Internet via satellite phone
For many years [when? ]satellite phones have been able to connect to the
internet. Bandwidth varies from about 2400 bit/s for Iridium network
satellites and ACeS based phones to 15 kbit/s upstream and 60 kbit/s
downstream for Thuraya handsets. Globalstar also provides internet access
at 9600 bit/s—like Iridium and ACeS a dial-up connection is required and is
billed per minute, however both Globalstar and Iridium are planning to
launch new satellites offering always-on data services at higher rates. With
Thuraya phones the 9,600 bit/s dial-up connection is also possible, the 60
kbit/s service is always-on and the user is billed for data transferred (about
$5 per megabyte ). The phones can be connected to a laptop or other
computer using a USB or RS-232 interface. Due to the low bandwidths
involved it is extremely slow to browse the web with such a connection, but
useful for sending email, Secure Shell data and using other low-bandwidth
protocols. Since satellite phones tend to have omnidirectional antennas no
alignment is required as long as there is a line of sight between the phone
and the satellite.
Anyone have experience of this?
Also, is there a way to get satellite radio in Europe and south America without a subscription? And can a sat phone be used to get sat radio... for that matter what is the most hackable sat receiver? A net book and gnu radio I suppose?
I work at sea, recently on a boat with no communications or radio to the outside world. Thinking of getting a portable sat radio.
Surprised there's not more phone to pups available via btc...
