bucko Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Hi guys. In the summer holidays wen I get a decent job I?m hoping to get satellite internet because broadband hasn?t been activated in Desford (UK) yet. It can be activated if so many people register interest but I feel that?s a waste of time because then I would have to wait about another 4 months for BT to implement broadband. Here is what I?m hoping to do. I?m hoping to chose a satellite company called www.silvermead.net/broadband/satellite because they say that they will be able to upgrade your sky digital equipment in a certain way so that you can receive both Sky digital TV and Satellite Internet. I?m sure our current satellite position should work because our old Astra box uses a similar line of sight so I guess satellite TV uses the same line of sight for that. I just wanted to know a few things first, Do any of you guys use this company in the past? Is it better for me to buy my own equipment rather than pay the installation charge? What LNB should I buy if I decide not to go with the installation package? What Satellite card should I buy if I chose not to go with installation package? Is it supported by http://www.smoothwall.org (e.g. proxy/VPN)? And any other information/recomendations sure is welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason the Eighty Eighth Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 personally, i think you should choose ISDN 128kb for the time being instead of satellite. satellite has a bad reputation of having slow upload links, unless it is a two way satellite (if it is one way, you have satellite downloading and modem uploading, as far as i know), and i believe it is not a value. wait till ADSL comes out there, and you should consider getting it. and worst of all, satellite's speeds drop down to extremely slow speeds once the weather is bad. satellite is only good for sunny days, i have heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucko Posted May 5, 2003 Author Share Posted May 5, 2003 Yer well I was only planning to have a downstreem connection to utilise with my current freeserve connection. For crying out loud like I said it's going to take years for broadband to come in our area mate. I do know the limitations of weather lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MxxCon Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 in addition ping on satellite connection is hella high..i think the best you can get is like 300ms so forget about multiplayer games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 satillite too expensive. ISDN too expensive, cost $0.01 per channel + Monthly Fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss1 Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 satillite too expensive.ISDN too expensive, cost $0.01 per channel + Monthly Fee. Not in the UK. 64K ISDN is nice and cheap in the UK. 128K ISDN is expensive but that's expected. I would take 64K ISDN any day over 56K Analouge Modem. At least you're getting a digital connection will be able to get anywhere between 50-150ms ping on UK game servers as well. ss1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Ok the low down. DO NOT GET SAT! It sux royal butt. I had it for 2 years when I was a high school senior in the country. Forget playing games because the pings are so high, and FAP is just crazy. Depending on which company you go with, direcpc or crap what other one is that... I went with direcpc, but wow did i hate it, but i guess it was better than nothing. But you pay way to much for not being able to download at a constant rate. If i were i'd get ISDN. Hey also, i still have my dircpc system, its a 1 way system. If you wanna buy it from me PM me. I've got pictures of it, has the software with it even though they released newer stuff on website. But i'm looking to sell it and its in perfect condition. Never had a problem with it except in rain when signal goes. Its indoors now so its out of the weather so not like its getting damaged. If your interested in it please get ahold of me, I really wanna get that thing out of my room since i've moved onto cable modem where i live now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 (edited) Did i mention I still have the box for it and all the cable for you and modem and installation instructions and compus and oh god what else, the mount bracket with bolts, EVERYTHING. I take care of my stuff..... Edited May 5, 2003 by Intelligen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkyoshi Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 If you do get Sattelite try to get 2-Way so you can experience fast speeds both ways without having to dial up everytime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossonthenet Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Don't go with Silvermead.. read the ISPr Forums @ http://www.ispreview.co.uk and then go to the Forums, Then Satellite, then Silvermead. This Sat ISP is plagued with problems. Personally, i'm getting BT Midband instead (bt.com/midband, or bt.com/btmidband). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Don't go with 2way, its a RIP OFF!!! And when it rains, you will have no internet what so ever. At least with 1 way you have a backup dialup connection, may be slow but you can still get on.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCKing Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 The only problems with Satellite are high latency and weather affects your shot.... If you just want to download and such, you will be fine... But, you will have lag in online games... