OT: Satellite alternatives?

On a subject currently in a thread I'd rather not join..

Does anyone know of any noteworthy satellite broadband providers?

I have a friend who has just moved out of N.Wales, from a village where
ADSL *just* become available, to Devon and a village where it certainly is
not.

I'm sure I remember hearing recently about a 2 way satellite provider, at
a not too exorbitant price, but I can't find them. So far all I've found
are Bentley telecom, at GB75/month, which is higher than I expected, and
AVC, which is a one way service and a rather steep installation charge.

Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional (though
preferably bi) would be well appreciated.


--
Dave Johnson - (E-Mail Removed)

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Dave J
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>On a subject currently in a thread I'd rather not join..
>
>Does anyone know of any noteworthy satellite broadband providers?
>
>I have a friend who has just moved out of N.Wales, from a village where
>ADSL *just* become available, to Devon and a village where it certainly is
>not.
>
>I'm sure I remember hearing recently about a 2 way satellite provider, at
>a not too exorbitant price, but I can't find them. So far all I've found
>are Bentley telecom, at GB75/month, which is higher than I expected, and
>AVC, which is a one way service and a rather steep installation charge.
>
>Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional (though
>preferably bi) would be well appreciated.
>
>
Hi
I am using a 1 way satellite system on Astra. Central Point (actually a
reseller for AVC)
Using an existing standard sky dish, Unlimited 256k at around 18pounds a
month with 15 pounds set up (inc VAT) and no contract. (anyone will
install the sky dish if you do not have one).
To use both sky and DSL at the same time, you will need to change the
lnb to a dual output one at around 30 pounds.
www.cpbb.co.uk/cpsat

You will need a DVB receiver card around 45pounds if you buy direct from
Technisat (skystar2)

www.DVBSHOP.tv

Beware satellite DSL is no good for games and such like due to
latency... the time it takes for the signal to go to and from the
satellite and results DO depend very much on contention issues with the
land based isp used as the return leg. This is especially so for web
browsing which uses lots of handshakes... file download is not so
affected... once the handshake has completed and data flows it flows at
256k.
I currently use a cheapie 5pounds for 50hours which recently is
absolutely useless, except offpeak, due to contention problems, although
browsing speeds via satellite using this isp is still around 5 times
faster than direct with the same isp, it is an order of magnitude slower
than the same sites using the same satellite system via a good return
isp. So whenever it is bogged down by the cheapie land based isp, I
switch to a pay as you go (which does not suffer from contention issues)

So if you can afford it go for a GOOD land based isp for the return leg

Hope it helps
Wally Hayward

"Dave J" (E-Mail Removed) wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
>
> Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional
> (though preferably bi) would be well appreciated.

http://www.satsig.net/uk-satellite-broadband.htm appears useful.

http://www.pipex.net/products/access...ess_access.pdf
might be another option. It was roughly £200 install and £40/month for 512k
when I was looking into it 6 months ago.

In article <a9C4+(E-Mail Removed)>, (E-Mail Removed)
says...

> I am using a 1 way satellite system on Astra. Central Point (actually a
> reseller for AVC)
> Using an existing standard sky dish, Unlimited 256k at around 18pounds a
> month with 15 pounds set up (inc VAT) and no contract. (anyone will
> install the sky dish if you do not have one).
> To use both sky and DSL at the same time, you will need to change the
> lnb to a dual output one at around 30 pounds.
> www.cpbb.co.uk/cpsat

Or get sky+, which includes a quad LNB in standard installation


If you don't go for a satellite service running on Astra 28.2E(IIRC -
the same slot as Sky Digital uses), be aware that most councils require
you to have planning permission for installing a second dish if you want
both sky and satellite broadband. My local council made a neighbour pull
his weather sat dish when he put a sky minidish up.

"Lord Edam de Fromage" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...

