dougandrenee
Torrance, California
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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we will be traveling from Los Angeles to Calgary to Alaska and back to Los Angeles next year. I am still working and need access to the internet and phone service on a continual basis. I am investigating MotoSat and other such devices. I would appreciate input regarding your experience and the reliability of these devices.
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2oldman
WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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Motosat posts in tech
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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We use Hughes Net with a DirecStar antenna and have gotten good connections throughout Alaska. The only problem you might encounter is the satellite they assign you to may not have coverage in Alaska. When I first looked into it, I was told by Hughes that I'd be assigned a bird over the Atlantic due to my address and could not change. Instead, I bought my service through Mobile Satellite Technologies for the same price and they will allow me to change satellites up to 2x a year. I initially put service on 127W, Horizon I, and have not had to change. I suppose if I went into the Canadian Maritimes, I might need to do something different
There are a number of parks and libraries in Alaska that have free WIFI access, but we found these were less than satisfactory. The parks generally have limited bandwidth and service from mid afternoon to late evening is sometimes almost impossible. In addition, libraries have limited days and hours of operation and are not secure connections. Cruise ports have Pay As You Use WIFI, but again, when the boats are in connections are almost impossible to get and hold due to the numbers of users trying to get a connection. We used to use a Verizon data connection through our cell phone, but Verizon sold their entire Alaska network in Alaska a few years ago, so that option went out the window. They don't even have a Verizon store any place in the state.
John
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bobofthenorth
Nipawin, SK
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Joined: 03/10/2008
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I'd be surprised if you can get coverage for that range of latitudes on one satellite so a provider who is willing to switch satellites for you will be essential. We have a similar situation - we travel in northern Saskatchewan and the BC interior in the summer and in Mexico in the winter. Our provider is Galaxy Broadband. http://www.galaxybroadband.ca/ As far as I know there is no restriction on how many switches we can make in a year.
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Gruffy
monominto mb ca
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Joined: 10/02/2003
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I used an XplorNet system for years. Mine was not motorized, I had to tear it down and set it up every time I moved.
If you need internet it works fine. If you need VOIP for telephone not so good. Typically expect downloads near a meg and uploads of 50k. VOIP will work fine most of the time but there is latentcy. I had to retrain everyone to wait for the delay. It's very noticeable. Not the sort of thing I'd depend on for business.
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weasel4
Alberta
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Joined: 07/06/2003
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This is what you can expect from XPLORNET on a good day with a 512 Down and 250 Up contract for $59.+ per month. Some days I get less than my old dial up.
Download
File size transferred : 1.04 MB (1090681 bytes)
Total time taken : 38.47 seconds (38469 milliseconds)
Throughput : 28.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
= 0.03 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
= 224.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
= 0.22 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]
Upload
File size transferred : 1.04 MB (1090681 bytes)
Total time taken : 171.24 seconds (171235 milliseconds)
Throughput : 6.0 KB/sec [Kilobyte-per-second]
= 0.01 MB/sec [Megabyte-per-second]
= 48.0 Kbps [Kilobit-per-second]
= 0.05 Mbps [Megabit-per-second]
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Gary Franks
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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You first need to determine your internet requirements:
1) Do you just need to send/receive simple email?
2) Do you just need ordinary web browsing?
3) Are you a YouTube addict?
4) Do you need to send/upload anything larger than an occasional photo?
5) Do you need to be always online or on an as-needed basis?
6) Do you need to connect to your office over a VPN?
7) Do you need to use the internet for voice communications (VOIP)?
8) Do you intend to travel the most populated routes and stay in RV Parks or to you intend to travel off the beaten path and boondock?
9) How far into Alaska to intend to travel and for how long?
Based on a further explanation of your needs, others can make more accurate recommendations for you and then you can decide if mobile broadband will be adequate or if you need to invest in satellite internet.
Unless you need serious internet connectivity, satellite internet will be too expensive. I have $12,000 invested my satellite internet dish (MotoSAT F2 dish) and I pay $250 per month for service (EtherSat). Even with that, I am not guaranteed service in all parts of Alaska. The lower-end satellite internet solutions are not any better than mobile broadband or even dial-up (except if you’re out of the cellular service area, of course).
'05 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel 39Z | Datastorm F2 Satellite Internet | Toad1: '03 Lincoln Town Car | Toad2: '08 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4WD
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