"Fixed/Mobile" Two-way Satellite.

1/25/04
Dashboarder Ron Bunge's field report from South Texas! Click here.

In June, 2002 the FCC licensed Hughes Network Systems (HNS) to provide two-way mobile internet connectivity under the DirecWay gateway and MotoSat's dish/receiver technology.

There are a variety of vendors selling the service under brand names like Datastorm.

Hughes DirecWay also supplies service to iNetVu, a Canadian firm (& competitor of Datastorm)[More info about iNetVu]

$3995, Dish, Mounting hardware and automatic targeting acquisition software.

Installation Costs: List price is $1000, but some dealers are installing units for $500

Monthly Internet Service: $99 to $500/month. Marketed as "unlimited access" but per-month charges are based upon bandwidth usage each month. (**See notes below)

A January 2004 Field Test reported average upload speeds of 70 Kbps & 1000 K bps download. During the test, uploads as low as 8 Kbps and as high as 1787 Kbps were observed.

Networks: MotoSat will be releasing (in 1Q -04) an external network connection box that enables networking of up to 15 computers without needing a PC/server.

First true 2-way data satellite product for consumers. Software is designed to raise and aim the dish, target and acquire the proper communication satellite without manual programming by user. In most cases, user can be online within 8-10 minutes of clicking on the satellite icon on the PC screen.

System is VPN capable, but requires additional software to lessen the effects of latency (potential connection failure caused by the extreme distances between satellites and the earth).

The service employs a 39" by 24" oblong satellite dish that can be used to access both the Internet and TV programming that is mounted on an aluminum platform and controlled by a 11"x9"x1" controller that is connected to a PC (minimum 500 Mhz). The Datastorm software completely controls the entire targeting and signal acquisition process from inside the vehicle. The vehicle must be parked when the satellite receiver is being used. Excessive movement of the vehicle will result in a stowing of the dish by the software. In the stowed position, the satellite dish is only 10.5" tall. The dish can sustain a 40-mph wind and can operate in both rain and snow storms.

By licensing agreement, there is no "consumer version" of this service, but any person can purchase and use the "Basic Business" service. There are some coverage problems in Alaska and northern Canada, but generally access is possible throughout North America. VPN and multiple user configurations including the use of wireless LANs in the area surrounding the vehicle are possible with this service. The major differences among vendors are the degree and implementation of customer support. The market leader is Ground Control in this regard.

**Monthly Internet Service: The basic level of service costs $99 per month (many dealers offer first three months free) and is considered "unlimited access," but is subject to a "Fair Access Policy" restriction. In the event that a user were to download more than 500 Mb in a four hour period, the access speed for the service would be downgraded from 400 Kbps to 56 Kpbs for 12 hours and then the service to the higher speed would be restored. Most users will not exceed this 500 Mb limit but there are higher monthly access plans allowing up to 1000 Mb of download if required. Dashboarder Bill Adams, who installs DataStorm systems on the road, suggests this resource: Insider information about FAP and the Hughes Network satellite systems.

4/18/04 Read Bill Adams' article about DataStorm: New Age in Mobile Connectivity.

For more information and photographs of installed Fixed/Mobile applications check out:MotoSat's DataStorm, and Ground Control's "Broadband Internet Anywhere".

TV Service is available through Dish network (starting at $30/month) or DirecTV (starting at $32/month). A satellite receiver is required--an existing receiver works, or a new one is usually under $100.

Resources: Photos & information from dashboarders who are in the field & using Datastorm right now!

FIELD REPORT 5/22/03: Ground Control owner Mark Wright phoned RoadTrip America via VOIP (voice over Internet) from "the middle of nowhere," (actually somewhere east of Ely, Nevada) and described his field test results using the Hughes DW4020 gateway. He dowloaded files at speeds approaching 1.8 Mb! The cost of the new gateway is about $700 more than the standard DirecWay modem.