barryd
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Yes but its half the cost of the Alden system with similar running costs. If its for business use then its worth it. If Was full timing I would probably need the Internet to do work remotely and although I have so far survived with dongles and wifi antennas they are not guarentees of good access. So of profesional use I would have one. All tax and VAT deductable as well. My Camos was £1350 so if I could have had one of those for not much more I probably would have had,
Firefox
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This is looking good.
We just need Peter from Johns Cross Motorhomes to get involved and we will have a 3 way argument going.
C`mon, place your bets. Will it be Andy, Nick or Peter that comes out on top.
LOL, when the salesmen start plying their wares I just switch off
RoadProAndy
Guest
Is providing potentially useful information "plying one's wares"? Hmmm.
Just on the off chance: I use an Orange dongle when I'm not in the motorhome. It's been fine for 18 months. I recently bought a new Lenovo laptop which uses Windows 7 and now, every time I use the dongle, after about 20 minutes, the computer crashes. It's not just an ordinary crash either - it's the full blue screen, "this is a complete disaster" scenario. Anyone else had similar problems?
Andy
Just on the off chance: I use an Orange dongle when I'm not in the motorhome. It's been fine for 18 months. I recently bought a new Lenovo laptop which uses Windows 7 and now, every time I use the dongle, after about 20 minutes, the computer crashes. It's not just an ordinary crash either - it's the full blue screen, "this is a complete disaster" scenario. Anyone else had similar problems?
Andy
biggirafe
Guest
Yeah MH had to go, back in a tugger atm but will be looking next year for another MH.
Well seems we have another Net access thread again
I like the idea of the sat systems but you can buy a lot of 3g minutes for the price. For me its still business critical to be able to get online but even so I would need to be online pretty much all the time to make the oulay worthwhile. Worst case scenario park in a Macdonalds car park for a coffee
We did that in Holland whilst I fixed a server back in Coventry This year I ended up buying a PCMCIA card network free and just buying a sim in the country we were heading for. We're off to france this year and will stop off in Carefore on route and pickup a PAYG sim card and stick it in. Dirt cheap and no hastle. Its a bit like the old gas cylinders its a scary prospect until you have done it once afterwards you wonder what all the fuss was about
BTW has anyone been to the Jura in France and have any good spots
NicknClair
Guest
Barry, you are right in that there certainly is a price difference (of £1150 on the current 75cm, less on the "new" system due for launch in September), but compared with other "like for like" Automatic satellite systems using the ipcopter service (approx £250.00), the Alden is cheaper and has the capability of locking to a total of 5 different satellite networks (Astra 1 & Hotbird to name a couple) with an Free to Air receiver as standard. A simple push of a button system - fully automatic system.
Semi Automatic systems can have a cost effective way of using these services and I DO NOT discourage anyone exploring these avenues, but most of the time people want ease of use, stability and the easy way of removing such an expensive piece of equipment from van to van, rather than leave large holes and explaining to the dealer what you have removed. Secondly most of the customers seen through our workshops like the idea of being able to just "push a button" and let it get on with the task in hand. Not only to mention that they also will use the equipment out of Astra 2D's TV footprint, so like the appeal of looking at alternative satellite networks is considered a benefit - but this is the opinion/feedback from our customers.
My purpose here is merely to put in feedback relating to a question and cannot see any gain into getting into a roaming debate on whom's product/service is the best. There are plenty of units on the market that have their own benefits as well as faults. It's all down to what your expecting at the end of the day, as they say "The Choice is Yours". Only you and you alone can pick your path.
Bottom line is this, if you are dependent on stable and reliable internet in Europe then ANY FORM OF INTERNET SATELLITE (whatever choice you make) is the best route to take (certainly on a business basis). If you have time on your hands and there is no rush to access the net, then wait for a convenient stop and try and source local WiFi spots/internet cafes or use dongles by all means.
Me personally have a dongle and a Blackberry phone, but the idea of me working during my holiday's is not worth the grief I would get from Mrs J so work is strictly "Off Menu"!! Just wait for a chance to log on somewhere, do what I need to do, then off to enjoy the holiday that I've driven hundreds of miles for.
