Satellite internet?

D

dghough91

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Hi everyone

I'm in search of a satellite internet service provider for a farm in the Free State that obviously can't access ADSL services. Is there such a thing in South Africa? I've searched around a lot and couldn't find any commercial offerings.

Is it price effective? GPRS is the only other option, and that's just inconvenient. If not offered commercially, would it be possible to get satellite internet with a decent download limit for under R1000 per month?

Thanks

PS. Sorry if I put this thread in the wrong category, please move it.
 
Go Virgin Mobile Edge. I'm in Zastron, and pays 60c per mb. I'm downloading between 20 an 30 kb per second.
 
[OUPA]MrNutz;2374362 said:
telkom spacestream express

256 K/bits - Includes data volume cap of 2000 MB
-1 Year contract
- installation = 3 100.00
- price per month = 1 002.1

http://www.telkom.co.za/common/pricelist/prices/local/spacestreamexpress_op2.html

be warned - contention ratio in the day is pathetic - you are lucky to get 10kB/sec.

in all - better than gprs - depends of # of users...where in FS are you?
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Eish.. that's expensive.

It's not for me, just finding out for someone else. About 1 to 3 users just outside Bethlehem.

There seems to be some sort of EDGE signal there with Vodacom (last time I was there) so it's a tad faster than GPRS - might be the way to go. Definitely beats paying R1000/m for 2GB at 10kB/sec.
 
^^ depends if he has EDGE coverage at all

GPRS is not fun for more than 1 user.

where in the FS are you?
 
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What about a load balancing router across 3 or so GRPS connections? Surely still cheaper than satelitte both in installation and monthly costs?
 
hey IceBlade,

going you're route of the country next week - glad to see that Douglas has got 3g and ADSL now - what a pleasure :)
 
[OUPA]MrNutz;2375327 said:
Sorry - my bad - to early to read clearly :)

To the west of the town - edge coverage.

The rest - gprs.
Click to expand...

Oh is it. Damn.

The farms is 20 km south of Bethlehem on the Fouriesburg road just outside the small town of Slabberts. Vodacom 3G works great in Bethlehem itself, I was extremely impressed with the speeds I was getting there last year (Western part of the town). Was even faster than my 8mbit connection in Australia!

Would a high gain antenna help for 20 km away? The place is tucked away in the mountains.
 
[OUPA]MrNutz;2376201 said:
hey IceBlade,

going you're route of the country next week - glad to see that Douglas has got 3g and ADSL now - what a pleasure :)
Click to expand...

Hi [OUPA]MrNutz. Thanks, we are lucky here lol

dghough91 said:
Oh is it. Damn.

The farms is 20 km south of Bethlehem on the Fouriesburg road just outside the small town of Slabberts. Vodacom 3G works great in Bethlehem itself, I was extremely impressed with the speeds I was getting there last year (Western part of the town). Was even faster than my 8mbit connection in Australia!

Would a high gain antenna help for 20 km away? The place is tucked away in the mountains.
Click to expand...

Hi dghough91

The short answer is no. 20 km is too extreme for it and you'd need line of sight to do a long distance jump.

Sorry, but satellite would probably be your best bet for a high speed connection. :(
 
in my experience with clear line of sight max distance for edge = 10km
3g = 6-4km , hsdpa = 3.5km ...all obviously with the help of that poynting antenna on a 3m pipe and 100% LOS

just sad that it seems al the 1-way satellite providers have gone dead - that solution also worked nicely over gprs.

if anyone knows any remaining isps with 1way satellite - please let us know!
 
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