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Domain: skycasters.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to skycasters.com.

Comments · 8

  1. We've done some homework... by dandv · · Score: 1 · on A Floating Home For Tech Start-ups

    Regrettably, the OP didn't include a link to our FAQ, which would have cleared up many concerns.

    We'll be anchored 12 nautical miles (22 km) offshore. The water depth is around 250ft, as can be seen on Google Earth.

    For internet connectivity, we'll be using solutions similar to the Ubiquity Solution radios and antennas - range 75km, bandwidth 150Mbps per combo. Satellite backup from Skycasters (6Mbps/1.5Mbps) is only $100/mo as long as your main line is up.

    One of the accommodation barges we're thinking of is 190m x 45m.

    SwedishChef, given your experience, we're definitely interested in your constructive input. Drop us a line if you'd like at http://blueseed.co/contact-us.html

  2. You're pretty much stuck with satellite. by AugstWest · · Score: 2, Interesting · on (Near) Constant Internet While RV'ing?

    The only technology that blankets the planet is satellite. No other signal has the reach. It's that simple.

    It isn't just HughesNet anymore, there are other companies in the space (get it?) now too, like WildBlue, Skycasters and some others.

    I would highly recommend picking up a portable satellite setup like you'll find by clicking on my signature. I'm not really shilling for it, it's my father-in-law's hobby business, but he has come up with some pretty cool stuff.

  3. Skycasters has speeds in which we commit data can by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 3, Informative · on Satellite Internet Providers

    Skycasters has speeds in which commit data can be transferred and they have Platinum Service Plan will be optimized for VoIP

    All plans include 1 publicly routable static IP address.

    http://www.skycasters.com/broadband-satellite-compare/compare.html

  4. I hate taxes as much as the next guy, but... by megaditto · · Score: 1 · on FCC Approves New Internet Phone Taxes
    This tax is meant to subsidize free emergency payphones, rural access, and public library/school access. Since there is no Free Lunch, let us be pragmatic and realize that someone does have to pay for these 'free' services. For example, in the past you used to have to pay to dial 911 from a payphone, but we the People decided against it, so now we pay.
    From TFA: The $7.3 billion [phone tax] fund, which has been a feature of U.S. policy for more than 70 years, subsidizes telephone service in rural and low-income areas. It also runs a controversy-plagued program called E-Rate that provides discounted Internet and phone service to schools and libraries.

    On the other hand, whether the VoIP tax should be going to baby Bells (as opposed to subsidizing sattelite access internet for rural areas is a question we should be debating. The article quotes Kohlenberger's amazingly insightful analogy
    "The FCC's efforts on VoIP are like trying to solve traffic and energy problems by stifling the rollout of energy-efficient hybrid vehicles, while subsidizing SUVs"

    The good news that this tax is not a flat fee (like a wiretap access) but is taken as a portion of what one already spends, which means those making $3/month worth of calls will likely pay $0.10 and not $2.00 as everybody else
  5. We've got a van that does this by heymarcel · · Score: 1 · on Temporary Wireless Service For An Outdoors Event?

    We just set up a van to do the sort of thing you're describing. We went with Skycasters for the mobile Direcway/Hughes dish mounted on a '66 Ford Econoline, and then added various goodies on the inside. Skycasters also sells a man-portable satellite unit originally designed for FEMA. That may be just the ticket for your application. One thing to keep in mind is that the satellite downlink is zippy, but the uplink is incredibly slow and the overall latency is terrible. So you'll want to set up on-site proxy servers for any service you plan to use a lot. You'll also need a clear view of the southern sky.

  6. We've got a van that does this by heymarcel · · Score: 1 · on Temporary Wireless Service For An Outdoors Event?

    We just set up a van to do the sort of thing you're describing. We went with Skycasters for the mobile Direcway/Hughes dish mounted on a '66 Ford Econoline, and then added various goodies on the inside. Skycasters also sells a man-portable satellite unit originally designed for FEMA. That may be just the ticket for your application. One thing to keep in mind is that the satellite downlink is zippy, but the uplink is incredibly slow and the overall latency is terrible. So you'll want to set up on-site proxy servers for any service you plan to use a lot. You'll also need a clear view of the southern sky.

  7. I use a DirecWay reseller by markd · · Score: 1 · on Experiences with DirecWay Satellite Internet
    I have my satellite internet through a group called SkyCasters (http://skycasters.com), since they explicitly say they support non-windows platforms (Mac OS X in particular for me). I have a DW4020 stack - transmit unit, receive unit, and a simple cisco switch on my network. I just point my machines to it for routing. Support with them has been pretty good, even though if you're having problems with internet software (like IRC or AIM), they won't help you. I've never had more than a 5 minute wait when calling support. They're geared to supporting the business customer rather than the end-user PC rabble.

    I haven't experienced any of the problems folks here have mentioned, like download throttling. I get the same download speeds at any time during the day, no matter how much I've downloaded up to that point. Connectivity tends to be pretty good. High-overcast days are the worst, since apparently that bounces around the transmit signal. Rainy days and snowy days generally aren't a problem (as long as I keep the dish swept off when it snows)

    The latency sucks, of course. It's still overall faster than the dialup and ISDN I used to have (which the satellite has replaced). Once the data starts flowing, its great. Forget about online games, and ssh is hugely frustrating for more than a couple of minutes. I end up doing a lot of work locally, then uploading the results, rather than doing the work directly on the remote box.

  8. Direcway 4020... by aquarian · · Score: 2 · on Satellite Internet Service for Macs?

    Well, I just found out some more. I guess they're doing it already. Here's the new unit:

    http://www.skycasters.com/4020.htm

    I bet this is a shot in the arm for sattelite services. Too bad it took them so long to figure this out.