Thread: NBN Skymuster Satellite. Your views.

Unfortunately Skymuster is over subscribed, has limited bandwidth, has high latency, is expensive and overall just sucks. Data limits are very low and most data has to be used when you’re in bed. Sorry to hear it’s your only option. Those in remote areas using this for things like business on farms, or in remote areas are all tearing their hair out in frustration.

Yes, I have first hand experience with it through some friends and family. They find it easier to wait until they go into town and use the Libraries internet if they need to do much more than check the weather.

It will run forums, face plant etc but don’t expect to be signing up to Netflix anytime soon or watching YouTube. It would work for this but with around 60 gig or so max allowable peak usage per month that won’t get you far. That will cost you $50 as well. Peak times - like in the evenings is very slow when everyone is on - the systems limits really show up then.

Also, have you been told you’re going to be put on it as it isn’t an option as such if any other tech works in your area - or even shows on their maps works in your area, it’s a last resort system and getting connected to it isn’t a snap either - plenty of hoops to jump through depending on your situation.

Good luck, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

Thanks Gav, I wanted forthright & got it. No good buggering around with crap info is there?

No, haven't been told any of that just was looking around for a solution before we may get pushed into making a decision.


NBN? What could possibly go wrong?


UNITI for instance, cannot connect us as we appear to be in a dead spot close in to the Eastern face ( City to the West) for their sites but will keep trying others.

I see there are "bases" being put on top of some Power poles here & right in front of us IMHO, there is an deal site that would serve the whole valley but as far as I know others further away from the range may be fine, just that me & my neighbours may be in a shadow.

Thanks again, I will keep trying & may even need to have a discussion with our Federal Member Rebecca Sharkey who seems to make things happen, as they have a "Black Spot" plan going & seems to be a bit positive so far. It is for phones but it may cover BB as well.

A guide to small cells | ACMA

It appears that Skymuster is our fate, as well. Perhaps we should have let them build the tower on our property when approached?

It seems strange, in that we have a clear line of sight to our local Telstra tower, about 4.5 kms away. Doesn't the nbn utilise existing comms infrastructure?

I feel for you Saitch. I really do.

We have a TELSTRA Tower within a kilometre & also can see it out of my window & apparently OPTUS is up there amongst the bushland too, somewhere, (our ISP currently uses it for it's mobiles. but trying to find out EXACTLY where is another thing entirely. On the Telstra tower is possible I suppose.. On a Mobile from Telstra Twr we get Max. Signal bars so that is good.

Still investigating all this **** from online because if we go Wireless BB it could be from Optus through our present ISP. Jesus, I wish I had paid attention at school & I might then understand wtf is going on.

Vodas antennae is on the lower section of the Ch2 TV Tower but they are bunch of useless barstewards from past experience so they are out of the running already.

Now phones. If we use Satellite, which is very highly unlikely due to Gav's info ,we get to keep the landline, now whether that actually leads to somewhere useful is another puzzle & if it can still be used will NBN still want a Line Rental? And wtf does it go to, a hole under a concrete pad in a street near you? Makes note to self to investigate VOiP for another day.

Right, now where did I put those Aspros/Bex, me 'ead 'urts.

I have been on Skymuster since its inception. By and large, it is not oversubscribed, but some beams are, or appear to be, at least.

But the entire system has limited bandwidth, and nbn's solution to dealing with this is to apply stringent criteria on available data allowances. As applied, this has several effects.

1. The day is divided into "peak" and "off peak". Sounds reasonable, but "off peak" is 0100-0700, which means that for most purposes, off peak data is useless.

2. Data counted is both download and upload.

3. The pricing structure used by nbn at the wholesale level ensures that while (peak) data allowances under about 50GB/mo are roughly the same as you would expect for other connections, above this costs rapidly increase. I pay about $50 for 45GB, but would have to pay $200 for 120GB - and that is the most I could get.

4. Only one installation is allowed on one premises.

5. There are no data free allowances (but see Skymuster Plus below)

These are the biggest drawbacks of Skymuster. For most plans, a Windows update to three or four computers would just about kill your monthly allowance. My grandchildren have demonstrated an ability to use 50% of my monthly allowance in one day.

Then there are the problems of any system that uses geostationary satellites. The major one is that there is an inescapable latency of about 500ms (varies a bit depending on where you are). This means that VOIP can be less than satisfactory, although some are managing OK with it.

The maximum speeds available normally are 25/5, although there is a new "Skymuster Plus" recently launched, that allows you to use whatever speed is possible, which may be as high as 50/10 - but for most uses, the latency means you won't be able to tell the difference, and the ones where it woould make a difference, such as high resolution videos or large downloads will very quickly kill your data allowance. Skymuster Plus also introduces data free allowances - but only for specified low data use items such as emails (provided there are no big attachments) and browsing (provided there are no videos) and provided you don't overdo it.

The system is generally reliable, but there have been periods when there have been outages of several days, usually the result of system updates - but seeing the whole system comes into one spot at Eastern Creek, there is the potential for a single point failure. As with most satellite systems, it can be interrupted by weather, either at your end or the groundstation that your connection comes down to (for technical reasons this will be a long way away). How susceptible it is to weather will depend mainly on your latitude, but may also be affected by near obstacles.

You need to be able to see the satellite from your antenna - if you have high buildings, trees, or hills raising your effective horizon to the north of you, a viable installation may not be possible.

In general, if you can get good mobile coverage from Optus, this will be cheaper for large data quantities, but is likely to have contested bandwidth in peak evening times. Telstra is likely to be better technically, but more expensive. All wireless options will have the advantage that they have much lower latency.

As with any of the nbn offerings, your experience with the actual installation will depend a lot on which sub-subcontractor does it, and how much experience with it he/she has. Mine took nearly all day, but admittedly it was only the second one he had done!


Hope this helps.

Elon Musks SpaceX Starlink will be rolled out well before the NBN is delivering as promised, High speed Global internet no matter where you are!

. Mine took nearly all day, but admittedly it was only the second one he had done!

Reminds me of a story I read online yesterday told by a Technician where a bloke was made to return to a bad installation where he was required to rectify the bad workmanship.

After a Telephone barney with the client where she asked him his experience & qualifications & he replied he was previously a Chef.. Very professionally attired in surfing shorts, shirt & thongs he was giving her the hurry up so he could get back to his surfing activities.

I guess you had to be there.

John, thanks for that comprehensive description of pitfalls. It's a business alright.

Originally Posted by goingbush

Elon Musks SpaceX Starlink will be rolled out well before the NBN is delivering as promised, High speed Global internet no matter where you are!

I’ll believe it when I see it. Electric Jesus is good at the media hype but not so flash on delivering on it. Anything will be better than the NBN though.