Satellite internet in Ukraine

[griffo]

My partner and I are looking at getting either satellite or mobile internet installed back at her mum's home -- it is a fair way from an internet cafe and we can't get cable to her home. But the two of them need good ongoing communication - from Ukraine to Australia. This is in Lugansk. Does anyone have any knowledge of a reasonable satellite Internet service in Ukraine and its cost? Are there other options?

[Herrie]

My partner and I are looking at getting either satellite or mobile internet installed back at her mum's home -- it is a fair way from an internet cafe and we can't get cable to her home. But the two of them need good ongoing communication - from Ukraine to Australia. This is in Lugansk. Does anyone have any knowledge of a reasonable satellite Internet service in Ukraine and its cost? Are there other options?

I used to have 1-way internet via satellite a number of years back with a company called Europeonline, however this is only downstream, so you would still need a phone/cable/adsl connection for your upstream. The prices were quite affordable (EUR 200,- a year back then).

2-way internet via satellite also exists, however it's quite costly. See for example the following websites:
http://www.europe-satellite.com/EMS/systems/systems10.htm
http://www.satsig.net/ivsat-europe.htm
http://www.lamit.ro/two-way-satellite-internet-services.htm
http://www.bizarnet.ro/

Please keep in mind that there's always some lag while communicating via satellite, which can be quite annoying at times when you want to use it for voice.

[AvHdB]

Has any member ever used a satellite based phone?

If yes, what did you like? What was easy? Did you down load any data?

My need would be primarily data (weather routing) and some one is seriously unhappy when I am out of contact for up to 2 weeks. Off course it is not a member of RUA. 

AvHdB

[Dogsoldier]

I once made some calls via INMARSAT....IIRC it was about £15.00 p/min but thats quite some years ago and to an ocean going vessel. It was purely for voice call so no data downloads.

[BCKev]

Has any member ever used a satellite based phone?

If yes, what did you like? What was easy? Did you down load any data?

My need would be primarily data (weather routing) and some one is seriously unhappy when I am out of contact for up to 2 weeks. Off course it is not a member of RUA. 

AvHdB

I've set up and used several stationary satellite phone/internet packages to service a small, remote office. The last three were from this outfit: http://www.xplornet.com/   

Typically, I would have one or two phone lines and internet service from one dish. The system was set up to give priority to the telephone so calls would be clear. Using the phone was no different than a landline other than a slight delay. It didn't take long to get used to it. There were a few choices of which city you could have the phone number from.

I found these systems to be pretty reliable. Stable installation of the dish is important so it doesn't shake in the wind or get moved off the satellite. The only problems I recall were wet snow sticking to the dish, which was easily brushed off, if the dish was accessible. Installation took about half a day.     

I've also used handheld satellite phones. They were good for emergency use, and okay for calling out. Practically useless for receiving calls because the phone would have to be opened and it took some time to locate the satellite.

Note that the last of these that I used was in 2007, so things may have improved a bit, particularly with the handheld phones.

BCKev

[AvHdB]

BC, I need it for offshore sailing - I do not have a SSB so the Satelite based phone is the way to go.

It does not help if I read cruising forums than one person directly counters the other and it makes RUA look like a gentelman's club where everyone says please and excuse me.