Satellite Internet Connection

Phil,

I THINK that the Satellite Internet Service is carried on the same Satellite as the Free to Air and Pay TV Services (Optus C1) in which case the same dish is going to do both jobs.

What I am not clear about is whether Telstra will provide the gear if it is not installed in a fixed location. last time I checked, I was told that like Foxtel, you can't have the service unless it was installed in a fixed abode.

I think that if this policy is still in place, they are missing a significant, and growing, potential market

Phil,
I have contacted Bigpond and you can setup an internet connection on your mobile and some additional satellite send/receive equipment. However, if you use the service to download it costs 2.2 cents per kilobite; it is not timed. Hence, downloading one web page will send any normal being broke. Nevertheless your comment re the internet telephony service appears valid. I also do not know if you need 2 satellite ariels?

Phil & Motley,
I know that the scheme that connects land based users by satellite is not available to caravaners? This is an anomaly that needs to be corrected as it makes caravaners into 2nd class citizens. We all need to write to the ABC to complain and start advocating for this service seriously (more accessories and weight for the rig!!!!). I for one will be trying to get an answer from the powers that be. The service is already available in the USA using DIREC equipment.

Thanks for the information Kingy. I will look into this situation further now that I have some leads. Heaven forbid if someone has a go at using the dish without a certified technician! Perhaps it would do no harm at all and provide travellers with a service that has not been catered for by the monopolies?

One more after thought as I was answering a similar question on the Private Forum.....

I am not saying this new "Digital Oyster" it is the way to go as it is untested, untried on the corrugation, but I have seen it and it looks good! We did have trouble with the previous automated tracking but manually cranking up rooftop satellite dish and stopped offering it...

But this is a new product from Germany... The new "Oyster" from SmartSat, is a fully motorized, latest technology homing unit, that from the folded down position raises itself. And a digital electronic compass and tracking device takes over to seek and lock onto the satellite at the correct declination no matter where you are.. For the ultimate toy person this may be the answer, new German technology, but about $6000. And we do not have a price on the latest model data transmission unit....

I always have my nose to the wind looking for new technology that makes sense... Myself, I would rather not have the vulnerability on the roof. Protected somehow in the bed of my tow vehicle or something like that would make me feel better... But yes, some people have a genuine need for internet access in the Bush running a business or something similar... This is the latest we have heard of.

Regards from the source at Bushtracker

There will be Cracker.
With luck and if it is within budget constraints it may be included in the next revision.
This is a great site but all mods cost when you are at this level so we carefully consider all improvements and attempt to incorporate them together to save costs.

As they say, "Watch this space"

Regards
Bob