Satellite internet

[nightflight]

I am considering making the move to live on a boat full time, and I'm wondering about having internet access on a boat. I know the basic stuff can be done via a dongle thingy, but has anyone had experience of using satellite internet access so I can have good download speeds etc.

[Grace and Favour]

I looked at this (albeit two years ago) and the subscription/download costs were prohibitive then..

 

(They may have become cheaper since of course!)

[Guest]

I am considering making the move to live on a boat full time, and I'm wondering about having internet access on a boat. I know the basic stuff can be done via a dongle thingy, but has anyone had experience of using satellite internet access so I can have good download speeds etc.

 

I Understand these systems only download data via satellite you still need to send via. a land or mobile line, and they are prohibitively expensive and not particularly fast (someone will be along to correct me shortly)

 

By far you best bet is a conventional dongle - if you are worried about signal get one that can accept an external antenna which can improve things were things are marginal BUT note they won't pull in a non existent signal.

 

This is what I have -

 

 

Which takes the lead from this -

 

 

 

Both off eBay - -dongle was a tenner aerial I paid a bit more for having been tipped off to do so, so was around £20, it has a magnetic base so great on a NB.

 

Got the dongle unlocked for 99p, again via. eBay.

 

Add a SIM card and you're good to go.

Edited April 26, 2013 by The Dog House

[wonderdust]

Ouch!

 

http://www.satelliteinternet.co.uk/packages

[BargeeSpud]

Ouch!

 

http://www.satelliteinternet.co.uk/packages

Indeed, I would add JFC too!

[Delta9]

I Understand these systems only download data via satellite you still need to send via. a land or mobile line, and they are prohibitively expensive and not particularly fast (someone will be along to correct me shortly)

I guess I'll be the one to correct you.. Yeh, that is not true at all.

[Guest]

I guess I'll be the one to correct you.. Yeh, that is not true at all.

 

Well in the interest of helping the OP would you care to expand?

 

How does it work, how much does it cost, what are the speeds they can expect and what are the advantages they can expect over just using a dongle.

[Biggles]

Good of them

 

 

FreeZone option FREE

Edited April 26, 2013 by Biggles

[john6767]

To the OP, make use of the forum search function and you will be able to find quite a few threads discussing internet access from a boats, as clearly that is important for many (most) on here. Searching for "dongle" would be a good start.

 

I would be surprised if satellite internet is worth the bother these days as the 3G solution is quite good. The speeds are certainly good enough for most general use. The thing that does tend to suffer a bit with 3G is latency (perhaps 100ms ping time verses 20 ms on say ADSL). But this is nothing like the hit with satellite internet, which to me is a fundamental issue with it, as the speed of light becomes very significant when the signal is travelling 2 x 22,000 miles.

[Delta9]

Well in the interest of helping the OP would you care to expand?

 

How does it work, how much does it cost, what are the speeds they can expect and what are the advantages they can expect over just using a dongle.

People had already posted a link before I commented. (here it is again in case you missed it http://www.satelliteinternet.co.uk/packages)

 

Speeds and download limits vary depending on how much you wish to pay, and you don't need a land line or mobile connection. (why would you need satellite internet if you had a land line or mobile?)

 

Advantages over a dongle? Not sure really. Most sat internet providers offer free unlimited downloads at night so if you are into downloading lots of movies that would be advantageous. Works in places with no mobile reception. I'm sure there are a few others..

[Guest]

Didn't miss the link as it happens, how much does the kit cost to send and receive this?

 

I appreciate just how much things may have moved on since I last investigated the same when you did actually send data over a phone line, how does it work now? The 'how it works' link on that site is not working.

Edited April 26, 2013 by The Dog House

[Tesla]

TBH, your link didnt work for me, what is the dongle you have. Also, now is is unlocked, whose sim do you use?

 

Thanks

[Paul C]

Didn't miss the link as it happens, how much does the kit cost to send and receive this?

 

I appreciate just how much things may have moved on since I last investigated the same when you did actually send data over a phone line, how does it work now? The 'how it works' link on that site is not working.

 

Previous satellite broadband systems (the ones generally available and affordable) did indeed use a phone line for the uplink, but this is different, it uses a satellite dish which can both transmit and receive. There's more info on http://www.satelliteinternet.co.uk/tech/category/11-faqs

 

And, of course, there's always been Inmarsat which many cruise ships etc use.

[Delta9]

Didn't miss the link as it happens, how much does the kit cost to send and receive this?

 

I appreciate just how much things may have moved on since I last investigated the same when you did actually send data over a phone line, how does it work now? The 'how it works' link on that site is not working.

You've never had to send info via phone line. That would defeat the entire point of having satellite internet.

 

Some companies will install the equipment for free, the equipment remains their property and must be given back to them if you cancel your contract.

