Internet service for remote Locations Satellite?

[Trout Safari]

I am not a tech guy and I am trying to research the options. Many of the locations we are planning on traveling and staying with our Gladiator will not have cell service. I am trying to understand what is necessary to set up a satellite system in our Jeep that will allow us internet service. Equipment, companies, brands etc and any info someone has or knows of someone that specializes in this area is greatly appreciated. The one brand I have seen is Thales, but I have many questions in knowing if this will work. Thank you.

Sponsored

 

[HighNoon]

Maybe The GPS Store has something. They are big in marine products which has the same needs.

 

[IamPro2A]

Depends on how much you need? Just in case of emergencies? Or actual service to chat and browse the web?

 

[Trout Safari]

Depends on how much you need? Just in case of emergencies? Or actual service to chat and browse the web?

For emergency's we can use a sat phone if necessary. The internet access would be work related. We are not in a position to retire yet and have a couple of businesses. We finally are at a point that we would like to take advantage of being completely remote for 2-4 weeks at a time, but we need reliable internet access to make that happen.

 

[Trout Safari]

Maybe The GPS Store has something. They are big in marine products which has the same needs.

I will look them up thank you.

 

[IamPro2A]

OK, so you need more than a PLB, a sat messenger, or even a sat phone. I wonder if something like HughesNet or Starlink would work? Hughes is fairly slow from what I've been told, but fairly good coverage. Elon Musk's Starlink is faster but doesnt have the whole country covered yet.

 

[Trout Safari]

OK, so you need more than a PLB, a sat messenger, or even a sat phone. I wonder if something like HughesNet or Starlink would work? Hughes is fairly slow from what I've been told, but fairly good coverage. Elon Musk's Starlink is faster but doesnt have the whole country covered yet.

I just looked at Hughes net. Their site looks like it is designed around selling plans for a base more than mobile equipment options and info. There has to be someone out there that can set you up from start to finish. I would think people in RV's must do something.

 

[IamPro2A]

I would think people in RV's must do something.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Kevin_D]

People in RVs typically rely on WiFi at the park.
Hughes or Starlink are about all I’ve found, and you’re right, neither are really mobile.
You could look into wireless internet providers, but that will vary by location.

Kevin

 

[Trout Safari]

This is the only kinda thing I found that I am talking about

 

[Schnee]

Starlink is your best answer. I have it in my mountain vacation home where there's no other options, and it's frankly outstanding.

• The equipment is small and well suited for overlanding.
• It automatically adjusts and points itself to the sky. Just set the tripod with dish on the ground where there's open sky, plug it in, and 10-15 minutes later you've got Internet.
• Runs on good 'ol 110 volts.
• Speeds vary but are consistently over 100 Mpbs and often approach 300 Mbps.
• Low latency, so I use it very successfully for web meetings and conference calls.
• No data limits or caps.

There are a couple "BUTS":

• It's expensive: ~$600 for the equipment (plust tax and shipping), plus $110/mo for service. (They just raised their prices from $99/mo.)
• When you sign-up you register a home address. Accomodating overlanders and boondockers is on their roadmap, but not officially supported (although I have a friend whose been using it successfully with his camp trailer at various locations within a 250-mile radius of his house.)
• Depending on where you are located, there's a waiting list to get equipment.
• You might want to investigate whether they accomodate occassional use -- meaning, you only use it a few months out of the year and keep it dormant (not billed) the other months. If you suspend your service, I believe you have to get back on the waiting list for service even though you have the equipment.

I cannot recommend Hughsnet or other satellite services. They are unwieldy, much lower bandwidth, difficult to setup and point, even more expensive than starlink, and have "limited" data.

 

[Trailman]

I know a variety of people doing van-life. There aren't great options yet, but Starlink is close.

Most of the van-life people will plan where they park around work expectations. Either a strong cell signal or access to wifi. Not what you (or I) want, but that's the current reality for stable internet.

Again - Starlink may change this very soon.

 

[Trout Safari]

Starlink is your best answer. I have it in my mountain vacation home where there's no other options, and it's frankly outstanding.

• The equipment is small and well suited for overlanding.
• It automatically adjusts and points itself to the sky. Just set the tripod with dish on the ground where there's open sky, plug it in, and 10-15 minutes later you've got Internet.
• Runs on good 'ol 110 volts.
• Speeds vary but are consistently over 100 Mpbs and often approach 300 Mbps.
• Low latency, so I use it very successfully for web meetings and conference calls.
• No data limits or caps.

There are a couple "BUTS":

• It's expensive: ~$600 for the equipment (plust tax and shipping), plus $110/mo for service. (They just raised their prices from $99/mo.)
• When you sign-up you register a home address. Accomodating overlanders and boondockers is on their roadmap, but not officially supported (although I have a friend whose been using it successfully with his camp trailer at various locations within a 250-mile radius of his house.)
• Depending on where you are located, there's a waiting list to get equipment.
• You might want to investigate whether they accomodate occassional use -- meaning, you only use it a few months out of the year and keep it dormant (not billed) the other months. If you suspend your service, I believe you have to get back on the waiting list for service even though you have the equipment.

I cannot recommend Hughsnet or other satellite services. They are unwieldy, much lower bandwidth, difficult to setup and point, even more expensive than starlink, and have "limited" data.

I will have to give them a call. I am hoping for a permanent mount antenna system to avoid traveling with a dish if possible. 110 may work, and the prices for equipment and service are pretty cheap. Will definitely need to be able to use it mobile, and beyond 250 miles. will see what they say.
Thank you..

 

[Trout Safari]

I know a variety of people doing van-life. There aren't great options yet, but Starlink is close.

Most of the van-life people will plan where they park around work expectations. Either a strong cell signal or access to wifi. Not what you (or I) want, but that's the current reality for stable internet.

Again - Starlink may change this very soon.

Thank you. We are also installing a cell booster, but I know we will be in non service areas a lot

 

[MPMB]

I researched this a few years ago. It's not cheap. The plans back then were about $80/mo for 5MB of data @ ~3mbps. Or something ridiculously small. My home ISP (Xfinity/Comcast) is $70/mo for 1028GB/mo @ 100mbps+

Sponsored