We've > been to New Orleans via Washington through California and Texas > (including dry camping), and then Mississippi, Arkansas and > Oklahoma. By using a combination of aircard and Wi-Fi I had > internet all but two weeks in two years. For one of those weeks I > paid $10 for internet access and for the other, in Death Valley, I > turned off all electronics in the coach and stared at the stars.
> I didn't think to track Verizon download speeds last year, but have > done so this year using the Speakeasy speed test > (http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/).
> Download results have ranged from 132 kbps (0.13 megabytes (MB) per > second) near Yuma, Arizona to 591 kbps (.58 MB) in Chula Vista, > California.

For comparison a "fast" dial-up is 56 kbps (0.0547 MB).
> To put this in perspective for those of you with broadband at home, > my Comcast Broadband recently tested at 3,037 Kbps (3 MB per

second).

Quote
>

The Yuma connection was great for email but frustrating for web > pages (though still twice as fast as a good dialup in the RV park > office).

I'm envious of those of you have satellite internet and would

gladly

Quote
pay $100 monthly for what you have. But today I can't cost justify > the satellite purchase and installation. . . especially because Wi- > Fi gets better and better every month.

Jim Gregory
10613

[quote author=MICHAEL HUFF

>

> Brian,

> We have the Verison air card and have been well pleased.
Anywhere that you can get Verison wireless service you can use the > aircard. We have not found anyplace yet that we don't have service.
Plus if you are near a large city you will be connected to the > Verison Broadband service. We think it is great! > > Mike
>

> jeffefine wrote:
> Hello Brian,
>
>

> Have you considered the Cingular or Verison aircards? When we

first

Quote
started fulltiming five years ago there weren't many options other > > than satellite and we kept putting it off. We used dial up > whenever

> we could, very slow. Then wifi when that came out. We always > > considered satellite and were very close to purchasing it several > > times...didn't like the idea of the big thing on the roof and all > the

> wiring that needed to be done, and of course the cost.
>

> For two years we have been using the cingular edge card. We are > able

> to connect most anywhere we travel. There have only been two > > campgrounds in two years that we haven't had a good connection, > but a

> little drive solved that. Our speed varies according to area. Tree > > cover doesn't seem to matter, just need a cell tower nearby.

There

Quote
are

> new 3g cards out now,I am considering, and it rivals cable speeds > in

> the 16 areas it is available in. The new card reverts to edge > speed in

> the areas it isn't available in. Which can be up to 200kbps. I

love

Quote
that I can surf the internet while my husband drive to our next > > destination. From what I have been reading this technology is only > > getting better. The cost of the edge card was free....We pay

59.99

Re: Satellite Internet??

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22528
Russ et al

I respectfully disagree with Russ' conclusion that cell service will replace internet service by satellite. I've had Verizon cell phone service for over 5 years, and it's good when traveling along an interstate from one urban area to another, and in most large urban areas. It also has the advantage that it can be used when moving---if you can pick up a transmitter. However in much of the U.S. where I travel, it varies from marginal to non-existant. I also travel in both Canada and Mexico--and within a few miles of either border, forget Verizon. I had Directway with a tripod for two years and never failed to get service with one exception (sitting under heavy tree cover in Canada's Okanogan Valley). It worked From N of Red Deer in Canada to S of La Paz in Mexico.
I'm now in my second year of a roof-mounted motosat-Datastorm with Directway and it works even better than when I used the tripod. By the way the antenna is no problem on the roof--it's actually silent---and thus is a great deal quieter than when I just had my tv sat antenna on the roof, Prospective users of the Directway service should also be aware that it was developed primarily as a mobile system for truckers, marine etc. and only fairly recently has been made available to RVs. So don't worry about it being replaced in the foreseeable future by cell service to the internet.

All best rog