Author Topic: How to optimize telecom when only satellite internet is available?  (Read 2577 times)

bearman

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We're thinking about moving to a more rural location. In this location, only satellite internet is available. There isn't cell reception. As far as I can tell, there aren't even traditional phone lines there. In a case like this, does anyone here have suggestions for the best voice/internet combo? From what I've read, traditional VoIP (Skype, Vonage, Republic Wireless, etc) doesn't work well in a satellite setting. The only option I can find is something like HughesNet satellite internet + the HughesNet Voice service (special for satellite connections). Has anyone here ever used these products? Or does anyone here have a better telecom/internet solution for a location like this? Thanks!

Daley

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Re: How to optimize telecom when only satellite internet is available?
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2014, 05:08:46 PM »
Nope, you're at the mercy of satellites... and let me tell you, as someone who's worked with developing workable VoIP solutions over MEO satellite data backhauls, latency is a bear.

There's no off-the-shelf consumer solution that I can recommend that would perform well under the circumstances. Skype is the least terrible, but that's mostly due to the codecs used, but I wouldn't use it if I can help it. You can do halfway decent satellite telephony, but it takes custom gear and a considerably different approach to data management than what's seen everywhere else. Most all VoIP providers are designed around low-latency terrestrial connectivity.

If you go that route, all I can say is good luck! That's the trade with rural communications, it's not cheap.

Badass by 41

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Re: How to optimize telecom when only satellite internet is available?
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2014, 06:07:04 AM »
I've never used them, but I was just checking out Excede (http://exceed.com) which seems to have decent pricing. Coupled with VOIP and Direct TV their 12 mo promotion is $29.99/mo for unlimited email/web and 5gb of "other" at 12mbs down.

Anyone have experience with exceed?

bearman

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Re: How to optimize telecom when only satellite internet is available?
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2014, 04:20:10 PM »
I've never used them, but I was just checking out Excede (http://exceed.com) which seems to have decent pricing. Coupled with VOIP and Direct TV their 12 mo promotion is $29.99/mo for unlimited email/web and 5gb of "other" at 12mbs down.

Anyone have experience with exceed?

Wow, that's definitely the leading candidate for me now. FYI, for anyone else, the URL is: http://www.exede.com/

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!