[Hidden-tech] Satellite Phone

[Craig D. Miller]

Hi Ken,

I use a HughesNet Gen4 satellite internet and phone service on a hilltop 
in Shelburne.

Internet: $50/month internet for 10/gb/month max (& hook my wifi router 
to it) -- fast burst rate (10mb/sec download) for email and web surfing, 
FORGETABBOUTIT if you want streaming internet or skype calls, because of 
the satellite delay (~700ms ping, if you know what that means).

Phone: $30/month for unlimited US and Canada calling.  I plug my land 
line phone into the satellite phone box.  NO direct international 
calling, so I just use a phone card with 800 number.

It is only better and cheaper if you have a more expensive or very poor 
land line phone, and no clear cell signal and no cable or DSL. That's my 
house -- its all relative folks, so "better and cheaper" that what?  For 
me it is a life saver.  I use it as a backup, and use cell phone and 
office internet for my heavy surfing and calling.

Also, all outdoor wireless signals get blocked by weather -- thick storm 
clouds with snow or heavy rain will block a satellite signal. My cell 
phone actually gets better in snow, because the snow bounces the cell 
signals over the hill that blocks the cell tower.

Craig
craigdmiller.com


Ken Russell wrote, On 8/12/14, 9:45 AM:
>
> Friends,
>
> We have a small retreat center on a mountain-top in Shutesbury -- 
> phone and net access are iffy at best.
>
> Does anyone know about satellite phones or other (ideally 
> inexpensive!) methods of getting better service in such places?
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Ken

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