Newbie Issues...Internet

[Don Bradner]

Satellite internet needs a big dish with precise pointing, and there are no
in-motion options. Options generally are tripod manual mount in the $800-$1500
range, or automatic mount in the $5000-and-up range. Service is between $59 and
$99 monthly for most accounts. I use a larger-than-average Datastorm automatic
mount, and I own and run http://www.datastormusers.com where you will find a wealth of
(free) information.

Satellite's significant pro is that it is available anywhere you can get a clear
shot to the satellite, and for most of us we simply make sure that is true,
whatever it takes. Its cons are cost, latency, and restrictions on allowed
throughput per 24-hour period.

Sprint and Verizon Air cards are very common. Service price similar to
satellite. Pros are speed, modest startup cost, lower latency, and no limitation
on throughput at this time (Sprint). Cons are not available everywhere -
probably at least several hundred thousand square miles of the west where that
is true, and monthly limitations on throughput (Verizon).

For those who's travel does not take them often into non-covered areas the cards
are extremely good. Among my group at DatastormUsers, many of whom are employed
full-timers, having both satellite and card is becoming common, as well as
taking advantage of free WiFi when it is better than your other connections.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by satellite from Declo, Idaho, enroute to Salt Lake City

On 9/12/2007 at 3:28 PM Allen & Conny wrote:

>On another subject, I noticed your response came via satellite. We
>bought the coach specifically to explore the West next summer for
>three months. I would like to stay in contact with my office during
>the trip and I need to explore ways of doing so, either satellite or
>broadband cell.

[dspithaler@...]

That's good to know Mike as I am thinking about getting the USB from Verizon
before we leave to head to AZ
in December. I used to use my cell phone to get on & it was very limited
through the west.
Don
89 SP 36'
Butler, PA

Don, what you mean by monthly limitations on throughput? My $59/month
Verizon card is unlimited usage and, trust me, I use it for many hours
at a time on nearly a daily basis. As far as dead spots, I know that
there are some, but if I can use a cell phone it usually works.

FWIW,

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[mbulriss]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
> Sprint and Verizon Air cards are very common. Service price similar
> Cons are not available everywhere - probably at least several
> hundred thousand square miles of the west where that is true,
> and monthly limitations on throughput (Verizon).

Don, what you mean by monthly limitations on throughput? My $59/month
Verizon card is unlimited usage and, trust me, I use it for many hours
at a time on nearly a daily basis. As far as dead spots, I know that
there are some, but if I can use a cell phone it usually works.

FWIW,

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Satellite internet needs a big dish with precise pointing, and there
are no in-motion options. Options generally are tripod manual mount in
the $800-$1500 range, or automatic mount in the $5000-and-up range.
Service is between $59 and $99 monthly for most accounts. I use a
larger-than-average Datastorm automatic mount, and I own and run
http://www.datastormusers.com where you will find a wealth of (free) information.
>
> Satellite's significant pro is that it is available anywhere you can
get a clear shot to the satellite, and for most of us we simply make
sure that is true, whatever it takes. Its cons are cost, latency, and
restrictions on allowed throughput per 24-hour period.
>
> Sprint and Verizon Air cards are very common. Service price similar
to satellite. Pros are speed, modest startup cost, lower latency, and
no limitation on throughput at this time (Sprint). Cons are not
available everywhere - probably at least several hundred thousand
square miles of the west where that is true, and monthly limitations
on throughput (Verizon).
>
> For those who's travel does not take them often into non-covered
areas the cards are extremely good. Among my group at DatastormUsers,
many of whom are employed full-timers, having both satellite and card
is becoming common, as well as taking advantage of free WiFi when it
is better than your other connections.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Posting today by satellite from Declo, Idaho, enroute to Salt Lake City
>
> On 9/12/2007 at 3:28 PM Allen & Conny wrote:
>
> >On another subject, I noticed your response came via satellite. We
> >bought the coach specifically to explore the West next summer for
> >three months. I would like to stay in contact with my office during
> >the trip and I need to explore ways of doing so, either satellite or
> >broadband cell.
>

[Don Bradner]

Verizon has a fairly well documented throughput limit of 5GB per month, with
cutoff without notice. Lots of major complaint threads in a lot of places about
that one.

I know a guy who is on a satellite connection with 1GB per month limit, and he
never even comes close. I suspect you aren't close to 5GB per month.

My average use is 15GB per month. I move a lot of files. Hours of use do not
equate to gigabytes of use. As far as dead spots I stand by my assertion of
hundreds of thousands of square miles. Those are areas where few live, and
likely few go, so when someone says they don't run into them I believe them.
Travel choices are highly varied.

On 9/12/2007 at 9:15 PM mbulriss wrote:

>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> wrote:
>> Sprint and Verizon Air cards are very common. Service price similar
>> Cons are not available everywhere - probably at least several
>> hundred thousand square miles of the west where that is true,
>> and monthly limitations on throughput (Verizon).
>
>Don, what you mean by monthly limitations on throughput? My $59/month
>Verizon card is unlimited usage and, trust me, I use it for many hours
>at a time on nearly a daily basis. As far as dead spots, I know that
>there are some, but if I can use a cell phone it usually works.
>
>FWIW,
>
>Mike Bulriss
>1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
>San Antonio, TX

[Allen & Conny]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Satellite internet needs a big dish with precise pointing, and there
are no in-motion options. Options generally are tripod manual mount in
the $800-$1500 range, or automatic mount in the $5000-and-up range.
Service is between $59 and $99 monthly for most accounts. I use a
larger-than-average Datastorm automatic mount, and I own and run
http://www.datastormusers.com where you will find a wealth of (free)
information.
>
>Thanks Don,
Upon reflection ($$$), I guess don't need to be in COMPLETE contact
with my office...after all, I'm going out West to get AWAY from the
office, right? :-)

-Allen

[robert nloomas]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
I have been using data storm for over 5 years now while on the road
have the auto dish on the coach.At home I have a stationary dish
so all I have to do is remove the modem from the coach and use the
same system.
Bob Loomas 1985 PT 36
Data Storm user 127
>
> Verizon has a fairly well documented throughput limit of 5GB per
month, with cutoff without notice. Lots of major complaint threads
in a lot of places about that one.
>
> I know a guy who is on a satellite connection with 1GB per month
limit, and he never even comes close. I suspect you aren't close to
5GB per month.
>
> My average use is 15GB per month. I move a lot of files. Hours of
use do not equate to gigabytes of use. As far as dead spots I stand
by my assertion of hundreds of thousands of square miles. Those are
areas where few live, and likely few go, so when someone says they
don't run into them I believe them. Travel choices are highly varied.
>
> On 9/12/2007 at 9:15 PM mbulriss wrote:
>
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> > wrote:
> >> Sprint and Verizon Air cards are very common. Service price
similar
> >> Cons are not available everywhere - probably at least several
> >> hundred thousand square miles of the west where that is true,
> >> and monthly limitations on throughput (Verizon).
> >
> >Don, what you mean by monthly limitations on throughput? My
$59/month
> >Verizon card is unlimited usage and, trust me, I use it for many
hours
> >at a time on nearly a daily basis. As far as dead spots, I know
that
> >there are some, but if I can use a cell phone it usually works.
> >
> >FWIW,
> >
> >Mike Bulriss
> >1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> >San Antonio, TX
>