Satellite internet

[GlenMH]

How long are you going for?

I was there for a month in May and used a 3 PAYG sim for e-mail and all the sites we stayed at had wifi.

[TheExcession]

coyft said:

We're going for two months, but won't always be on site. Was hoping to stream netflix, iplayer that sort of thing through the TV.

I was going to suggest hire a BGAN terminal, but you'll only really get about 1/2 Mbit (400-500Kbps) down link speed (on a good day) - that might be ok for watching TV using your Sky-Go account on a tablet or phone but won't cut it on a TV.

They're expensive to rent too ~$20 a day.

Unless you are way out in the sticks a 3G Donlge/MiFi has to be the best option.

Be careful with data usage. This link will give you an idea of how much data usage the Sky Go App will consume.

Don't forget that if you are abroad you will need a VPN back into the UK to use your Sky-Go - pay a few £s for a good service Private Internet Access works well for me (there are others, and obviously people here will argue that I've suggested the wrong one).

If money is no object then buy a VSAT terminal bolt it on to the top of your motorhome and you too can look like a TV news channel outside broadcast unit.

HTH

ETA: Also don't underestimate the amount of power (Electricity) you'll need for sat comms. I don't rate your chances of running a sat link for very long if you are only on a motor home battery - you might be able to 'catch the news and East Enders' but I wouldn't rate your chances of watching more than that unless you have a genny running.

Edited by TheExcession on Thursday 24th September 15:16

[russ_a]

You can use your UK data in Spain for free on Three. Not sure about tethering though.

[nutsytvr]

coyft said:

Just bought motorhome and we're off to Spain for a couple of weeks. having researched satellite TV it seems a lot of the Sky channels are no longer available in Spain as they have moved the satellite. As an alternative I was considering sat internet has anyone got any recommendations?

Thats not correct. A lot depends on whereabouts in Spain, but the main effect of the satellite changes is that bbc, itv, ch4 & 5 are no longer available.

I caravan in Spain frequently, and certainly as far south as Alicante, all the sky channels (news,pick, all channels beginning with "sky", subs channels such as sports, movies, eurosport, bt sport) I get with no problem on an 80cm dish and sky+ box.
Paul

[Pesty]

russ_a said:

You can use your UK data in Spain for free on Three. Not sure about tethering though.

You can't tether. Been here 6 weeks. But free internet is great signal very very patchy though. ( I'm using it now in France and it ain't great either.

I was getting some free channels in the villa no idea what they were 3 movie channels which funnily enough were pretty good. Looking into cancelling sky when I get back.

[chopper602]

Pesty said:

You can't tether.

You can tether, although on my 'all you can eat' data package, you are limited to 4Gb tethering a month.

[Rosscow]

coyft said:

I've bought a 3/4g router which accepts a SIM card so no need to tether. Sim costs about £70 for 10gig of data.

10gb isn't going to get you a lot of TV for 2 months though....

[donaircooleone]

coyft said:

Just bought motorhome and we're off to Spain for a couple of weeks. having researched satellite TV it seems a lot of the Sky channels are no longer available in Spain as they have moved the satellite. As an alternative I was considering sat internet has anyone got any recommendations?

I would check over to see if your happy to pay for the data usage, as streaming will use a fair amount.

Top speed available on mainstream satellite internet systems for motorhomes / caravans is 10Mbit (do not confuse these systems / packages / prices with the fixed dishes that can do upto 20Mbit+, these use a different technology which has not been adapted for use on tourers).

Most go for either Digitaria or BeyonDSL (AKA Satelliteinternet.com):

BeyonDSL:
4Mbit downstream with a 2.5GB limit (!): £15.95 pm.
10Mbit downastream / 4.2GB limit: £24.95 pm.
10Mbit downastream / 8.4GB limit: £29.95 pm.

Digitaria (Italian, no UK IP address range):

1Mbit / unlimited (FUP): EUR 22.90+VAT pm.
6Mbit / 2GB limit: EUR 24.90+VAT pm.

Others are available, be advised some units on the market come with locked modems (i.e. have to use with ISP x). Teleco and Oyster new stock doesn't have this problem.

The satellite system its self will use little to no power when actually online, the modem and Wi-Fi router (you will want one) use hardly anything call it 1-2 amps an hour tops.

The main advantage to satellite internet is reliability.