Anyone here have any comments, observations or reports on the latest improved satellite technology that Xplorenet is now selling? And at lower prices?
Preamble for rural internet users in Quebec and Canada:
I've been using Bell Mobility's Turbohub (basically a "nailed-to-the-wall" cellphone) in my rural location for the past three years.
Prior to this, I had
BASIC DIALUP. Of course there is still no "lit" fibre or xSLAMs in our neighbourhood, but, gee- lots of DARK fibre on every rural road!
The alternatives here for internet are
1. land-line V92 dial-up, (ugh!)
2. cellphone (as above),
3. low-power P2mP wifi relays - there are two such enterprises in our area, and
4. Satellite (geostationary)
There's a 5th internet rural alternative apparently in the works, involving low-level birds with lots of repeaters. It will operate much like satellite phones, but don't expect it for several years.
My option-2 above, currently being used, has reasonable speed (3- 6 mbs) and response, (60-200 ms) but the major providers (Bell and Rogers) have ridiculous monthly data allotments - anything over 10 gb/ month costs $15 /gb!
With current video streaming AND Windows / Linux monthly upgrades each taking 200 to 350 mb for each operating system (I have 6 on my three PCs), this 10 Gb gets eaten up pretty quickly, long before the end of the month.
It's a good thing I don't have kids living at home any more!
Option-3 (the P2MP) to me seems the best choice, but its weak signal doesn't permit anything such as trees between the base station and the customer. And I have quite a few tall trees. Perhaps if I put up a 50' tower....
BUT!
In the last year or so, Xplorenet have upgraded their system to use the new EchoStar XVII satellite launched in July 2012. 4G speeds are now available to Internet-satellite end-users. Of course the response is still in the 600-900 ms range. And always will be.
I've heard of several users in the neighbourhood tossing out their Rogers and Bell Mobility fixed-base internet devices and opting for Xplorenet.
And Xplorenet have also dropped their prices, as well as contract conditions.
- - - See
HERE for Xplorenet pricing. - - -
As asked at top of this post, anyone here have any comments, observations or reports on the latest improved internet satellite technology?