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Can anyone recommend or help me rule out a satellite broadband provider?

  • 12-09-2014 8:59am
    #1
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭


    So more and more often when my three connection craps out I start thinking about getting a satellite broadband connection and this time I think I have to bite the bullet and go for it.

    If anyone has any recommendations then I'd be happy to hear them. At the moment Onwave seems to be the best option but I'm still considering Digiweb. Main requirement is a 20GB min data limit and a nighttime period when usage doesn't count.

    And a specific question: Whats the advantage of SES? Seems slightly more expensive for a smaller download limit?


Comments

  • #2
    pocketmo
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭pocketmo


    I've just compiled a comparison of Digiweb, Onwave, Europasat and Avonline in respect of provision of Tooway Satellite. I have ruled out Digiweb as they have the worst offering and do not offer unlimited overnight usage (only 50%). My preference is Onwave on the Tooway 25 deal, which gives 25Gb monthly allowance and unlimited overnight.

    Avonline is based in the UK and offers Avanti (as well as Tooway) which is supposed to have less contention and be a good bet for Ireland but the cheapest deal with overnight unlimited data offers 50Gb monthly data allowance at €74.95 per month. QSAT also offer Avanti but nowhere near the Avonline deal.

    Onwave Tooway Residential packages do not come with a static IP address so I'm not too sure of the best way to address that - perhaps somebody else might. Onwave SES residential packages do have a static IP address.

    I have no experience with SES - I am currently using Tooway under the NBS and so far it seems to be more reliable than the very poor £G through Three that we were on previously.

    I'd be interested to hear what you go for in the end.


  • #3
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    pocketmo wrote: »
    ...

    I'd be interested to hear what you go for in the end.

    On hold again because 3 service has become more usable, for reasons I can't go into here the service is very cheap ;) but I guess that will end when they finally fully merge with O2.

    I'd ruled out Digiweb and QSat leaving Tooway but I like the look of Avonline http://avonlinebroadband.ie/packages/ and buying the equipment seems a reasonable deal.


  • #4
    Big Wex fan
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭Big Wex fan


    When u say three, i assume u mean mobile broadband. I'm on meteor, router is up in the attic to get strong signal. To improve signal i bought an antenna from china for around 10 bucks to help improve strength. it's a Huawei B260 3G Router.
    The things we have to do to get a decent broadband signal in good old 'modern' Ireland!!!


  • #5
    chewed
    Registered Users Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭chewed


    Big Wex fan wrote: »
    When u say three, i assume u mean mobile broadband. I'm on meteor, router is up in the attic to get strong signal. To improve signal i bought an antenna from china for around 10 bucks to help improve strength. it's a Huawei B260 3G Router.
    The things we have to do to get a decent broadband signal in good old 'modern' Ireland!!!

    Did your antenna work? I was given a booster by 3 and I find it absolutely useless!


  • #6
    Big Wex fan
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭Big Wex fan


    Ya, definitely- getting constant HSPA signal. Also i contacted meteor & asked where the mast I was using so I have it pointed in the right direction.

    There's a similar thread 'how to boost your 3G signal' or something similar to that.
    Got this bit of info below from it

    "Interesting this came back up at just the right time. I discovered that restricting the routers to 900MHz made a huge difference in usability. Even the suspect B683 responded to this and seems to be not dying anymore.
    The problem was the 2100Mhz band all along, and it seems the firmware gives that some priority, which is fine in urban locations, but rurally the 900MHz signal is better at coping with foliage, weather, etc."


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  • #7
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    chewed wrote: »
    Did your antenna work? I was given a booster by 3 and I find it absolutely useless!

    In case you didn't know three have given you nothing they have lent you a booster and will want €200 from you if you cancel your contract and don't return it :mad:


  • #8
    chewed
    Registered Users Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭chewed


    my3cents wrote: »
    In case you didn't know three have given you nothing they have lent you a booster and will want €200 from you if you cancel your contract and don't return it :mad:

    Yes, I've heard this from a lot of people! I'll hang onto it just in case. In fact, I think my speeds are better when I turn it off! :confused:


  • #9
    chewed
    Registered Users Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭chewed


    Big Wex fan wrote: »
    Ya, definitely- getting constant HSPA signal. Also i contacted meteor & asked where the mast I was using so I have it pointed in the right direction.

    There's a similar thread 'how to boost your 3G signal' or something similar to that.
    Got this bit of info below from it

    "Interesting this came back up at just the right time. I discovered that restricting the routers to 900MHz made a huge difference in usability. Even the suspect B683 responded to this and seems to be not dying anymore.
    The problem was the 2100Mhz band all along, and it seems the firmware gives that some priority, which is fine in urban locations, but rurally the 900MHz signal is better at coping with foliage, weather, etc."

    Thanks! What antenna did you buy?


  • #10
    Big Wex fan
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭Big Wex fan


    chewed wrote: »
    Thanks! What antenna did you buy?


    Got from ebay, I think this is the same one

    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/High-Gain-Multi-Band-Mobile-Wireless-Broadband-3G-35dBi-Yagi-Antenna-RP-SMA-Plug-/400757964893?pt=UK_Computing_Directional_Antennas&hash=item5d4f09405d


  • #11
    chewed
    Registered Users Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭chewed


    Big Wex fan wrote: »
    Got from ebay, I think this is the same one

    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/High-Gain-Multi-Band-Mobile-Wireless-Broadband-3G-35dBi-Yagi-Antenna-RP-SMA-Plug-/400757964893?pt=UK_Computing_Directional_Antennas&hash=item5d4f09405d

    And did you use that with a B683 router? I assume you need to point it in the direction of the mast?


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  • #12
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    If you haven't already then look the location of the masts near you here.

    And yes you'll need to point that antenna in the direction of the mast you are connecting to.


  • #13
    Grab All Association
    Registered Users Posts: 3,917 ✭✭✭Grab All Association


    Check out http://www.broadbandforall.eu/

    Satellite is ****ing awful but I imagine it will be a lot better than 3 in your area. Here I'm lucky I have DSL but the neighbours had to put up with NBS


  • #14
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Chris___ wrote: »
    Check out http://www.broadbandforall.eu/

    Satellite is ****ing awful but I imagine it will be a lot better than 3 in your area. Here I'm lucky I have DSL but the neighbours had to put up with NBS

    Thanks a couple on that list I hadn't come across. Still with 3 which is back working reasonably. Rural area and I get really hit hard when neighbors use 3 but most have cursed them and moved onto vodafone :) which I of course recommend as being far superior :D


  • #15
    Big Wex fan
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭Big Wex fan


    chewed wrote: »
    And did you use that with a B683 router? I assume you need to point it in the direction of the mast?

    No, I've a B260a router, getting old but still doing the job. The antenna cost next to nothing so pleasantly surprised when it worked out. There are other antenna out there that are externally mounted that cost 50/60 Euro.


  • #16
    chewed
    Registered Users Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭chewed


    Quick question....I have a B683 router. I have it upstairs pointing towards the nearest mast (which is around 12km away). I get about 2 bars reception when I look at the Admin panel. On a good day (8am to 5pm) I can get an average speed of 3-6 Mbps. After 6pm it can shoot down to under 1 Mbps. Is it worth me getting an antenna (internal or external) to try and boost reception? Will it make any difference to the speeds I'm getting?


  • #17
    Big Wex fan
    Registered Users Posts: 351 ✭✭Big Wex fan


    Mine is much the same - slowest is 1 mbps, signal strength is always max & HSPA. I don't know if a stronger signal will give you better ping & download speeds. But if going to use for heavy usage like gaming, I think stronger the signal the better.


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