Hi

I’m totally new to the idea of using satellite to get internet access. I started thinking about it when I started an internet café at Aplaku on the West side of Accra, Ghana.

We have single phase A.C 240 Volts (variable current when there’s no lights off that is!!) but no telephone line, so no ADSL

To cut a long story short I  connected a single computer , using Linux OS to the internet using Zain’s   usb  modem dongle, getting internet through the cellular network  at a fair 7.2 megabits per sec. Pre pay of 1Gig cost me 30 cedis & I worked out that most customers were using  from 6 -22  mb per hour.

I now want to add more computers, one way would be to use Zain’s Router also connecting via a cellular phone sim card allowing up to 7 computers, but what about satellite ?  

Naively of the top of my head I thought I could buy a small satellite dish say from the UK, find a cheap provider somewhere around the world, pay from  UK but ship the dish out to Accra.    

At this stage anything anybody could tell me about satellites and the possibility of using one in Accra, Ghana would be very useful taking into account a fairly small set up of computers. Things like - type of dish needed, size of dish, power rating, could I install & point the thing myself, recommended satellite ISP’s  and anything else anybody can think of  

I’m a bit o a Linux Geek so should be able to get hold of any required software.

cheers oburoni

Well! I think a have small experience in helping you sought out your fouls. There is this new Satellite in the country that also cover Ghana (Telsat 11N), you can get GET2NET OR ASTRA2CONNECT it is a new product in Nigeria, Ghana and west africa, with 1mtr dish, iLNB and Satellite Modem, cost is N140, 000 i dont know the conversion in ceddis and you can pay just N15, 000 for 64/256Kbps i think this will take 7system and you can easily install it urself.
Call me or email me for detail of shipping and geting the equipment.
Thanks.
Olofin J
solofin@satcomintegrated.com

oburoni, we are a VNO working with a very reputable teleport in Canada that has had great success in Africa - we would be pleased to help you in your requrements. Please feel free to contact us at sales@mmstrack.com




wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 3:47pm:

Hi I’m totally new to the idea of using satellite to get internet access. I started thinking about it when I started an internet café at Aplaku on the West side of Accra, Ghana. We have single phase A.C 240 Volts (variable current when there’s no lights off that is!!) but no telephone line, so no ADSL To cut a long story short I  connected a single computer , using Linux OS to the internet using Zain’s   usb  modem dongle, getting internet through the cellular network  at a fair 7.2 megabits per sec. Pre pay of 1Gig cost me 30 cedis & I worked out that most customers were using  from 6 -22  mb per hour. I now want to add more computers, one way would be to use Zain’s Router also connecting via a cellular phone sim card allowing up to 7 computers, but what about satellite ?   Naively of the top of my head I thought I could buy a small satellite dish say from the UK, find a cheap provider somewhere around the world, pay from  UK but ship the dish out to Accra.     At this stage anything anybody could tell me about satellites and the possibility of using one in Accra, Ghana would be very useful taking into account a fairly small set up of computers. Things like - type of dish needed, size of dish, power rating, could I install & point the thing myself, recommended satellite ISP’s  and anything else anybody can think of   I’m a bit o a Linux Geek so should be able to get hold of any required software. cheers oburoni

There are many options available for satellite service.  It sounds as if a shared service would be a suitable upgrade direction.  Within this service type there are many options and it is not a simple comparison between companies because of the wide range of sharing ratios and network configurations. References will be key to finding the best provider.

That said, each provider will have a different equipment requirement based on your location, data rate needs and planning for future growth.  For instance, we offer c band service to Ghana on NSS 7 which is a circular feed requirement.  The rest of the equipment required is a 5 watt BUC, LNB and an iDirect iNFINITI modem for our shared platform.  

Installation is the most difficult part of the process as you can imagine.  It is possible to install yourself depending on your level of knowledge, confidence and mechanical ability.  It sounds like you have the technical knowledge down to integrate everything easily.  iDirect has created the most "plug and play" satellite system currently available.  Many tools are available in the program provided.  An experienced installer is always recommended because of the electrical issues as well as the precision required to point the antenna to the correct satellite and to ensure it is optimally peaked and pointed.  

We have an amazing team to assist your installation and intialization regardless of the direction you chose. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss specific questions and/or requirements.

wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 3:47pm:

Hi I’m totally new to the idea of using satellite to get internet access. I started thinking about it when I started an internet café at Aplaku on the West side of Accra, Ghana. We have single phase A.C 240 Volts (variable current when there’s no lights off that is!!) but no telephone line, so no ADSL To cut a long story short I  connected a single computer , using Linux OS to the internet using Zain’s   usb  modem dongle, getting internet through the cellular network  at a fair 7.2 megabits per sec. Pre pay of 1Gig cost me 30 cedis & I worked out that most customers were using  from 6 -22  mb per hour. I now want to add more computers, one way would be to use Zain’s Router also connecting via a cellular phone sim card allowing up to 7 computers, but what about satellite ?   Naively of the top of my head I thought I could buy a small satellite dish say from the UK, find a cheap provider somewhere around the world, pay from  UK but ship the dish out to Accra.     At this stage anything anybody could tell me about satellites and the possibility of using one in Accra, Ghana would be very useful taking into account a fairly small set up of computers. Things like - type of dish needed, size of dish, power rating, could I install & point the thing myself, recommended satellite ISP’s  and anything else anybody can think of   I’m a bit o a Linux Geek so should be able to get hold of any required software. cheers oburoni

Please contact us for a Hughes HX quotation.
https://www.europe-satellite.com/EMS/systems/systems_hughes_hx.htm