Mobile Satellite Internet
There is something magical and futuristic about being connected in the absolute middle of nowhere. Where only a satellite in space can keep you online.
As fun as it is to fantasize about connectivity everywhere, today’s satellite options come with many tradeoffs to consider.
Compared to cellular service, satellite internet is often slower, higher latency, and more expensive. The gear to get connected can be bulky and requires setup at each stop.
If you plan to focus your travels on being way out in the boonies, the challenges of satellite internet might be worthwhile.
If you are hoping for a simple go-anywhere solution, satellite will likely frustrate you - at least for now.
Satellite is a great option for some situations.
Mostly those situations where it is the ONLY option.
Enjoy This Free Preview of Our Guides
We are honored to be able to present the basic sections of this guide for free without 3rd party advertising.
In thanks for funding this resource center, our members have access to the in-depth content in this guide.
If you're a member, please log in.
Satellite Internet: Realities
Even with current generation satellite systems – they will for most people still be at best complimentary systems to terrestrial cellular service, not a full replacement.
In an urban or suburban area, the truth is that current satellite will likely never be able to compete with fully built out LTE on the ground.
After all - how can a billion dollar satellite that needs to last in service for a decade compete with ground based cell towers that cost a tiny fraction of that to build, and which can be upgraded to the latest technology every year?
But on the other hand – in many remote areas it will never make sense to fully build a network of cell towers, and no matter how much cellular companies expand, there will ALWAYS be gaps in coverage.
The ideal connectivity future involves a mix of satellite and cellular, with service roaming seamlessly to the best connection possible wherever you happen to be.
Getting Internet From Space Basics
Satellite internet can be confusing. It is important to make sure that you understand the basics.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions answered and most confusing topics explained:
Satellite TV and Internet Are Not the Same!
Receiving a signal from space isn't particularly hard.
Transmitting a signal back to a satellite on the other hand is where it gets tricky.
Satellite TV dishes are receive-only devices, and have no capability to transmit. Internet usage however requires two-way communication – and thus much larger and more complicated gear on the ground.
Some people get confused because they see satellite TV providers Dish Network and DirectTV (now owned by AT&T) advertising bundled packages that include internet service – but this is typically not satellite-provided internet.
These bundled plans are intended for stationary satellite TV consumers to combine their TV, internet, and phone bills into one. The satellite TV provider contracts out to local DSL or partner cable companies to provide the actual internet service – usually relying on a hard-wired internet connection.
Even when they do offer actual satellite data plans (like Dish’s dishNET – which is actually provided by either Exede or HughesNet behind the scenes), these are provided primarily to offer service to rural customers outside the range of cable and DSL, and they are strictly for fixed-location installs only.
In other words – not mobile friendly at all.
NOTE: Though the dishes look similar, most satellite internet systems are strictly for internet service, and are NOT compatible with any satellite TV services. If you also want satellite TV to go along with satellite internet, you'll actually need a second dish!
Residential Satellite Generally Isn't Mobile
There are a lot of residentially satellite services out there - Exede, WildBlue, HughesNet. These generally require that an installer come out to your location to setup the dish and provision it for service. In order to move locations, a certified installer must install at your next location.
While these may be portable solutions for those who move infrequently - we don't consider these mobile. In other words, you as a consumer can not just move locations and setup the service yourself.
There are mobile satellite internet solutions out there suitable for mobile RVers - however they do require specifically seeking them out.
Additional Member Only Content:
There's MORE to this Guide!
Hopefully you've noticed that our content isn't cluttered with 3rd party advertising, we're not sponsored and we're not reliant on selling you plans or gear to make our free content possible.
We are instead community funded via our premium membership program - allowing us to focus on creating unbiased quality, in-depth, constantly updated content.
For their support, our members have access to the advanced parts of all of our guides, reviews, overviews and insider tips.
If you're already a member, please log in to see the rest of this guide.
The additional content found in the member section of this guide includes:
Video Overview
Satellite Concepts
Spot beam satellites, coverage maps, tripods vs roof mounts, latency and satellite communications.
Present Satellite Options for Mobile RVers
HughesNet and RVDataSat are the options available today, we go into more depth on both.
Satellite Communicators and Low Bandwidth Options
If you learn to think a bit differently - it is amazing how far (literally) 160 characters of text can take you. This section goes over options like Garmin inReach, Spot and Iridium Go.
Satellite Future: Revolution Coming?
Low earth satellites are the future, this section future scopes out to SpaceX, ViaSat, OneWeb and Iridium Next - all technologies we are watching closely.
Satellite Past: Glory Days Fading
A quick look back at mobile satellite past - legacy HughesNet Classic/Jupiter, Excede, WildBlue and dishNET.
Satellite Internet Options Product Guide
Here are all the satellite options we are tracking in the product center - ranging from full-on mobile solutions to very basic on-the-go options.
RV Note: For most RVers, the roof-mounted RVDataSat system and the tripod-based HughesNet Gen5 Spot Beam options will be the most interesting.
Marine Note: Satellite internet is currently a LOT trickier for boats since unless you can mount the dish to a fixed dock, locking onto a satellite in geosynchronous orbit is prohibitively difficult. This tends to leave only the systems that do not require precise aiming as options.
Click on each option in the grid for more details:
Related Reading
Related Articles:
Keep Learning - Go to School
This guide is part of our Mobile Internet University classroom, an included benefit for our premium Mobile Internet Aficionados members.
Our course is designed to be self paced, walking you through our content on selecting cellular data plans, equipment, signal enhancing, Wi-Fi, satellite, routers and more.
Continue to the next recommended guide in this series at:
Want full access to our guides?
Happy Spring - Save $10 on Membership!
Spring 2019 Membership Special!
Use Discount Code 'Spring2019' at check our and save $10 on a new MIA membership! Offer value through March 31, 2019.
We offer two options for joining our site to get full access to our in-depth content:
Have questions?
Join our free Internet for RVers & Cruisers Facebook Group.
We cross post news articles and information there, and our staff can field basic questions during 'business hours'. It is with gratitude to our premium members that we're able to offer this free service - and for that, they also have access our private Q&A areas for more in-depth guidance.
Stay in the Know
We're constantly tracking the industry and analyzing new developments for mobile travelers. Check out our News Center for the latest things we're tracking.
If you'd like to receive updates, we offer several ways:
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for a recap
- Like/Follow our Facebook Newsfeed Page
- Follow our News Stories
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
