Tom Palmer - Livingston, TX
About a week and a half ago, we had a sudden burst of high wind come through the park where we stay south of Florence, AZ. Very strange – light rain (horizontal), dust blowing up off the desert, coach shaking like crazy, and trees losing limbs. Wasn’t on the Internet at the time, but the dish was up (it almost always is) and we had the TV on (Dish Network). The TV stayed on right up to the time the wind blew over five power poles on the other side of the road. I didn’t have time to lower the dish (was more worried about the coach) when it happened. The whole thing was over in about five minutes, and the dish came through it ok.
Thanks MotoSAT for a good product.
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Chad Morris - Boston, MA
Why buy a DataStorm? I can honestly say that the MotoSAT system is the best piece of technology I've invested in. It's not that often that something comes along with the ability to change your life, MotoSAT's product does just that. Prior to our install I was running a design firm headquartered in Boston. With the DataStorm I've continued to successfully run my design business and work on new businesses all while traveling to the west coast and back. No other product could have given me the ability to be in all these places at once. No question, MotoSAT's DataStorm delivers freedom.
How reliable is the service? The DataStorm has consistently provided reliable high speed access. Coming from a history of using cable modems and DSL my view is that you'll see the same if not less downtime with the DataStorm. As far as build quality, the dish is probably the most well engineered piece of machinery on our motorhome! Having visited the factory for the install I have to say it's impressive to see the attention to detail put into each dish.
If I were in your shoes, I'd already be on the waiting list.
Still questioning the worth of the DataStorm? Imagine yourself in a state park somewhere under a tree with a WiFi laptop accomplishing everything you can do in an downtown office. Believe me you won't miss the cubicle.
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Michael Day
I am one of the original MotoSAT beta-testers for their two-way internet system. My system was installed in late November, 2001. During the past 4 months, I have used the system several hours a day, every day. I have been extremely pleased with the system and would highly recommend it. The system is important to us since I maintain several web-sites and my wife is beginning a internet based consulting business that requires internet access
daily.
The system is good on normal internet browsing, somewhat slower than I expected for ftp uploads, and blazing fast on downloads of large files. However, these are functions of the DirecPC system, rather than unique to MotoSAT. The MotoSAT mount and controller are well constructed and have functioned extremely well. The MotoSAT system has located the satellite on the first try every time I had a line of sight shot at the satellite. (I did have to move to a different site at one campground to get a line of sight shot at the satellite.) The controls are easy to use and MotoSat has been responsive in addressing issues and suggestions for improvements for the software during the beta-test. The software is very stable at this point and finding the satellite quickly. The system now uses a single program to automatically determine your current location and then automatically calculate the elevation, azimuth, skew, distance to the satellite and signal timing is great. This originally required running two separate programs. The system makes these calculations in less than a minute typically on my system. The system positions the dish and locks on within 3-6 minutes depending on how far the dish has to turn.
I am still amazed at the ability to use the internet from locations across the United States without the need for a telephone connection. I now enjoy downloading large files, such as updates to Microsoft Windows and Office which can be 20-30 meg files. These typically come down at the rate of over 4 meg per minute.
I don't think you will find a system that is built to higher quality
standards or that works any better for RV application than the MotoSAT DataStorm. I highly recommend MotoSAT.
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Judy Hardman
I am one of the beta testers for the Datastorm Two Way Internet system and I can assure you it is legit. This is one of the most cutting-edge products I've ever seen.
Before this system I was forced to hunt for modem-friendly RV parks. And then the facilities were not always as advertised, lousy connection speeds, non-working phone lines, etc. But with the advent of the DataStorm, I am completely and totally independant of telephone lines. The speed of the system also is far and above anything I experienced with a 56K modem. I can now venture into areas that are rustic and isolated, never missing a beat with email, business connections and instant messenging.
Rest assured that if you decide to purchase a system it will change your RV/Internet experience for the better.