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barryd
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I think thats what I liked about our Camos Dome. No big holes required and it tunes in automatically to several satellites. I guess you get what you pay for really.
My biggest worry about spending a fortune on Internet access is that dongles may mature and costs may come down but like you say if its for business "right now" satellite is the way to go. I have some friends (who are on here) full timing right now where when one of the them is still working remotely to the UK and they have an Alden system which seems pretty good. I dont think they could have done it without such a system.
Im the same really but so far have only done long 2 or 3 month trips. Its a double edge sword I get to go away because I can work remotely when I have to but I can never really leave work behind so have to answer or return calls and check emails. The wifi antenna worked well but only because a friend gave me their SFR password!
My biggest worry about spending a fortune on Internet access is that dongles may mature and costs may come down but like you say if its for business "right now" satellite is the way to go. I have some friends (who are on here) full timing right now where when one of the them is still working remotely to the UK and they have an Alden system which seems pretty good. I dont think they could have done it without such a system.
Im the same really but so far have only done long 2 or 3 month trips. Its a double edge sword I get to go away because I can work remotely when I have to but I can never really leave work behind so have to answer or return calls and check emails. The wifi antenna worked well but only because a friend gave me their SFR password!
Hymerkar
Guest
Hi, this is a subject I have been very interested and involved in for the last 8 years, as we spend much of our lives on the road. Over these years we have tried, dial up, via a gold card PMCIA and cable link mobile phone at 2p per min. This worked but so very slow! Next we bought a Vodaphone PMCIA card, which was faster but expensive. 2 Years ago we took out a contract for Vodaphone dongle, this has been the cheapest and fastest - until recently. Our latest discovery is the Alfa wi-fi high gain modem. This is a modem which you plug in via USB and it pulls a stronger signal from available wi-fi sources. I bought mine from Amazon at a cost of £50 including the larger 9db aerial, which I would recomend, I also bought a 5mtr USB cable to enable me to open the skylight and put the Alfa on the roof when necessary. If you google search Alfa Wi-Fi you should be able to find it. This has enabled me to FREE internet access at places such as McDonalds, most motorway services, Little Chef etc without actually getting out of my van. We have also recently signed up, at home, with BT total broadband, which has given us FREE access to BT Openzone Hotspots and BT Fon with over 2000 free wi-fi spots worldwide. So for a one off payment of £50, and I know I could have got it for less, if I wasnt leaving for France and needed next day delivery, I now have Wi-fi almost anywhere. I have owned this gadget for 3 months and it has more than paid for itself. I used it in McDonalds in France with no probs, and although we havent taken it to Spain yet, we have friends who have used theirs in Spain all last winter with no probs. Apparently there are lots of open Wi-Fi spots in Spain. Of course, you must remember that these are unsecure sites, and not recomended for internet banking etc.
I, and I am sure many others, would love Sat internet in my van, but it is just far tooooooooooooooooooo expensive.
Hope you find this helpful folk.
Happy Camping, Karen
Of course, you must remember that these are unsecure sites, and not recomended for internet banking etc.I, and I am sure many others, would love Sat internet in my van, but it is just far tooooooooooooooooooo expensive.
Hope you find this helpful folk.
Happy Camping, Karen
Stu
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I am using a Vodafone prepaid Data Sim Card from vodafone Ireland. I use it in entire Europe for the same charge: 1€ a day with a limit of 50MB.
Again: there are no roaming charges for most of the countries in Europe, for USA, Canada, Australia and some countries in North Africa and Arabia.
The sim card works in unbranded Surfsticks.
Seller is "iesim" on ebay. Just look for Vodafone prepaid sim cards.
regards
Stu
Again: there are no roaming charges for most of the countries in Europe, for USA, Canada, Australia and some countries in North Africa and Arabia.
The sim card works in unbranded Surfsticks.
Seller is "iesim" on ebay. Just look for Vodafone prepaid sim cards.
regards
Stu
hobbit
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BT Openzone
Hymerkar,thank you for the information re.Bt Openzone.This saved me the trouble of posting a request for information.I intend visiting France,Spain and Portugal during September-October and was concerned about internet access.You've set my mind at rest,thank you.
