In-Motion High-Speed Satellite Internet is Here

[Chris Carlson]

I hope this hasn't been posted already. I thought it worth mentioning that finally this summer we'll be able to have satellite in-motion internet and not have to rely on cell phone providers. Best of all, it's low-profile so we should be able to mount it on an SUV without having to worry about a huge white dome. I've posted the product information and links below.

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Available Summer 2006

RaySat's SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 offers vehicles on-the-move, high-speed Internet access and satellite TV using a low profile (5.7â€￾) roof mounted KU-band satellite antenna. The system provides vehicle passengers with an in-car hotspot, easy IP based network access plus live satellite TV.

The SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 system consists of an outdoor antenna unit for satellite signal reception (data and TV), indoor antenna controller, satellite modem (for Internet access), WiFi router and a DBS satellite receiver (for live satellite TV). Integrated advanced sensors and a sophisticated tracking system provide access while the vehicle is in-motion or stationary. The SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 antenna mounts securely to the cross bars of a vehicle roof rack or alternatively, RaySat manufacturers special brackets for RV and truck installations.

The SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 is the world's first vehicle-based satellite antenna providing in-motion, high-speed Internet access to motorists, including emergency personnel, riding in cars, trucks, or motor homes. The new SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 is based on an enclosed low profile, roof-mounted antenna that enables Internet access to laptops, PDAs, or other devices equipped with Wi-Fi wireless networking technology.

The innovative system provides high-speed Internet access that can be shared among users in the vehicle. In addition, the SpeedRayâ„¢ 3000 provides moving vehicles with strong reception of digital satellite TV and music channels. Since it communicates solely via satellite, the antenna can be used effectively in remote areas where cellular and land-line connections are not available.

Link: http://www.raysat.com/Shopping/CategoryInf...?CategoryID=191
Product PDF: http://www.raysat.com/webdata/Categories/1...ray%203000b.pdf

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I wonder what the price of this will be... There are a couple other companies that have been making in-motion, high-speed (relatively) internet access for years, mainly serving the RV and long-haul semi-truck market. Of course, those have required several thousand dollars for equipment and installation, on top of hefty monthly fees. I'd get this if it could be... $200 equipment and $50/mo. LOL.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder
I'd get this if it could be... $200 equipment and $50/mo. LOL.

You and everyone else here! I don't see it being cheap because it isn't something everyone will want to have.
Supply and demand.

 

[Chris Carlson]

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder
I wonder what the price of this will be... There are a couple other companies that have been making in-motion, high-speed (relatively) internet access for years, mainly serving the RV and long-haul semi-truck market. Of course, those have required several thousand dollars for equipment and installation, on top of hefty monthly fees. I'd get this if it could be... $200 equipment and $50/mo. LOL.

That would be a 7 with three zeroes. Which isn't THAT bad considering you get a built-in WiFi hotspot and TV. Never-the-less, I don't think everyone at Stormtrack will be getting one.

I wasn't aware of any other high-speed satellites. I do know that some trucking and shipping companies use them for transmitting the truck's location but I'm pretty sure they only got dial-up speeds at best.

I'm still looking forward to its release so I can at least dream of getting one.

 

[Jason McKittrick]

Well maybe not quite that bad .


http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5619060.html

RaySat

TalkBack: Add your opinion
The product: RaySat announced at CES that later in 2005, it will begin shipping a two-way satellite link that will let a moving vehicle connect to the Net. Like the TracVision and Winegard products, the RaySat antenna is a 5-inch-high, pancake-shaped, hybrid phased-array unit that's small enough to fit on top of a van or SUV but not on a car.

The company expects that service agreements will offer download speeds up to 4MB per second, with a maximum of 128Kbps upstream. There is a half-second of latency (round-trip time) with satellite communication. That's not a blocker for Web browsing or media streaming, but it would affect online gaming or VoIP use.

Audiovox will resell this product. Future satellite units will be smaller and may even be built into car roofs.

The price: $3,495 for the hardware; installation and service fees extra.

That might be doable considering what I am paying for my wireless data service. Depends on the monthly service charge?