 

How it works? You get a dish that can send and receive data to a geostationary satellite which relays to the NOC (network operations center) which is connected to the internet.

[matty40s]

but you do need a clear sight of the satellite from your boat, which may be an issue for the OP if they are considering CC-ing.

[Guest]

You've never had to send info via phone line. That would defeat the entire point of having satellite internet.

.

Are you 100% sure about that? There use to be older systems that did exactly as I describe. Push to the sat bb provider via phone receive via. The dish.

 

Just google 1 way satellite broadband.

[Delta9]

Are you 100% sure about that? There use to be older systems that did exactly as I describe. Push to the sat bb provider via phone receive via. The dish.

 

Just google 1 way satellite broadband.

I believe BT offered such a service for a while, but it soon failed as it was completely pointless. Anything referred to as "satellite internet" is two way and always has been. It was invented for use on ships and by the military in places where it was not possible to access a phone line.

[Guest]

TBH, your link didnt work for me, what is the dongle you have. Also, now is is unlocked, whose sim do you use?

 

Thanks

Yes weirdly it's gone for me too. It's a huawei e160g I use a 3 sIm mainly which works perfectly which is not surprising given it was on 3 before it was unlocked. The giffgaff sim has proved problematic which I'm not surprised at as this is the second time I've been sucked in by them.

 

I believe BT offered such a service for a while, but it soon failed as it was completely pointless. Anything referred to as "satellite internet" is two way and always has been. It was invented for use on ships and by the military in places where it was not possible to access a phone line.

I thought i hadn't dreamt it.

[Tesla]

Yes weirdly it's gone for me too. It's a huawei e160g I use a 3 sIm mainly which works perfectly which is not surprising given it was on 3 before it was unlocked. The giffgaff sim has proved problematic which I'm not surprised at as this is the second time I've been sucked in by them.

 

Thanks Martin.

[wiltshirewonderer]

Yes weirdly it's gone for me too. It's a huawei e160g I use a 3 sIm mainly which works perfectly which is not surprising given it was on 3 before it was unlocked. The giffgaff sim has proved problematic which I'm not surprised at as this is the second time I've been sucked in by them.

 

 

I thought i hadn't dreamt it.

 

You definitely didn't. A number of suppliers did (and still do) work on this basis. The idea is that data demands are/were traditionally asymmetric (Hence the way the frequencies and capacities have been split on both ADSL and VDSL) and that 56kbps over a phone line would be sufficient to support a 10mbps downstream rate.

[Guest]

You definitely didn't. A number of suppliers did (and still do) work on this basis. The idea is that data demands are/were traditionally asymmetric (Hence the way the frequencies and capacities have been split on both ADSL and VDSL) and that 56kbps over a phone line would be sufficient to support a 10mbps downstream rate.

 

Cheers - interesting it's still provided that way too by some too.

[Dave Payne]

Dragging back an old thread, have searched around and can only find old threads relating to sat broadband.

 

Have been looking into it over the last few weeks and it seems speeds are better, pricing is lower, but is anyone actually using it on a boat?

 

In the marina i would have a clear line of sight, i would not really be looking to do any gaming, more downloading, streaming and general browsing. I understand latency is still an issue due to the distance the signal has to travel, plus i am concerned the dish may be to big and will need a good solid platform to remain still, which could cause issues with the marina.

 

I really am struggling with having no broadband since moving on the boat, sim cards in phones and such like is not working very well for me due to download caps and coverage.

 

So anyone using it today,

 

Thanks

[GOONIESnvrSAYdie]

I've been trying to find out about internet on the boat it we end up becoming live aboard's. I currently game quite a bit at home, it's not the end of the world if I can't anymore. I play just as many off line games as I do online. My other half has an iPad so she only web browses at most and I do general browsing myself.

 

The only streaming we do is we currently have a Netflix account. Or I watch the occasional but of football.

 

I'm sure Netflix and web browsing is easily achievable but the gaming I'm not so sure off. The marina we're looking at has wifi so I'll have to chat to them and hope it will reach the boat with a strong signal.

[Justme]

The big downside is the latency with pings of 600ms being normal.

 

Downloading big files from a single source is ok but website that are made up of items from many sources as they now are will work terrible. You also have issues with any site that requires security.

 

Our 4g mifi with external antenna now has pings of 30-60ms most of the time & speeds of 4-50mb most of the time dep on sim used (three 2-5mb EE 25-50mb).

 

With a 3g dongle / router speeds drop to 1-3mb for both sims at the same site.

 

Sat is only any good if you cant get any other service. Its a last resort.

[Dave Payne]

As mentioned i cant get a signal on the 3 network, EE signal is very week, O2 signal is fine but they do not offer very good deals.

 

I would not be gaming due to the latency and would more than likely just be downloading updates and new games from Xbox marketplace, then streaming so i think satellite would work for me, i just need to know if anyone has it and do they have any problems.