[snip]

> If you don't go for a satellite service running on Astra 28.2E(IIRC -
> the same slot as Sky Digital uses), be aware that most councils require
> you to have planning permission for installing a second dish if you want
> both sky and satellite broadband. My local council made a neighbour pull
> his weather sat dish when he put a sky minidish up.

Where did he put the dish..? In my experience (given the right view of
the sky, of course) you can practically lay a dish on the grass and it
will pick up a usable signal. It isn't usually necessary to put the thing
on a pole on the roof, like you have to with a UHF aerial. If it's at or
near ground level how will the council or anyone else know it's even
there..?

Ivor

Try
www.fdmbroadband.net

In MsgID<(E-Mail Removed)> within
uk.telecom.broadband, 'Grant' wrote:

>"Dave J" (E-Mail Removed) wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)
>>
>> Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional
>> (though preferably bi) would be well appreciated.
>
>http://www.satsig.net/uk-satellite-broadband.htm appears useful.

I found that, haven't finished looking through it, but it seems mostly
business orientated. Will look again this evening, though I think I've
already decided on my recomendation, which so far will be the one way
service from CP.

Thanks muchly.

Dave J.

In MsgID<a9C4+(E-Mail Removed)> within uk.telecom.broadband,
'Walter Hayward' wrote:

>>
>>Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional (though
>>preferably bi) would be well appreciated.
>>
>>
>Hi
>I am using a 1 way satellite system on Astra. Central Point (actually a
>reseller for AVC)
>Using an existing standard sky dish, Unlimited 256k at around 18pounds a
>month with 15 pounds set up (inc VAT) and no contract. (anyone will
>install the sky dish if you do not have one).
>To use both sky and DSL at the same time, you will need to change the
>lnb to a dual output one at around 30 pounds.
>www.cpbb.co.uk/cpsat
>
>You will need a DVB receiver card around 45pounds if you buy direct from
>Technisat (skystar2)
>
>www.DVBSHOP.tv

Aye, thanks for that. Although I've found a two way provider it looks as
though the costs are prohibitive. I think the friend in question already
has (or is planning to get) the free Sky service, so the added expense is
limited to the receiver card. There are some restrictions on dishes
(national park) which makes a combination an attractive idea.

>
>Beware satellite DSL is no good for games and such like due to
>latency... the time it takes for the signal to go to and from the
>satellite and results DO depend very much on contention issues with the
>land based isp used as the return leg. This is especially so for web
>browsing which uses lots of handshakes... file download is not so
>affected... once the handshake has completed and data flows it flows at
>256k.

I don't think he has any interest in OL gaming.

A thanks to all who answered, I reckon you've helped make someone happy.

Dave J.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Dave J
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>In MsgID<(E-Mail Removed)> within
>uk.telecom.broadband, 'Grant' wrote:
>
>>"Dave J" (E-Mail Removed) wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed) m
>>>
>>> Any further ideas? Any suggestions, either uni or bi-directional
>>> (though preferably bi) would be well appreciated.
>>
>>http://www.satsig.net/uk-satellite-broadband.htm appears useful.
>
>I found that, haven't finished looking through it, but it seems mostly
>business orientated. Will look again this evening, though I think I've
>already decided on my recomendation, which so far will be the one way
>service from CP.
>
>Thanks muchly.
>
>Dave J.
Another 1 way alternative to CP/Astra (whose support is very good
incidentally) is a service from Eurobird. As this "can" also be on
28.5E... (occasionally you need to specify 28E with some providers).
This is normally ok in Southern England from a normal sky dish
but just about unusable here in North East Scotland
Silvermead
Sat_Speed+
Planet Sky
and I think Micronet standard
Do a google on the names

All with varying costs/caps


Eurobird/Eutesat systems do have the "advantage" of offering basically
"offline" timed downloads etc which does not count towards your cap, if
any.

Of course if you do not need to view sky, you can always swing your dish
to whatever sat (providing you are within it's footprint for the puny
little sky dish!!!)

Wally Hayward