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Latency on a single satellite connection can be up to 1/2 second, compared to 50 milliseconds for other broadband options. This is sufficient to make it untennable for VOIP, gaming applications, cloud applications, and video streaming (depending on the implementation). This is why companies like My Blue Dish advertise themselves as "an excellent replacement for dial up." The satellite internet providers know that they aren't a good substitute for ground-based network options. Add in weather patterns messing up your network connection, and satellite internet is basically a stopgap measure between dial-up and a real broadband connection.

Most DSL are resellers for a few fixed companies like Covad, etc. That "even more competition" that you refer to is an illusion... Your local ISP can provide upstream after the Covad-leased line (after they extract their ridiculous cut, frequently higher than they charge end-users for the service), but it is basically just a rebranding of the same thing. Further, DSL speeds are incredibly variable depending on the quality of local phone lines, local wiring, distance to center, if water has built up anywhere, phase of the moon, and any one of a number of other factors. In older cities, DSL is not a reliable option.

Which leaves cable (a regulated monopoly), and fiber (rare, but getting more available). That's not a whole lot of competition there.

Iridium is the obvious answer. It's an LEO satellite system. That means the satellites fly low in the sky, at an altitude of around 500 miles. So, you don't need a directional antenna to reach it. It's also visible from everywhere on earth. Downside: expensive per minute and oh so painfully slow (2400 baud. Call it 10% of a modern modem).

http://iridiumclassic.com/service/iri_service-detail.asp?serviceid=18&method=direct2

While in port, you may be able to use a set of normal satellite Internet services like Dish. Faster. Cheaper. But it communicates with geostationary orbit at an altitude of 26,000 miles. This means you're hauling a great big dish onto the deck and spending 10 or 20 minutes aiming it before you can use it, and then you only have a prayer of success while actually in port where the ship's movement is, if you're lucky, within the fraction of a degree tolerance for the dish's aim. Also, each geostationary satellite system has a earthside footprint that it can see. You'd have evaluate which satellite systems reach which footprints where you're going to be.

http://www.mybluedish.com/

Most of the customers at MyBlueDish seem to easily use up the lowest plan which provides around 7.5GB. That is without large files and very minimal streaming. So, I would guess average monthly usage for someone with a fast connection would be about 40GB-60GB. That is unless you collect anime/linux distros like the apocalypse could strike at any minute.

All joking aside, if it wasn't for the abysmal access to broadband network access in rural, much less remote areas of the United States, I'd be all for self sufficiency.

I've lived on 8 acres, not huge, but nice hobby farm type in the rural midwest, and the cost to bring reliable high speed access to that property was several hundred a month for a 256k frame connection into my network, so naturally no transit fees. This was in 1995, and 13 years later it is still the same there, and most other rural locations I would bet.

My parents are in a similar situation and use wild blue. I believe they have the 12GB 30-day download limit/FAP. They're pretty happy with it because it beats dial up, and we [children] are happy with it because we can VNC in whenever we want and keep their computers running smoothly.

All joking aside, if it wasn't for the abysmal access to broadband network access in rural, much less remote areas of the United States, I'd be all for self sufficiency.

I've lived on 8 acres, not huge, but nice hobby farm type in the rural midwest, and the cost to bring reliable high speed access to that property was several hundred a month for a 256k frame connection into my network, so naturally no transit fees. This was in 1995, and 13 years later it is still the same there, and most other rural locations I would bet.

My parents are in a similar situation and use wild blue. I believe they have the 12GB 30-day download limit/FAP. They're pretty happy with it because it beats dial up, and we [children] are happy with it because we can VNC in whenever we want and keep their computers running smoothly.

I've seen other mentions of WildBlue on here. If you are really looking for a cheap option WildBlue is probably the way to go. Installation prices are comparable to other providers, but service plans start at $49.99.

Note: It might not be available in all of Canada and reviews are always mixed with satellite providers on Broadband Reports.

The WildBlue dish is 28x26 inches.

Mounting this jet black dish inconspicuously would not seem to present any particular problem.