.jpg)
MotoSat Mobile Internet Solution
For those hard core Internet junkies who are avid travelers and require Internet access for business or pleasure - no matter where you are - there is a solution! It consists of a satellite based Internet connection and MotoSat has produced the equipment for your RV to make it possible.
Most likely you have seen the commercials on TV for HugesNet Internet access. Through a satellite dish connection you can receive Internet access anywhere in the country, even in areas where cable and DSL are not available. That is possible because instead of relying on physical connections, HugesNet uses satellite connectivity. Anyone in the US with a clear view of the southern sky can receive Internet access by having a HughesNet dish installed on their home. However, trying to use one of these dishes with an RV presents a real challenge since people in RV's tend to constantly move around. Anyone that has an RV and has tried to bring a TV satellite dish and set it up on a tripod knows what a hassle this can be. Dragging out the equipment, setting up the dish and finding the correct satellite by pointing it at the southern sky and calibrating it properly is a major pain in the !@#$%^. Many people will tell you that it is no problem and I admit that I have done this in the past also, but I never found it easy or fun. Similarly, although many people setup TV satellite dishes on tripods, their setup is usually illegal since there are strict rules as to how far a satellite dish needs to be off the ground so that people are not getting zapped by radiation. In some instances I have even heard stories of FCC officials going to RV trade shows and fining people with these types of setups. To compound the issue, the dish used for Internet access is larger and heavier.
Well the good news is that there is no need to bother with all that. MotoSat has a solution. Once installed on your RV a MotoSat dish automatically raises and lowers at the touch of a button and finds the proper satellite for you (once you are parked of course). With a built in GPS and a special controller box, the dish always knows where it is and searches the southern sky for the correct satellite and connects automagically. The whole process can take up to 7 minutes and is a bit slow, however it is effortless on your part. In addition, it is legal and you can even have additional equipment installed to use the same dish to receive satellite TV and even HDTV. This is the solution that we chose for our RV and thus far we have been extremely happy, with a few caveats which we will discuss.
(Picture of our MotoSat dish on our 5th wheel)
There are a couple of disadvantages to a MotoSat satellite dish. The first and foremost is the cost. The base F1 model will cost approximately $4500. In addition it has to be installed by a qualified technician and that will run you another $1000. Once installed the base monthly service package will cost approximately $79.99. With the basic service you will receive up to 1000 Kbps download speeds and 200 Kbps upload speeds. Additionally there are certain limitations on usage called a FAP, which stands for Fair Access Policy. If you exceed 50MB of data transfer within a 4 hour period your access will be throttled down. Thus far, this has never become and issue for us.
There are three other disadvantages that I would like to discuss. First, getting a connection requires a clear view of the southern sky. This can be a challenge when you are trying to camp in the woods. Second, access speeds can sometimes be a bit slow. There are two reasons for this. Let's say you are trying to access a webpage. The request for a webpage needs to travel 22 miles up to the satellite and 22 miles down to the satellite station before your request is routed over the Internet. Once your request for the webpage is received it must travel back again. This leads to a second or two of latency. Second, Hughes tends to oversubscribe their satellites. Depending on what time of day you are trying to get access and how many people are using the satellite simultaneously you may see additional delays. Regardless of these issues however, I have always been able to get access no matter where I have been and when you are sitting in the middle of the woods with nobody around for miles, it is amazing.
(A picture of my wife Amanda teaching online while camping in the woods)
In addition to the Satellite dish we also have a wireless router setup so that we can both access the Internet simultaneously and so that we do not have to sit in the RV and maintain a physical connection. This summer while we were attending the Burning Man festival in the middle of the Black Rock desert of Nevada many people noticed the dish and noticed us sitting outside using our laptops to surf the web. Needless to say, we were very popular neighbors and we were happy to share our connection.
There are a couple of other things that I would like to point out. Due to the latency of satellite connectivity (having to travel 22 miles up and back, etc.), the basic package is not VoIP or VPN friendly. It is not impossible, but it can be frustrating to get working if at all. If you need VoIP or VPN for business and you are willing to spend the money, larger dishes and faster service with more bandwidth as well as other providers (rather than Hughes) are available. Additionally, you can receive connectivity in parts of Canada and Mexico. If you need more information feel free to contact us at BigBoyToysOnline or your local MotoSat installer.
For more information or to find a dealer, visit Motosat at www.motosat.com.
To get more info from the MotoSat user community visit www.datastormusers.com
