We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Satellite broadband

We're at the end of a long rural line and have been told that fibre b/b will not available to us in the foreseeable future (ever?). Having suffered a 1 meg connection for 11 years, and with no 3G or 4G available either, I am looking at a Tooway satellite connection. I have briefly tried it out - apart from the cost, the latency, the lower download limits, bad-weather disconnects and the peak-period slowdowns (!!), does anyone here have any experience of using it on a day-to-day basis?

Comments

  • aerostar
    aerostar Posts: 1,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You might like to check something like this

    https://www.countybroadband.co.uk/home/work/
  • arrallas
    arrallas Posts: 178 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    aerostar wrote: »
    You might like to check something like this

    https://www.countybroadband.co.uk/home/work/

    We don't have line of sight and there are only 6 properties here. Everyone else in the area has access to high speed broadband.
  • J_B
    J_B Posts: 6,844 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Maybe look at this thread
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5347133
    in the 'Broadband & Internet Access' section of the forums :)
  • arrallas
    arrallas Posts: 178 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    J_B wrote: »
    Maybe look at this thread
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5347133
    in the 'Broadband & Internet Access' section of the forums :)

    Thanks - this really is a last resort, having explored every possible alternative. As mentioned, it would be good to hear from a current user.
  • Mr_Toad
    Mr_Toad Posts: 2,462 Forumite
    arrallas wrote: »
    We're at the end of a long rural line and have been told that fibre b/b will not available to us in the foreseeable future (ever?). Having suffered a 1 meg connection for 11 years, and with no 3G or 4G available either, I am looking at a Tooway satellite connection. I have briefly tried it out - apart from the cost, the latency, the lower download limits, bad-weather disconnects and the peak-period slowdowns (!!), does anyone here have any experience of using it on a day-to-day basis?

    Yes, you do.

    You've tried it and that is pretty much what you get.

    When I worked in remote places we used satellite phones and Internet. Phones were excellent and worked anywhere and the Mk1 human ear and brain are fantastic at error correction. However, unless you pay vast amounts for a commercial grade sat data connection you get pretty much what you've experienced on a bad day and an OK service on a good day.
    One by one the penguins are slowly stealing my sanity.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,365 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hi

    Satellite scheme off to a gentle start

    Just before Christmas the BDUK Basic Broadband Scheme launched. Under this scheme eligible properties that currently achieve less than 2Mbps are able to apply for a subsidy towards the installations costs of Satellite broadband. Whilst most people will still want fibre connections, this does offer an interim solution until other technologies become available (albeit often with restrictions on downloads).


    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/broadband-delivery-uk
    If you have broadband access which is less than 2Mbps you can find out what options are available to you using the Basic Broadband Scheme postcode checker
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 34,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    johndough wrote: »
    Hi

    Satellite scheme off to a gentle start

    Just before Christmas the BDUK Basic Broadband Scheme launched. Under this scheme eligible properties that currently achieve less than 2Mbps are able to apply for a subsidy towards the installations costs of Satellite broadband. Whilst most people will still want fibre connections, this does offer an interim solution until other technologies become available (albeit often with restrictions on downloads).


    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/broadband-delivery-uk
    If you have broadband access which is less than 2Mbps you can find out what options are available to you using the Basic Broadband Scheme postcode checker
    A good laugh. Another .gov talk the talk programme. It seems to work on postcode rather than individual phone number - if your post code area can generally get 2+ then you are not eligible. The problem is that rural post codes cover large areas with many remote properties.
  • arrallas
    arrallas Posts: 178 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    molerat wrote: »
    A good laugh. Another .gov talk the talk programme. It seems to work on postcode rather than individual phone number - if your post code area can generally get 2+ then you are not eligible. The problem is that rural post codes cover large areas with many remote properties.
    It gets better! I received this today:
    [FONT=&quot]The Tooway system isn't available on the BDUK scheme at the moment as it is at capacity. the only system they have available to order at the moment on the BDUK scheme is Avanti. The Avanti system has stepped speed restrictions in place so once you have used 20% of your allowance your speeds are restricted by 20%, this continues in 20% increments until 100% of your allowance is used and then the internet will switch off.
    [/FONT]

    Who would ever sign up for something like that at £65 per month? This is so the govt can say "everyone has access to high speed broadband"
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.