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We spend 6 weeks on mainland Europe each summer, internet access is very important as we have to keep business ticking over/running smoothly while we're away. We have managed the last 3 years with blackberries etc but it nearly always seems to be hassle and/or expensive. Spending time looking for wifi spots, sitting in McDonalds car parks just add stress to our summer. It is getting easier as the years go by. Are just wondering whether take the plunge and invest the money in one of the above.
With this in mind are now looking for advice. What are the pros & cons, advantages/disadvantages of one system over the other:
Is the Datastorm worth all the extra money?
Will the area covered by Alden widen?
Would we just be better keeping our money and getting a Three phone?
We spend 6 weeks on mainland Europe each summer, internet access is very important as we have to keep business ticking over/running smoothly while we're away. We have managed the last 3 years with blackberries etc but it nearly always seems to be hassle and/or expensive. Spending time looking for wifi spots, sitting in McDonalds car parks just add stress to our summer. It is getting easier as the years go by. Are just wondering whether take the plunge and invest the money in one of the above.
With this in mind are now looking for advice. What are the pros & cons, advantages/disadvantages of one system over the other:
Is the Datastorm worth all the extra money?
Will the area covered by Alden widen?
Would we just be better keeping our money and getting a Three phone?
What do ya'll think?
Regards
Arizona
Arizona I would suggest you contact Andy of RoadPro as he has recently been up and down from north of UK to southern Spain trying out various sat systems, including the netmaster which he sells, he was trying out Camos and Alden stuff - well researching, to find out perhaps if one is better than another, or for certain areas.
I am sure if you discuss this with him, he may be able to help. I think the Netmaster sounds great if you NEED access - as you do - but perhaps still a bit expensive for us who would LIKE it but don't actually NEED it... and a lot cheaper than the Datastorm. Also you can buy extra amounts.gb's whatever if you need them...
Carol
______________________________________________________________ Carol
Thinking of Peter and Fiona and Fighting with Mavis and Ray and also Paul (Otto)
Edit: I have edited this as DataStormer has correctly pointed out I have the F1 NOT the F3, and so as not to mislead others when researching DataStorms etc. I have changed the F3's references to F1's.
Gromett however still has an F3 for sale as far as I am aware
Like you perhaps, I reasoned I could extend my time away in Europe by keeping in touch with work if I had satisfactory internet access.
The only choice when I was looking was the Datastorm F1 or the BGAN. The per Megabyte transmission costs for the latter were off putting. The downside re the Datastorm, had been not only the capital cost but the monthly subscription cost for unlimited access, which had only been available for a period of 12 months at a time, regardless of how many weeks or months the MH might not be used in a year. This arrangement has changed and now I understand I can purchase 1 months airtime at a time. So for your 6 weeks in Europe you might only need to pay for say 2 months airtime now.
I have no comments to make about the Alden Netmaster 90 as I am unfamiliar with it.
I can confirm that the F1 can be set up to receive 2 different Sat TV channels at the same time, with twin LNB's, i.e. working front and rear TVs on different channels at the same time, if you wish, whilst also allowing full internet access. This, to an extent, helped to partially offset in my mind the cost since a further dedicated Sat TV system is not required. We are not big TV people but I have been aware that our children might prefer the option of TV on dark or rainy days etc.
I and others on this forum have had reliability problems with the F1, and I will never know whether all will now be OK again or not. Currently I am not on air as we are not using the MH and so there are no longer any running costs whilst the MH is "off the road".
When it does work it is fantastic, but it can be frustrating when not knowing why it is not working like anything else electronic. In the States it is relied upon by many MH'ers for internet access.
I have also experimented with Voip calls, again to partially at least further offset some of the costs against what would have been costly mobile phone charges. It works very well without any further hardware for outgoing calls using Skype and a Philips cordless Voip phone, which you can connect directly to a modem, so that you do not need to switch a computer on to make a call. Incoming calls however do not work, as they are broken up. Apparently you can upgrade your connection to allow unbroken incoming calls. So if telephone calls are important as well I might suggest you receive an incoming diverted call to your mobile and agree to quickly call them back using the Skype phone.
