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Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 05:57
by ajb
Does anyone on the forum have any experience of satellite broadband? The speeds up here in this remote part of the UK are getting slower and slower. Now down to around 1Mbit which is useless for anything other than text and low graphics

Fibre is being installed on the island but when or even if it will reach the village I live in is a big unknown. Although I get free broadband due to my wife's company it is so slow I am seriously considering the alternative. If anyone can give me any help or advice here I would be most grateful.
Andy
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 13:06
by Chris Sykes
erm not had experience but have heard things regarding it... can slow down due to rain for instance
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 14:25
by 511Flyer
I've got SKY TV, and we very often lose the signal in heavy rain. My SKY broadband is on SKY FIBRE, and it fairly zips along.
Living in Surrey now, but I lived in rural Herefordshire for 26 years previously, and the broadband speed was abyssmal.
Good luck for the future.

Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 16:16
by TSR2
Most satellite broadband services still rely on a ground link for upload as they are in effect asynchronous services. I.e. Downloads come via the satellites and uploads are via the traditional copper land connection. Latency is horrific meaning its not good for video calling or voice. Its expensive for what you get. I'd wait and see what happens after the fibre goes in, as even if it only goes as far as the next village, it may improve your lot considerably as the copper leg would be much shorter.
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 17:40
by robbie
I'm stuck with it up here in Newfoundland, no other option for us, the speed varies depending on the weather, last night we had a blizzard so I lost the signal almost all evening, costs me almost $50 CAN a month for 10g.
That''s why I'm trying to buy all my add-ons boxed, It takes about 3 hours to d/l 1g, living in the Canadian wilderness has it's down side!!.
Robbie.
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 18:48
by petermcleland
I used satellite broadband many years ago before telephone line broadband was available here. There is a degree of "Latency" in satellite broadband that I was pleased to see the back of when the telephone BB finally arrived. I would not contemplate using Sat BB again.
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 04 Dec 2014, 19:07
by ajb
Thanks for all your replies, very helpful. There are services on offer here which do not rely on landline uplinks and the weather, whilst windy, is seldom snowy or even heavy rain. Even so I think caution is required and more research before I contemplate any rash moves.
Thanks again guys!
Andy
Re: Satellite broadband
Posted: 05 Dec 2014, 16:12
by GHD
There is an article in the Telegraph this morning showing an undersea cable between Ullapool and Lewis.
See:
http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/news/2 ... _scotland/