Satellite Broadband

JLR1969 · 09-19-2011, 01:01 PM

Having sold our house we have now found our 'forever house' in the country. Wood burners, acres of land and my very own tractor!

The only issue I have is the broadband speed, I did a quick test and it was only 0.8mb. It's a BT line with Orange broadband. As I work from home it's vital that I have a reasonable speed. Currently I have 2.3mb.

I have looked at a company called Tooway who do satellite broadband, does anyone have any experience of them or suggestions for ways around this problem.

jimmylimmy · 09-19-2011, 01:28 PM

I imagine 3G is out too then?

Looking at the Tooway packages, it seems pretty steep and has a data cap

Have you confirmed with BT that the download speed is due to the distance?

willhollin · 09-19-2011, 01:30 PM

Tell me you didn't name it your 'forever house?'

Palmnuts · 09-19-2011, 01:33 PM

You don't get that problem living in Legoland

JLR1969 · 09-19-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willhollin

Tell me you didn't name it your 'forever house?'

Heather's words not mine, but a bit scary I have used them on a forum

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

You don't get that problem living in Legoland

Good memory mate, that comment made me laugh out loud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmylimmy

I imagine 3G is out too then?

Looking at the Tooway packages, it seems pretty steep and has a data cap

Have you confirmed with BT that the download speed is due to the distance?

BT online check says max 1MB so not really good enough.

Gibbo · 09-19-2011, 03:20 PM

Hope you find a solution to the broadband. It would be a shame to loose a great house over this problem.

briers · 09-19-2011, 03:27 PM

Check out 3g from o2 or Vodaphone

Then there is three. You could get a 3G modem if signal is good.

JLR1969 · 09-19-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Hope you find a solution to the broadband. It would be a shame to loose a great house over this problem.

Hello mate how are you? The house is a done deal so I have to sort something out.

JLR1969 · 09-19-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briers

Check out 3g from o2 or Vodaphone

Then there is three. You could get a 3G modem if signal is good.

I am not the brightest with regard to tech how can I test the speed of a potential 3G modem?

Desmondo · 09-19-2011, 04:00 PM

Satellite is OK but the latency will be pretty dire. Latency is the time it takes for things to "start moving". I simple terms, you send a request for information and the other end responds and sends that back to you...the time it takes is the latency. On a normal broadband connection you're talking less than seconds. With satellite you'll be talking in seconds. This may not be important to you but it may be a little frustrating as everything seems so slow. I'd still say a normal broadband line, no matter how slow, would be better than satellite.

m@rk · 09-19-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLR1969

I am not the brightest with regard to tech how can I test the speed of a potential 3G modem?

With difficulty.

The coverage maps should give you an idea on signal strength. Anything showing limited coverage should be avoided.

Then get a PAYG SIM for said supplied, put it in your existing phone and see how many bars you get.

If you really want to be sure, buy a PAYG dongle and try it out knowing that you can probably stick it on eBay for about half of what you have paid for it if it doesn't work for you.

To be honest, 3G is a preferred option to satellite if you can get it but if you really are in the middle of nowhere then I know options can be limited.

But finally. You say you need it to work from home. Is there any chance of getting your employer to pay for a leased line connection. With this you can get 10mbit/s, 100mbit/s or 1000mbit/s to your home without any problem at all but it may be somewhat more expensive than any of the other options.

marshyrob · 09-19-2011, 04:59 PM

Look to see if BT are rolling out FTC (Fibre to the Curb/Cabinet) in your area.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...?topicId=29017

Put your postcode and/or phone number and it will tell you if your exchange is being upgraded, or is indeed already ready. Worth a look, mine is ready at the end of this month. Then you can subscribe to BT Infinity which claims speeds of "up to" 40MB using a fibre optic link to the cabinet (green box on your street) rather than copper which is what its using at the moment. Copper then runs from the cabinet in the street, to your house, hence the term fibre to the curb.

briers · 09-19-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m@rk

With difficulty.

The coverage maps should give you an idea on signal strength. Anything showing limited coverage should be avoided.

Then get a PAYG SIM for said supplied, put it in your existing phone and see how many bars you get.

If you really want to be sure, buy a PAYG dongle and try it out knowing that you can probably stick it on eBay for about half of what you have paid for it if it doesn't work for you.