 

[David Drummond]

Under $5k I would certainly consider it. I suspect the service prices will be similar to what the datastorm service price is right now.

Now to figure out where I can clear a 3x4 foot space on my roof! :lol:

 

[Edward Ballou]

I'm rather suprised no one has mentioned the hail threat to this thing.

I wonder how well it could stand up to those forces. EDIT: The promo video states that it "can stand up to the elements" and is "weather resistant".

Another thing - what about security? Is someone more inclined to rip it off the car and walk/run away with it?

How efficient is it under a storm?

 

[David Drummond]

Originally posted by Edward Ballou
I'm rather suprised no one has mentioned the hail threat to this thing.

I wonder how well it could stand up to those forces. EDIT: The promo video states that it "can stand up to the elements" and is "weather resistant".

Another thing - what about security? Is someone more inclined to rip it off the car and walk/run away with it?

How efficient is it under a storm?

Nice thick sheet of plexiglass mounted to some sort of a frame about it (frame would need to be larger than the antenna so as not to block the signal) might do the trick. I've shot DirecWay signals through glass successfully, I can't see it being any different with this.

As I understand, it's removable. Says it can mount to the roof rack rails and has TNC connectors, don't see why you couldn't remove it.

 

[David Drummond]

The more I think about it, some of the high tensile strength mesh plastic mounted to a frame above it might provide more of a "trampoline" for the hail.

 

[Edward Ballou]

I know it says it's only for vans, SUVs and RVs but I would have to figure out how to mount it on my escort. I can't imagine that it would be too hard. I've seen racks on escorts before.

You look at the dealer page? $300-500 per installation commission? Not too bad of an idea for a second job.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Yeah $5k is steep, but isn't really all that bad. You can use this thing to replace your home internet connection and tv service as well, so you can maybe justify a more expensive monthly fee.

Hmm. Maybe in 2 years when the price comes down I'll think about this!

 

[Benjamin Sipprell]

I'm curious if the company can actually develop different types of purchase plans ... I wouldn't really utilize the satellite TV so much unless I was really bored on a chase (I typically bring DVD's and books ... stuff to do too ... keeping busy) ... so it would be nice if they would simply charge for the internet data stream alone ... that could bump down some of the cost aside from the equipment charges

 

[Verne Carlson]

Yeah I too would be worried about 'rain scatter' of the signal in the near storm environment. When you need it the most it might start cutting out and loosing bandwidth on the internet connection because of the signal being scattered by large rain shafts between you and the satellite.

 

[Bob Schafer]

Originally posted by Verne Carlson
Yeah I too would be worried about 'rain scatter' of the signal in the near storm environment. When you need it the most it might start cutting out and loosing bandwidth on the internet connection because of the signal being scattered by large rain shafts between you and the satellite.

I dunno.... I have used both DirecTV and a satphone, and I had very few problems with that with either one. The only time I had outages, they were when the most intense part of a storm was directly between me and the satellite (to the south), and usually only lasted a minute or so. That would put you north of, and near to, a core, and you have a problem or two if you're there anyway.

I wouldn't hesitate a second to purchase and use a sat system because of that.

Bob

 

[Chris Carlson]

Yeah I too would be worried about 'rain scatter' of the signal in the near storm environment. When you need it the most it might start cutting out and loosing bandwidth on the internet connection because of the signal being scattered by large rain shafts between you and the satellite.

I dunno.... I have used both DirecTV and a satphone, and I had very few problems with that with either one. The only time I had outages, they were when the most intense part of a storm was directly between me and the satellite (to the south), and usually only lasted a minute or so. That would put you north of, and near to, a core, and you have a problem or two if you're there anyway.

I wouldn't hesitate a second to purchase and use a sat system because of that.

Bob

Yeah, the actual satellite antenna is quite small but I still wouldn't expect a whole lot of problems. Adding to Bob said, by the time it goes out, I'd hope you'd already have a plan and could go without live radar data for a few minutes. For the most part, I think these newer models are designed with light rain in mind. Unless it's a complete downpour, I wouldn't expect many problems.