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Larry Johnson and Annette Lamb
We are among the beta-tester group of the MotoSAT DataStorm unit. We have been using the system since late November 2001.
My wife (Annette) and I live and work full-time out of our motorhome as consultants and publishers in educational / instructional technology.
We use the system daily to locate resources for our work, update our website, and communicate with clients and partners. We have been full-time RVers since 1999 and until last fall, we used a Hughes DirecPC dish that required a phone line connection to our service provider. The DataStorm unit has freed us from the phone requirement, thereby allowing us to camp at many more locations while still being able to complete our online work. There is still a required setup time each time we move but now we can do that from inside the motorhome, that is we prompt the software to find and peak to the satellite. Even with a few glitches, such as a maintenance interruption at Hughes a few days back - satellite was unavailable for several hours, we cannot imagine returning to our old way of doing things.
Right now we are in Sahuarita, AZ. Soon we will be heading up into Utah. Since November, we have also operated in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Again, we are heavy users of the Web. On many days, one or both of us are online for 8, 10, 12 or more hours. We have not had any problems with western winds. Like any sat system, there is a little fade during heavy rainstorms but that doesn't usually last too long (Missouri) before the signal is restored. Lighter rains such as here in AZ don't usually take us out.
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Greg Betros of Betros Mobile Computing - New York
"Being in the portable laptop computing business, we've waited nine years for high speed remote internet access for those on the move. It's now here!
The DataStorm unit by MotoSat has proven to offer the solution for true reliable mobile online access. Whether for emergency field operations or forthe leisure recreational traveler, the DataStorm unit brings your office or home on the road."
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Will Henshall - DataStorm Beta Tester
I had my MotoSAT DataStorm fitted on my Airsreatm 345LE motorhome last week (February) by Todd Murnan of Digital Satellite in San Diego.
The installation went perfectly. Highly recommend Todd. There was very little longwise space on the roof, as well as the Airstream roof curve issue!
In fact I had previously had the bedroom vent moved back 14" so that I had a clear 56" longwise.
When Todd and I got the dish assembly on the roof for the first time we were holding our breaths to see if it fitted ok. We have about 1 " clearance from the rear, and about 1/2" from the front where it butts up against the AC unit. The dish can spin any direction and has enough clearance. Phew!
The software installation process went smoothly on my IBM T20 laptop.
...I got a 77 quality signal as soon as we rebooted the machine, reran the DataStorm software and pointed the dish for the first time.
I would say that the one area that is not too well explained is the general co-dependence between the DirecWay software and the DataStorm software.
I have now moved and set up at least 5 times on my way back to San Francisco, and have it working fine each time so far. The order you have to boot your system seems critical. This I think needs to be made clearer too.
My overall reaction to the Datastorm is WOAH! Fantastic!!
It was most surreal sitting in the parking lot at Harris Ranch watching the cows in the middle of the night doing my executive staff report at my kitchen table! The coach not plugged in to anything, just my inverter running the show...and the parking brake on!
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Jim Farnham
I wanted to take a moment to write and let you know how satisfied and impressed I am with the DataStorm! The dish got here in three days. I'm amazed with the technology. The dish locks in much faster than I thought it would and the internet transfer speed is really fast. Compared to how I was getting data, it is out-of-this-world! I know it will come in handy when I out there helping to track storms. Thank you so much for everything.
I included a picture of the chase van with the DataStorm installed on it. And yes, that is me in front smiling ear to ear. Hope this update helped.
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Al at Elkhart Satellite
I was totally amazed at the performance [of the Executive Open Mount System] It’s ease of operation and on-screen graphics.
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Mark Perlstein, of Sea Sharp
While demonstrating a marine system on an unmounted platform a wind gusts of 50 mph caused the system to fall to the ground. The ST-2000 immediately searched and located the satellite. (Sounds just like the Timex story ..but just keeps on trackin')
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