To be honest, 3G is a preferred option to satellite if you can get it but if you really are in the middle of nowhere then I know options can be limited.

But finally. You say you need it to work from home. Is there any chance of getting your employer to pay for a leased line connection. With this you can get 10mbit/s, 100mbit/s or 1000mbit/s to your home without any problem at all but it may be somewhat more expensive than any of the other options.

I recently went through several sim's checking the speed. But i've just realised my phone is unlocked so this wasn't a problem.

Three would be my first port of call with their relatively well priced mifi service which would also be the fastest.

Check the coverage checker : http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/C...aptypeForm=mbb

I must admit, without the ability to try all the different sim's on PAYG like i did for signal and speed it's a bit of a gamble using the coverage checker as a guideline, especially if you are a fringe area.

If you do happen to have a sim free/unlocked 3g phone there are various "network speed test" apps you can get for iphone/android.

Good luck, hope it gets sorted and enjoy your new place. Sounds very nice!

09-19-2011, 01:01 PM	#1
JLR1969 Major General 1837 Rep 7,000 Posts Drives: Kubota GR1600 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England iTrader: (1)	Satellite Broadband Having sold our house we have now found our 'forever house' in the country. Wood burners, acres of land and my very own tractor! The only issue I have is the broadband speed, I did a quick test and it was only 0.8mb. It's a BT line with Orange broadband. As I work from home it's vital that I have a reasonable speed. Currently I have 2.3mb. I have looked at a company called Tooway who do satellite broadband, does anyone have any experience of them or suggestions for ways around this problem.
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09-19-2011, 01:28 PM	#2
jimmylimmy Captain 19 Rep 840 Posts Drives: 'charged VXR8 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	I imagine 3G is out too then? Looking at the Tooway packages, it seems pretty steep and has a data cap Have you confirmed with BT that the download speed is due to the distance? __________________ E92 335d Stealth Edition \| Gone VXR8 Wortec Carbon Edition \| Gone Golf R \| Incoming...
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09-19-2011, 01:30 PM	#3
willhollin Major General 269 Rep 9,915 Posts Drives: VW T5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worcestershire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 330d SE [10.00] 2010 Transporter T5 ... [0.00]	Tell me you didn't name it your 'forever house?' __________________
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09-19-2011, 01:33 PM	#4
Palmnuts Lieutenant Colonel 177 Rep 1,960 Posts Drives: Huracan Evo & Panamera Turbo S Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Leicestershire, UK iTrader: (0)	You don't get that problem living in Legoland
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09-19-2011, 03:20 PM	#6
Gibbo Colonel 108 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: Golf Ed35 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South East iTrader: (0)	Hope you find a solution to the broadband. It would be a shame to loose a great house over this problem. __________________ Golf Ed35 Black with - Black Leather
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09-19-2011, 03:27 PM	#7
briers Ben 62 Rep 1,992 Posts Drives: Tesla p85d Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midlands,UK iTrader: (0)	Check out 3g from o2 or Vodaphone Then there is three. You could get a 3G modem if signal is good.
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09-19-2011, 04:00 PM	#10
Desmondo Lieutenant 14 Rep 461 Posts Drives: E90 330i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Braintree, Essex iTrader: (0)	Satellite is OK but the latency will be pretty dire. Latency is the time it takes for things to "start moving". I simple terms, you send a request for information and the other end responds and sends that back to you...the time it takes is the latency. On a normal broadband connection you're talking less than seconds. With satellite you'll be talking in seconds. This may not be important to you but it may be a little frustrating as everything seems so slow. I'd still say a normal broadband line, no matter how slow, would be better than satellite. __________________
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09-19-2011, 04:59 PM	#12
marshyrob Private First Class 15 Rep 135 Posts Drives: BMW 330d 2017 M Sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SE England iTrader: (1)	Look to see if BT are rolling out FTC (Fibre to the Curb/Cabinet) in your area. http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...?topicId=29017 Put your postcode and/or phone number and it will tell you if your exchange is being upgraded, or is indeed already ready. Worth a look, mine is ready at the end of this month. Then you can subscribe to BT Infinity which claims speeds of "up to" 40MB using a fibre optic link to the cabinet (green box on your street) rather than copper which is what its using at the moment. Copper then runs from the cabinet in the street, to your house, hence the term fibre to the curb.
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