Best Satelite Internet?

[NetWareHead]

My buddy has a log cabin in the middle of nowhere...this place is so remote that he only can tune in one FM station. He was looking at satelite internet for his cabin, hopefuly get some streaming music in there...What do you guys recommend? He seems set on Earthlink satelite ever since he got some Earthlink cd in the mail, but maybe somethng better exists?

 

[vi edit]

Satellite internet is HORRIBLE. Satellite music would be aweful over an IP connection.

If you want music, order something like Sirius radio.

 

[Ogg]

vi_edit is right.

But there is Starband


@50/ month @400 setup fee. Can be faster than dialup

 

[amdskip]

Yup, I'd rather save my money and get dial up. The delays are huge and its not worth the frustrations with it.

 

[Confused]

For streaming music and downloads satellite would be OK, providing you don't get a provider who puts a rediculously low bandwidth cap on it, as streaming music will use quite a bit of bandwidth

For games, however, it will be almost useless, due to the rediculously high (>2000ms) ping.


Confused

 

[Davegod75]

isn't this an oxymoron?

 

[TommyVercetti]

I had dial up uptill beginning to last year and streaming music was just fine on it. I see no need to get satellite for that. Just start the music and let it run for a song or two. It will jitter at first, but then it will be smooth.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Avoid Hughes Electronics. The Fair Access Policy is a PITA.

 

[JulesMaximus]

All he wants is music? Why not go with Directv? They have numerous music only stations you can play through a stereo receiver (you would need a tv to view the channels though). Quality is decent. The only drawback being if the cabin is in an area that has frequent cloud cover and storm fronts moving through the area reception could be spotty during these times. They also offer high speed internet but I have no idea how the quality of service is for their internet access (I have cable modem so I didn't bother going with directv for internet).

 

[Dead3ye]

If all he wants is music, I'd go with a Dish Network system. 30 CD audio channels, and hooked up to a amplifier, they sound great!

What would be ideal, and this is what I do, if you have Dish Network already installed at your primary residence, all you need is an extra dish installed at the cabin. When you go to the cabin, just take a receiver with you. That way you don't have to pay anything extra, and DN allows this.

You can pick up a Dish300 antenna pretty cheap and that's all you need for the audio channels as they are all fed from the 119 sat. Sometimes the local installers will have a bunch of them left over from upgrades.

If you pick up two Dish300 antennas, grab a SW21 switch, point one at 119 and the other at 110, and presto, Dish500.

 

[vi edit]

I still say if all he wants is music, just sign up for XM or Sirius for $10-$13 a month. Cheap, reliable, and it does what it does well.

Going with a Satellite ISP is just a waste of money and you'll get lower quality music.

Just buy a kit for your car, use it when you travel, and then pull out the tuner and use it in the cabin when he wants music in there.

 

[EagleKeeper]

What happens if there is no landline access.

Diesel generators andSat tel phones only.

Outlying islands in Alaska - Grandkids are in that situation.

 

[Dead3ye]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
What happens if there is no landline access.

Diesel generators andSat tel phones only.

Outlying islands in Alaska - Grandkids are in that situation.

Then the only options would be XM, Sirius, satellite TV, or satellite isp.

XM or Sirius would work great in this situation, but if you already have DN or Direct TV, installing a second dish would incur minimal costs and the subscription would be "free" at the cabin, plus you would be able to watch TV as well.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
What happens if there is no landline access.

Diesel generators andSat tel phones only.

Outlying islands in Alaska - Grandkids are in that situation.

Then the only options would be XM, Sirius, satellite TV, or satellite isp.

XM or Sirius would work great in this situation, but if you already have DN or Direct TV, installing a second dish would incur minimal costs and the subscription would be "free" at the cabin, plus you would be able to watch TV as well.

Will DN or DirectTV provide both ISP and TV?

The ISP is more important than TV.

 

[squirrel dog]

DirectTv provides both , I dont know about the Dish network .

 

[Dead3ye]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
What happens if there is no landline access.

Diesel generators andSat tel phones only.

Outlying islands in Alaska - Grandkids are in that situation.

Then the only options would be XM, Sirius, satellite TV, or satellite isp.

XM or Sirius would work great in this situation, but if you already have DN or Direct TV, installing a second dish would incur minimal costs and the subscription would be "free" at the cabin, plus you would be able to watch TV as well.

Will DN or DirectTV provide both ISP and TV?

The ISP is more important than TV.

Dish Network and Starband had a partnership a few years back where you could get DN programming through the Starband dish at a special rate, $99 if I remember correctly for the Top 150 and the Starband internet access. I do believe that they have gone their separate ways and that deal is no longer. In fact, I don't think DN offers satellite internet access at all anymore.

I can't speak of Directv as I did no research on them, but I believe you'll need a separate dish for internet access and tv with Directv. Their's is called Direcway.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

What about that XM radio stuff?

 

[NetWareHead]

Yeah it has to be satelite...this guy also needs an internet connection over there. Of all the satelite providers...who provides the better service? Earthlink is hideously expensive...70 dollars a month 350 for the equipment and 250 for the install...:Q man thats alot of money for a 500/60 connection! There has to be some alternatives...I checked out starband and with a 1 year contract, they come out a little cheaper then earthlink.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
What happens if there is no landline access.

Diesel generators andSat tel phones only.

Outlying islands in Alaska - Grandkids are in that situation.

Then the only options would be XM, Sirius, satellite TV, or satellite isp.

XM or Sirius would work great in this situation, but if you already have DN or Direct TV, installing a second dish would incur minimal costs and the subscription would be "free" at the cabin, plus you would be able to watch TV as well.

Will DN or DirectTV provide both ISP and TV?

The ISP is more important than TV.

Dish Network and Starband had a partnership a few years back where you could get DN programming through the Starband dish at a special rate, $99 if I remember correctly for the Top 150 and the Starband internet access. I do believe that they have gone their separate ways and that deal is no longer. In fact, I don't think DN offers satellite internet access at all anymore.

I can't speak of Directv as I did no research on them, but I believe you'll need a separate dish for internet access and tv with Directv. Their's is called Direcway.

That's not entirely true.........DirecTV and DirecWay can be obtained from a single dish, but it's a dish with dual LNBs on it. The dish is from DireWay but able to access DirecTV. Unfortunately, the dish has to be professionally installed as the Fed. Gov't requires a skilled installer to put in any dish that can upload to a satellite.

 

[MDE]

DirecTV requires a live phone line for installation, IIRC.