Mobile solution (3G or Satellite)

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Aaroona

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#119133 21-May-2013 20:38

I'm wondering if there are any solutions out there, either via 3G/4G/Satellite, that would provide internet coverage relatively uninterrupted going up the east-coast (AKL city to Gulf Harbourish. PS: must be a mobile solution.

I'm going to need 50GB or more per month...

Lets say cost isn't a huge factor (I'm expecting upwards of ~$1000 a month ish)

oxnsox

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#823173 21-May-2013 21:07

Is rural broadband an option??
I've been using 3g bb for a number of years. ... but no way could I afford 50gb. An extra 500megs at current rates requires mortgage negotiations

Aaroona

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#823175 21-May-2013 21:09

oxnsox: Is rural broadband an option??
I've been using 3g bb for a number of years. ... but no way could I afford 50gb. Assign extra 500megs at current rates requires mortgage negotiations

Hey, thanks for your reply.
Nope - not rural. Definitely needing a mobile solution (sorry, I didn't make that clear in my post!).

Needs to be able to be connected at all times, despite being a moving target :)

knoydart

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#823195 21-May-2013 21:16

What type of movement are we talking about - car, boat, bus, lorry?

If you really want continuous coverage, go get multiple subscriptions from the cellular operators and aggregate them together for continuous coverage.

Mobile satellite (read BGAN from immarsat for example) will cause you to take 2 mortgages a month with that rate of data consumption.

Aaroona

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#823197 21-May-2013 21:19

knoydart: What type of movement are we talking about - car, boat, bus, lorry?

If you really want continuous coverage, go get multiple subscriptions from the cellular operators and aggregate them together for continuous coverage.

Mobile satellite (read BGAN from immarsat for example) will cause you to take 2 mortgages a month with that rate of data consumption.

Hmm, thats what I'm thinking. ideally it'll be fixed to a boat.

When you say multiple subscriptions to the cell operator, do you mean like 1 per operator? how would you then tie those together to get them to work?

knoydart

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#823201 21-May-2013 21:24

I'm guessing there are options to bond multiple numerous 3G (4g coverage is not widespread in AKL at present nor are there data sticks on the market to my knowledge) data sticks together. A quick "startpage" offers this suggestion but sure there are other devices to do the job

oxnsox

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#823211 21-May-2013 21:51

If you on a boat then really you're talking Inmarsat, multiple channels to get some bandwidth. But its high $$ and now not great bandwidth wise. If you're tied to a dock, most marinas willl have some wireless or wired option.

But VF appear to have good coastal 3G coverage and you can get solutions from rural bb suppliers that would give you data (and voice) options.

It's the 50gigs that's the killer

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raytaylor

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#823855 22-May-2013 23:03

Farmside (I cant believe i am saying something good about them) can probably offer you something that would give you 50gb a month for less then $500 but you will need a fairly expensive satellite terminal which I would expect to cost a few thousand dollars. You will also be limited to the time of day (offpeak) when using it. I understand they provided remote internet services on LOTR movie sets during filming.

Farmside would give you
$79 - 2mbit down / 1mbit up with 2gb data
And then
$29 - 60gb data between midnight & 8am
or
$795 - 5x anytime 10gb data packs = 50gb

When i called them about 3 years ago for a 1mbit CIR dedicated connection, it was about $1000+gst which would do 320gb in a month. I dont know if this price would have come down but asking for a dedicated connection may also be another option.

There are also other satelites more dedicated to providing internet at sea - most used by fishing and cruise ships. I expect the cost per gigabyte to be 10x more expensive, though the satelite terminals may be more readily avaliable for smaller craft.

Bay City Communications (who used to/are still farmside's parent company) has a range of terminal equipment. Nothing listed for boats but it could be worth giving them a call.
http://www.bccnz.com/index.php/services/mobile-satellite

Edit: here is a pdf from a quick google search i found titled - Ipstar bringing broadband to maritime
http://www.uk-emp.co.uk/app/download/5789150105/1135_Nile_Suwansiri_Thaicom.pdf
So maritime terminals must be available.

On the other hand,
You can buy 3g routers that will bond together multiple 3g data sticks to offer a super fast or ultra reliable 3g connection.
This will have a cheaper start up cost.

I would look into the 3g bonding option first.
You will need to get both a telecom and a vodafone unit, bond them together with a couple of 180 degree 850-900mhz sector antennas up high on the mast of your boat, aimed at land.
The idea is that you should hopefully be able to pick up a vodafone or telecom signal (or both) and your router will just use the one it can get service through, or load balance between them both.

Vodafone are not listing their old 4gb plan on their website at the moment. Their biggest is $49 per month for 2gb
Telecom are offering 4gb for $80 and another 4gb for another $80 (8gb=$160) before it turns to expensive per megabyte pricing - at which point you swap the sim card in the telecom stick.

How do I know this?
I have researched it - if i win lotto, in my spending plan, i would be purchasing a boat and getting this sort of system installed - though i wouldnt be using 50gb a month on it as i would hope to sail between napier and wellington or auckland while still having internet.

Edit 2: just re-read your original post saying $1000 per month is what you are expecting to pay.
I would say go with farmside then if you can get a maritime terminal and just ask them for a CIR connection of 512k to 1mbit
Its probably going to be the most reliable option. Though vodafone and telecom do have some good coverage at sea but it may still be patchy in some areas.

Ray Taylor

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Zeon

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#823861 22-May-2013 23:10

Mobile 3g coverage at sea is good as long as there aren't islands between you and the mainland. Also depends how far off the coast you go.

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