In July 2015, commercial satellite gear provider Mobil Satellite Technologies announced the RVDataSAT 840 – a consumer-focused satellite internet terminal, designed specifically for RV roof mounting! They later released the RVDataSat 980 for 'serious bandwidth hogs'.
The RVDataSat 840 installed on an Airstream (photo courtesy of RVDataSat.com)
The RV DataSAT 840 is a big dish (0.85 meters across) – and it takes up a substantial chunk of roof real estate.
When deployed it stands 42" high, potentially casting a serious shadow on any nearby solar panels.
"The iDirect Access plans are full-time, always on, un-metered service plans. These plans allow unlimited web surfing, email, and other common web applications. But, to maintain network quality for all users, applications like VoIP, video, Skype, Netflix, Hulu, and all of the other services that require a constant non-bursting stream of data to operate are given very low data rates and very low data packet priority within the network."
As an alternative to the standard plans, the RV Entertainment plans are targeted at the RV community. These plans have the same daytime restrictions on streaming applications as the Access plans, but they have some special late-night magic specifically for Netflix fans:
If you want to binge-watch Netflix over satellite, using NightShift is your best option.
RV Entertainment service plans are for RV enthusiasts who regularly use Netflix for their video entertainment. The RV Entertainment plans are full-time, always-on satellite broadband plans that have a fixed monthly cost and include a late-nite "Free Zone", when Netflix movies and TV shows can be downloaded at full network speeds using NightShift. NightShift allows you to select content from Netfliix for download, then NightShift waits until your "Free Zone" period to download the content to your RVDataSat system's router, where it will then be available for your enjoyment at any later time.
The free zone is between midnight and 6AM eastern time, and during this time the blocks on streaming content are removed.
The key feature of these plans is that they come with a special WiFi router pre-configured with the NightShift service that will download and buffer Netflix shows you've marked to watch during the overnight free time, letting you then actually watch them later at your leisure.
You can also add on a $24.95/month VOIP option, allowing you to use your satellite plan for voice calls in the US.
Keep this VOIP option in mind, because traditional Skype and FaceTime calls will likely not work well due to the daytime streaming limits in place.
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We do not intend to obtain an RVDataSat to test first hand, due to our own lack of roof space for installation. But we are tracking several people who have purchased this setup, and who have shared with us their first-hand experiences.
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You can also add on a $24.95/month VOIP option, allowing you to use your satellite plan for voice calls in the US.
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