Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

johnv

Nov 24, 2005, 8:58 PM

Post #1 of 10 (6777 views)

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Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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A while back I had started a discussion on the Technical Forum concerning VoIP and Satellite Internet. I was told pretty much by everybody to forget about it, it doesn't work, there's delay of over one second, etc etc. Well I am currently on vacation and I am renting a house in a remote location of the Oaxaca Coast. The house has Direcway Satellite Internet. I just now had time to hook up my Iconnecthere VoIP phone using the ATA186 phone adapter. I have now placed a couple of calls to the US and the call quality was excellent if not better than the same system hooked up to Telmex Infinitum 512 at home in Guanajuato. I could notice no delay of any kind whatsoever. I have checked the speed of the connection with DSLReports Broadband Test and I got 731 down and 297 up. This is faster than my Telmex connection. When I see the landlord I will try to find out the details of the type of Direcway service being utilized here as I find it to be absolutely satisfactory for all purposes including VoIP calls. I will post the info if and when I find out.

johanson / Moderator

Nov 24, 2005, 9:30 PM

Post #2 of 10 (6772 views)

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Re: [johnv] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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John: Something doesn't make sense to me. I am not questioning you, there is just something I do not understand. I thought that when you used a satellite connection like Directway or Wildblue, that you used a geosynchronous satellite. If you are talking via a geosynchronous satellite, you are having to communicate with the satellite at the speed of light. A geosynchronous satellite is about 37,000 Km directly above the equator or about 40,000 Km from here up and then 40,000 Km down, for a total of 80,000 Km. The speed of light is 300,000 Km per second. That means there is more than 1/4 of a second delay each way for a total of a little more than 1/2 a second. Add a few thousand Kilometers once your voice is on the ground and you're up to 2/3 rds of a second and everyone tells me that this type of delay is very noticeable in a conversation.

So please help me understand what I am missing here. Oh and please let us know what the monthly rates are, and if possible what the installation costs are. THANK YOU very much for the great information

(This post was edited by johanson on Nov 24, 2005, 9:34 PM)

johnv

Nov 25, 2005, 5:15 AM

Post #3 of 10 (6767 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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I had researched the Direcway installation, including equipment costs, in the state of Guanajuato, from an installer in San Miguel de Allende, and it was about US$1500 for the least expensive system. I also understand about why delay occurs, but I am saying that I did not notice any at all. Maybe the two people I talked to were not "fast-talkers", that is speaking at the same time as the other person. I have a feeling that this system is not your basic setup, due to the speed. If I remember correctly when I was researching, Direcway's basic setup did not claim speeds like I found when I tested this system. I will post system type, $rate, $installation, etc, if and when I find out.

johanson / Moderator

Nov 25, 2005, 5:44 AM

Post #4 of 10 (6764 views)

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Re: [johnv] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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Thanks for the information. Those speeds are very impressive, especially the upload speeds.

sfmacaws

Nov 28, 2005, 8:23 PM

Post #5 of 10 (6721 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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Can you tell if the system uses the new 7000 modem? There are several rate plans with that modem and a larger than usual sat dish and they offer higher speeds on upload (which is generally the problem with sats and VOIP) as well as more stable speeds - the variation is another problem.

I use Directway here in QRoo (I'm on it now) but I have the older 6000 modem and the low price rate plan. I have friends who use Crystal Voice in Chetumal and say it works well even on the slower plan. There is also a new VOIP program by NetZero that uses the Crystal Voice program and is 2 way, you can receive calls as well. I'm going to try that one as soon as I find a place here to buy a mic and headset. The main thing though is getting a consistent and faster upload, that you can get with the new rate plans. I'm thinking about upgrading when I'm back in the US next spring.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johnv

Nov 29, 2005, 6:33 AM

Post #6 of 10 (6704 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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I have spoken to the lady who is renting me the house with questions concerning the system. Unfortunately, she is totally untechnical and knows "absolutely nothing" about her system other than it's satellite. She had a technician stop by the house while I was at the beach because I couldn't get the connection to work. When I returned it was connected and working, and my router and VoIP adapter box and phone, which I had left on the table, were all hooked up and working, other than having to re-configure the phone system myself. All I know is that the antenna on the house "appears" to be a Direcway antenna, but I have noticed that it does not say Direcway on the Dish, that I can see. The Voip service I'm using is Iconnecthere with a Linksys router and a Cisco ATA186 analog phone adapter, connected to a normal $20 analog phone.

sfmacaws

Nov 29, 2005, 1:16 PM

Post #7 of 10 (6680 views)

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Re: [johnv] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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If it is Directway, this should work. Open a browser and put in http://192.168.0.1/ That will bring you to the system control page if it is a 6000, I think it also works with the 4000. If you get the system page, click system info and you can see which sat you are on, probably 117 W also called SatMex5. Putting this http://192.168.0.1/fs/advanced/advanced.html

in your browser gets you to the advanced control page which has a lot of info most of which I don't know about. However, on the first page that comes up in the left column you will see an entry for Rate Code. If that is a 1 (or occasionally a 10) then you have the standard speed account.

Let us know what you find.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johnv

Nov 29, 2005, 5:12 PM

Post #8 of 10 (6666 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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I tried 192.168.0.1 twice, but I did not connect to anything. I am going to ask the owner of the house how I can contact the technician who was here in my absence, as I am sure he knows what type of system is being used here. If I find out anything, I'll post back here.

TlxcalaClaudia

Nov 29, 2005, 7:22 PM

Post #9 of 10 (6654 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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Dang. I learned something here Johanson. Never paid attention to those details before.

Claudine

Moisheh

Dec 7, 2005, 7:05 PM

Post #10 of 10 (6595 views)

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Re: [johnv] Satellite Internet and VoIP Phones

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If you want an accurate test you should use the one on testmy.net. If you are seeing those kinds of speeds then this is not a home direcway sytem. What are your monthly fees?