Satellite internet with laptop

[xDUCK]

Is it possible to have a satellite internet connection with a laptop? How big is the satellite dish (if there is one at all)?

Just curious, because I heard that all you need is a little PCMCIA card with an inch-long antenna? Or is that still sci-fi?

Bottom line - is there any way to get broadband(ish) connectivity on the road?

[SkyDog]

I haven't personally heard of using a satellite connection on a laptop, but I have seen wireless services available for them. One that was popular a little while back was called Ricochet, but they went belly-up. Go.Web (http://www.goamerica.net/goweb/goweblaptop.html) is another one.

[mozilla4]

If you are rich you will be able to get nothing more than 19kbps using satellite Internet through Iridium or Globalstar. If you are super rich you will be able to get 144kbps through Inmarsat. I think Inmarsat is how the reporters in Afghanistan send their news reports to their office. So basically it is possible to get broadband through satellite, but you will be paying probably around $10/min if you are using Iridium or Globalstar. I have no idea what Inmarsat costs, but I know it is a whole lot more expensive than Iridium or Globalstar. I would wait for 3G so you can use your cell phone to get affordable Internet access.

[mozilla4]

Originally posted by SkyDog
One that was popular a little while back was called Ricochet, but they went belly-up.
A company bought out Ricochet's assets, and they brought it back online. It is a resonable $45/month.

[PCTORQUE]

I use the Nextel M1100 (http://www.nextel.com/phones_plans/datadevices/im1100.shtml). It's a PCMCIA card with a small antenna that will cost you a couple hundred bucks and $55 a month for unlimited use. It doesn't use the laptop power, it uses it's own Li-ION battery that charges like the Nextel phone batteries (same charger). It's listed as 19kbps but it's compressed to equal a 56K modem speed. It has worked pretty well for me and I'm happy with it. They obviously have a long way to go in this area. I've rode across a couple of states with a connection in the car that was really solid.

I would like to try Sprint hearing they are a bit faster, but I had a Sprint phone and their coverage isn't very good in my area.

[THESANTINI]

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