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucko Posted May 6, 2003 Author Share Posted May 6, 2003 Intelligen, you saying I could use that hardware/software with a differen't SAT provider. It look's great stuff. I'm quiet skint so I hope we can work a good deal. Were about's do you live. I live in UK btw. Also I have a network system that will allow me to switch of (not use) my SAT connection because I know online gaming ping will be helrious. I just would like to download stuff with it. I don't mind about the weather, neways it's almost summer so whats there to lose. I won't go with silvermead then. I'm looking for an ISP downstreem service in UK, anyone gona help me out on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 im about to upgrade my 64k ISDN to 512K ADSL in the Uk, i'd recommend ISDN, remember you only get 128k if you use your voice line as well (twice the cost per minute plus busy tones for anyone calling you) but it kicks 56k's ass, always 64k, 4 second, dial up. Bt upgraded my exchange to ADSL in a month after the trigger was reached, how long do you reckon it'll be before your exchange is done? what you at now? also, remember....unless you go with BT Broadband, they'll charge you ?50 to change your line from ISDN to ADSL (its free with BT Broadband) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 No you have to go through direcpc.com service for it. If you have starband or any of these other ISP for sat then you'll have to get their dish. This is just for their service... but hell i see all Sat service providers are the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenMaster Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 If you can get it ISDN is the way to go. I'd prob venture to say that ISDN might be cheaper in the UK than in the US because the long distance telco rates are cheaper on it. I've read that you have to pay expensive LD rates for calls across the city or to other towns which is why dial-up was so expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucko Posted May 7, 2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2003 OK, I read the FAQ of DirectPC and it doesn't mention Europe? I'm living in the UK, If I point it to the right direction (I think it's southern hemosphere) would it be alright. Another note Intelligen perhaps if I find a service that allows you to just buy a service package then il be alright because I have the equipment. I was also thinking of buying a serperate cable in line amplifier to help boost the signals if it is say bad weather or anything. I'm really not bothered by online gameing. I just wan't to d/l big programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 Ya i wasn't sure if its available in europe, sorry for not checking on that for you. and no you can't use the direcpc equipment with other providers. Applications are what control the hardware pretty much, and their software is only workable for their system, each system is created differently just like a Mac OS and a Windows machine.... Sorry i couldn't help you. I'm going to put my dish on ebay here soon anyhow. But if you find a provider that will give you'd check for equipment on ebay or something instead of buying brand new. Its expensive brand new. I think mine cost me 200 just for equipment than 40 bucks a month for service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucko Posted May 7, 2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2003 OK, thanks for all of your information anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucko Posted May 7, 2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2003 Ok, ISDN. Whats the deal with it. I'm skint, live in UK and wondering how much it will cost to upgrade, buy a modem (thinking of EBAY) and any other information that's required. Whats the best/cheapest ISP to go with, I beilieve 64k is cheaper so recomend them ones for now please. Cheers for information. Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 you have to go with BT, the modem comes with it. you have to pay for the call charges; ive got freeserve anytime on my connection. check http://www.bt.com/homehighway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobbe Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 The latencies are enormous... Think of the distance to the satelite. ISDN is good, it's digital, even if it's 64kbps or 128bps it's much better than the old analog stuff. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intelligen Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Not if its a low earth satellite system like bluewild... but who knows when that will be activated.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingChris Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Hi, Get either freeserve or virgin, as an isp only ?13ish per month, for 64k You can leave it on all day everyday and they don't moan about using up too many hours. 2 hr disconnection on virgin but reconnection is instant. You can connect to the ISDN box using a USB cable as BT changed the boxes, the ping times are quite a bit slower. But i would recomend getting a terminal adaptor or a router from ebay, both very cheap now as people jack in the equipment for asdl. Also if your equipment supports it if you are using 2 lines (128k) one line gets dropped when an incomming call is comming. I was considering a satalite service to completment my ISDN for faster downloading, but I might just get a seccond account for the the ISDN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovedude Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Satellite Internet, quite expensive. And browsing speed of webpages is normal speed really like modem the only fast use of it kicks in on the downloads, the Upload speed isn't that good either. Im just using ISDN at the moment until Radio Broadband moves my way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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