Tom Gonser (02/07)
and Updated (11/08)
While not technically part of our new Alpine purchase, we wanted to report as well on two "extras" we acquired incident to our purchase of our new Alpine Limited SE. The subject of this "side note" is the HughesNet internet satellite service which we can now receive with our new DataStorm dish. We had long contemplated "going satellite", but with increased access via cell phones and in-park WiFi services, we thought long and hard about whether we could justify an equipment acquisition and installation that adds about $5K to the purchase of a new coach, and a monthly service cost of $79 for the subscription.
However, we'd purposely chosen a smaller, 34' coach this time for the very reason that we're able to take it more places -- and very often where there is limited cell service, no WiFi, and not even a nearby public library. Since we publish a rather large website, and like to update it at least weekly (if not more frequently) internet access for us is not really an option -- it's almost a necessity. In the past we'd had to plan our stops at locations where we could get good internet access. Anyone that's had to rely on the stability of in-park WiFi systems can appreciate how iffy (and often frustrating) that experience can be. So, throwing caution to the wind, we've taken the plunge -- and here's our preliminary report card on that decision.
Once a choice is made to opt for the satellite system, and assuming you want something a bit more user friendly than a "do it yourself" tripod to drag around, you're likely into a roof-mounted automatic system. One of the happy byproducts of running our website is that we get all kinds of comments from readers about products and services they've used. Too often these are stories with unhappy endings. So when we get repeated favorable comments about a person or a product we take note. In the case of finding someone to select the right system for our needs, provide a first class installation, and offer after-sales support we thus knew precisely where to to go -- Bill and Janet Adams.
Bill and Janet are full time RVers. It appeared they were going to be near where we picked up our new coach -- but their schedule took them out of the area just before we took delivery of our new coach. No problem. Bill has a number of installers in various parts of the country that he works with. The purchase is actually made through Bill, and the installation is handled by his Installer. Based on our usage patterns and needs, Bill selected the standard MotoSat dish with a HN7000S controller (modem). That was matched to a Linksys broadband Wireless G compact router. In our case the installation was done by Don Marr, who owns a family operated business called Oregon RV Satellite Service. Don did an outstanding job for us, and made sure we understood the basic operations of the new system before we left his shop in Eugene. When we had a couple of questions following the installation Don was quick to reply with the answers by email.
However we soon learned that satellite internet is not entirely intuitive. Because we're fairly proficient computer users we thought it might be about as complex as setting up a DSL or cable modem. Hmmm. No so. There is a LOT of complex stuff that goes into the setup, and any later "troubleshooting" that might be required. Without attempting here to describe what all that other "stuff" is, suffice it to say that if the installation is properly done, and the system is set up correctly, it should be reasonably fool-proof. In our case we found in the first few weeks there were some tweaks that were needed. At this point we were "beyond installation", and into the "after-sale" status. So we called Bill Adams and got immediate and very helpful assistance in working through issues -- some of which were as simple as not realizing that one of the components was not turned on.
We've now had the system for about four months, and during that time we've had several occasions we've needed a bit of help to make things work properly. In each case, whether by email or phone, Bill was always there and happy to answer our questions. Admittedly there are some matters that need to be handled directly with MotoSat, from their company headquarters in Salt Lake City. For instance if we needed to switch to a different satellite to improve our service, that needs to be done through MotoSat's Support Center. We had several conversations with them in the first few weeks, and found them helpful as well. On at least one occasion we spoke first with Bill Adams, and he said something to the effect that the MotoSat techs will likely tell you to try A, then B, then C. When we later talked to MotoSat and they seemed a bit baffled, we mentioned that "Bill Adams had said you'd likely tell us to do A, then B, then C". They all seem to know Bill -- and when they heard that advice they told me to "try A, then B, then C". Happily it worked.
After getting past the initial learning curve, the system has been working very nicely for us at dozens of different locations. We've been in a number of places where there was no cell service, no WiFi, or in parks that have WiFi that either (i) doesn't reach more than a fraction of the rigs; or (ii) is mysteriously down and the park managers don't know how to get it up again. But for us it's now sort of "who cares?. And in planning our active itinerary we now have few concerns about where we stop -- please just don't put me under a very large tree...
Like all RVers, we used dialup services for years, watching the "speed" increase to a whopping 56K (which you never get). Then we had DSL, and now, at home in Bend, OR, cable. Of these cable is by far the fastest connection we've experienced. Satellite internet is more comparable to DSL, and of course much faster than any dialup service. However there is a "latency" involved -- which reflects the fact that the signal needs to travel thousands of miles into outer space, be beamed back down to earth to be "processed", and then the response comes back via the same circuitous route. That causes a "delay" of a couple of seconds or so. Moreover, for reasons I don't fully comprehend, the download speeds are far faster than the upload speeds. I've been keeping track of performance statistics at a website called testmy.net. It's showing average download speeds of around 700-800K, and average upload speeds more in the 100-200K range.
In our view we're pleased that we've opted to go the satellite internet route, and we're even more pleased that we can have the confidence of highly accessible after-sale support wherever we are on a timely basis. We'll likely learn a bit more about all of this over time, and as we do we'll update this article as appropriate.
Update 11/08: We've learned over time that HughesNet, the service provider, has a rather unwelcome penchant for "changing things" in such a way that a DataStorm user can find himself suddenly without service -- until some type of required configuration change or update is made. Fortuntaely we've been able to work around these interruptions because we purchased our system from Bill Adams. Even after two years now, Bill is always availalble, and more than happy to help us work through these glitches. I even found myself saying at one point "why would anyone buy from any other person?", because having access to timely competent help with issues that can be more than challenging even for a fairly experienced computer use is essential to a good experience with DataStorm. Even for those that didn't originally have the good fortune to puchase from Bill, he does offer a fee-based service retainer that I would think would be invaluable. He can be contacted through his website.