A customer of mine asked me about Satellite broadband services today and I was wondering what experiences people had with them. We installed a home network with our structured wiring in this particular home. The network is a 4 port hardwired unit with wireless capabilities. We usually use cable through a local provider or Fast Access ADSL through BellSouth. I've never used a satellite providers service. Anybody have any experience with this? Pros? Cons? Thanks in advance, I know this is a little off the beaten path for this forum.

I supplied DirecPC to two different customers a couple of years ago, each directly to one PC. I see no reason why this will not work with a network.

Downloads were fast, but be sure to tell the customer that uploads are still via the phone line, so they will not be any faster.

A local talk show host uses a service with about a 3 foot dish; his receives AND transmits via satellite. It is pricier, in the hundreds per month, but he is a bit of a gearhead and has to keep up with all sorts of news services, and he says it works well for him. Sorry I don't know the name of it.

Ernie

We've been using a Starband dish system for about a year and a half; just replaced it with newly-available DSL service this morning, as it happens. Want to buy a used one? If you're anywhere near Chicago, we should talk.

It is a two-way system, no phone line. Worked badly to start with, but they replaced the modem with a new one that has worked well. I've found that I needed to add Winproxy to make it work with my network. Very, very fast downloads, kinda slow uploads. Dial-up would be faster on uploads. Also, no real way to get into my server from the outside world with this system.

Hmmmm You would only need WP if you weren't using a router. I used to use that and Sygate before I bought a router. Nothing but a PITA. I highly recommend a router and nic's versus software modem sharing.

DirecTV is running a continuous infomercial on channel 227. It's called DirecWay.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

This is apparently a two-way service.

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 09/23/02 19:05.01.

WOW! I actually might get to help the pros....

Had Starband installed in my home in NoVA for about 9 months. Used 802.11B since it was a rental and did not have hardwire.

Definitely a solution of last resort. I would never recommend it unless your customer couldn't get broadband any other way. Fairly expensive since back then and maybe still you have to buy a Compaq PC with internal modem (they quit selling the hardware modem by itself because of firmware issues.) Their corp. HQ was in NoVA so I got to talk to and know a couple of real people that worked there.

Also, there is a big problem between MSN and Starband in terms of tech support. Their techs did not know how to add a network card to the dual card/sat modem model that was sold by RadioShack and they don't really support networking. I solved the problem and gave detailed instructions to Starband tech support. All told I wasted about 15 hours on the phone to solve issues that I shouldn't have had to.

VERY unreliable service (their servers and transponders) not to mention when it storms. I would not do it again, unless I was desperate. HTH-Carl

I installed about 4 of the starband systems ( 2-way ) and 3 of the DirecWay ( also 2-way) at my last job. The customers loved them, a few of the installs had some of the usual probs during setup, but once the kinks got worked out, didn't have any probs. that I heard about anyway. At first Starband didn't officially support networking, but now they do. I don't know about DirecWay.

The other part about both of these types of systems is that you have to do certification training (it's not too tough). since you're dealing with radio transmitters that push < 1 watt there are specific tolerances that you must obey to not screw up all the other users on the sys. ( which is why it will never be available to RV'ers)

If your customer can get DSL or cable go with that, if not Sat is a good second choice.

It already is available to the RV market. www.motosat.com . I did a sat tv install for a guy the other day that had one on his mo ho. Pretty interesting stuff. As for one for the home. I wouldn't recomend them unless they have no other broadband options. Slow U/L speed, tempermental equipment, inability to network (officially) and latency (can't do anything real time on them)are all problems that havn't been resolved.

HTH

RR

Ditto. DO NOT use satellite if either cable or DSL is available. You will need to set up a PC as a proxy server if you wish to network DirecWay. This has lots of speed and security issues vs. installing a LinkSys router ($99).