By the way, the monthly airtime agreement is not required to receive Sat TV. The airtime agreement is only required for internet access.
Like you perhaps, I reasoned I could extend my time away in Europe by keeping in touch with work if I had satisfactory internet access.
The only choice when I was looking was the Datastorm F3 or the BGAN. The per Megabyte transmission costs for the latter were off putting. The downside re the Datastorm, had been not only the capital cost but the monthly subscription cost for unlimited access, which had only been available for a period of 12 months at a time, regardless of how many weeks or months the MH might not be used in a year. This arrangement has changed and now I understand I can purchase 1 months airtime at a time. So for your 6 weeks in Europe you might only need to pay for say 2 months airtime now.
I have no comments to make about the Alden Netmaster 90 as I am unfamiliar with it.
I can confirm that the F3 can be set up to receive 2 different Sat TV channels at the same time, with twin LNB's, i.e. working front and rear TVs on different channels at the same time, if you wish, whilst also allowing full internet access. This, to an extent, helped to partially offset in my mind the cost since a further dedicated Sat TV system is not required. We are not big TV people but I have been aware that our children might prefer the option of TV on dark or rainy days etc.
I and others on this forum have had reliability problems with the F3, and I will never know whether all will now be OK again or not. Currently I am not on air as we are not using the MH and so there are no longer any running costs whilst the MH is "off the road".
When it does work it is fantastic, but it can be frustrating when not knowing why it is not working like anything else electronic. In the States it is relied upon by many MH'ers for internet access.
I have also experimented with Voip calls, again to partially at least further offset some of the costs against what would have been costly mobile phone charges. It works very well without any further hardware for outgoing calls using Skype and a Philips cordless Voip phone, which you can connect directly to a modem, so that you do not need to switch a computer on to make a call. Incoming calls however do not work, as they are broken up. Apparently you can upgrade your connection to allow unbroken incoming calls. So if telephone calls are important as well I might suggest you receive an incoming diverted call to your mobile and agree to quickly call them back using the Skype phone.
By the way, the monthly airtime agreement is not required to receive Sat TV. The airtime agreement is only required for internet access.
While Duadua is essentially correct (how are you mate?), I will have to point out that he (Duadua) has an F1 mount which is substantially smaller and lighter than the F3 mount.
At the risk if incurring the wrath of the mods (though I have emailed and asked about sponsoring the site) here is a link showing the F3 mount with 1.2m dish deployed on a 7.5t truck we built www.pcmedix.co.uk
As you can see the F3 is huge and we would only recommend it for use if you regularly travel to the extreme edges of Eastern Europe or into the Middle East.
We have customers who successfully use their F1 systems all over Europe right down to Morroco.
If you have any questions or need advice please feel free to ask.
As will be confirmed by several members on here our advice is always good (I hope) and free
I have the Alden Netmaster 90 and I can thoroughly recommend it (http://www.motorhomefacts.com/modules.php?name=Product_Reviews&op=show&rid=109).
Like you I need internet access for business while travelling in Europe. I did some considerable research and found that most were extortionate. The rates for access were a rip off and the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) was, in all cases, totally unacceptable!
When it comes to the Alden, the AUP is refreshingly simple and very acceptable. The rates are very competitive (http://alden.ipcopter.com/en/shop/shop.php) and the Kit is only about £3250.00 fitted!
If you are visiting Scotland or Scandinavia then recpetion will be poor at best see the Satellite Footprint (http://www.roadpro.co.uk/images/pdfs/Alden%20Netmaster%20footprint%20map.pdf)
RoadPro, the importers, are excellent and VanBitz did a very good job in installing the system. I wholeheartedly recommend both.
IPcopter, the Alden Netmaster ISP, is a German company and is quite simply very, very helpful. They now have the English site up and running (http://alden.ipcopter.com/en/).
Bear in mind that the Alden Netmaster is primarily aimed at the touring market but they do recognise that business users will also want to use it while touring.
The F3 looks massive...think it may be to heavy duty for what we require. At this stage we're leaning towards the Alden. Just have to see if we can organise the installation for the weekend we'll be travelling thru UK on the way to Dover.
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