Hymerkar,thank you for the information re.Bt Openzone.This saved me the trouble of posting a request for information.I intend visiting France,Spain and Portugal during September-October and was concerned about internet access.You've set my mind at rest,thank you.
hobbit
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BT Openzone
BT are selling a Dongle which will allow me to log on to my internet.
BT are selling a Dongle which will allow me to log on to my internet.Hymerkar
Guest
Hymerkar,thank you for the information re.Bt Openzone.This saved me the trouble of posting a request for information.I intend visiting France,Spain and Portugal during September-October and was concerned about internet access.You've set my mind at rest,thank you.
No probs. But remember - you must register your BT Openzone account with Fon to become a member and thus enable you to access sites abroad. Just vist BT website and follow the links for existing customers. Failing that just look for a McDonalds and sit outside.
Hymerkar
Guest
I used my contract Vodaphone dongle in France earlier this year and got billed £9.99 for 50mb which only lasted 24hrs. Not being told this, I used it 3 times, thinking I was still using my 50mb. I got billed for 3 lots of 24hr sessions!
Be careful whilst roaming, you could come home to a large bill. When in Spain I buy a Spanish pay as you go sim from the Vodaphone shops. These are usually around 25e and come with 30e of data - how they work that out I do not know, but its reasonably good value for money. I still think looking for a free WiFi spot is the way to go.
barryd
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Look. Having BT openzone is not going to give you internet access in France. Anyone can access McDonalds. You dont need to be with any provider. Its free to all. If you have an antenna you will be able to access it from further away but BT Openzone as far as I am away is UK only. Tell me if I am wrong but having spent many months there over the last year, there is no BT zone or very few FON sites.
Deleted member 967
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I have also just been in France using my contract Vodafone dongle.
when I switched on I got a message each time from Vodafone telling me that I would be charged £9.99 for the first 50mb and the same amount again for a further 50mb or part of thereafter.
I used it twice for banking and a quick look at this site and ran over the 50mb limit. Looking at this site seemed to quickly gobble up more MBs than doing the banking.
The control panel lets you know how much you have used and so checking this regularly during a session is essential. But it can still run away with you.
The connection was through SFR France (Vodafone parner). I tried to buy a SFR dongle and sim (pay as you go) from a couple of Carefour stores and they wouldn't sell me one because I didn't have a French Bank account. Visa was a no go. I got a message a few times saying I was connected to a SFR hot spot but when I tried to log on I needed to put in a SFR password to continue.
Do you have to put any code in to use a McDonalds Wi-Fi?
Stu
Guest
You're sure, that you used a Vodafone-Ireland sim? This i the important thing. Vodafone UK or other Vodafone companies don't sell this cheap no-roaming offer. And lots of people are telling me, that they have no problems at all, either in France or Germany, nor in UK (where I use it).
regards
Stu
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Stu
Guest
Vodafone UK dongle is £9.99 for 50MB to be used in a 24 hour period. Crap.
Like I said, there is no cheap way of getting online in France (unless you have an SFR password of course and a wifi antenna
Like I said: there is, just believe me
Buy a sim card from VODAFONE IRELAND, use it in your VODAFONE UK dongle or in every unbranded unlocked dongle and you surf for €0.99 a day (from 0:00 to 23:59). There are no roaming charges in Europe, USA, Australia, Canada and some other countries. To make it absolutely clear: you are surfing with the same sim card in every country in Europe for €0.99 a day. And of course: in FRANCE as well
The only thing you have to do: buy it from a certain seller in *bay, he will register your sim card in Ireland before he sends it to you.
You can top up with a voucher or from the Vodafone Ireland website with a credit card. Thats all.
One more thing: you have to check the volume you are moving; free is 50MB; more, and you pay per MB - what will be very expensive. But the first 50MB are costing you only €0.99 a day.
Just believe me, me and lots of ppl around are doing exactly this ;-)
regards
Stu
PS: I am not related to this seller ;-)