[The Hotspotter is proud to host this third in a three-part series on how one Hotspotter equips himself for the tough job of working from exotic beachfront locales. Part one introduces us to Jared Reimer, hardcore digital nomad. Part two provides a guide for the gear recommended to stay connected while still within site of civilization. Part three covers the hardware needed for true digital nomads to stay on the grid while off the grid. -Ed.]

The most challenging situation is one where there is no WiFi, no cellular coverage, and no option other than satellite broadband access.  I have experimented with a number of satellite technologies over the years, and have settled on the BGAN service offered by InMarSat.  My current satellite terminal is the Wideye Sabre 1.

This was purchased through Outfitter Satellite. It can do simultaneous voice and data service (approx. 492kbps) nearly anywhere on the planet, as long as you have a line of sight to the satellites in the sky.  This is hugely useful, albeit fairly expensive at $6.50 per megabyte.  Turn off image loading in your web browser and automatic file attachment downloads in your email client before doing this, as the megabytes add up fast when you’re moving files around. Voice usage is $1 per minute, which is much lower than cellular roaming in most cases.  The delay incurred by the satellite bounce is about half a second — annoying at times, but certainly tolerable. The call quality is better than you’d expect.  The entire system seems to be loosely derived from the GSM cellular standards and works amazingly well once you’ve got it working.  TEST IT before you take it on a trip as getting it working can be a little tricky at times.

All of this equipment needs protection, of course.  The BGAN satellite terminal alone is something like $2,000, so it’s not uncommon for me to have $5,000 or more worth of equipment along with me on trips.  A Pelican 1500 case works beautifully.  Add a padlock and a strong bicycle-style cable to secure the waterproof, rugged Pelican case to a plumbing fixture or other immovable object in your hotel room.  This is particularly useful in places without in-room wall safes or when you’re traveling by small open-bow boats, as is common in the Philippines, Indonesia, or Thailand.

Finally, don’t forget about the hassle of powering all of this stuff. Extra batteries are obviously handy.  Less obvious:  bring a cheap, two-prong extension cord and a multi-outlet surge protector.  Break off the grounding pin with a set of pliers if you dare, as many countries do NOT have a 3rd prong.  (WARNING:  This may be dangerous and almost certainly voids warranties etc.  It does work however.) Don’t forget adapters to compensate for different outlet designs, and if your equipment isn’t capable of handling 200+ volt power, bring a transformer too.  All of the equipment I’ve mentioned above can handle 120V or 220V power natively and does NOT require an external transformer, but be sure to check your specific equipment before taking it on the road.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas, please feel free to send them to me.  My email address is jared@cascadeo.com and I welcome your feedback.  Additionally, my firm (Cascadeo Corp.) provides consulting services to companies with mobile and rural telecommunications needs, and we’re available to provide complete solutions, support, engineering, and even drop-ship pre-configured systems to remote sites around the planet.

Happy Hotspotting!

[We here at The Hotspotter would like to thank Jared for sharing his outstanding insights and we all look forward to hearing from him again soon! If you missed the first two posts, you can find then here: Part 1 and Part 2. -Ed.]

Jared Reimer is the founder of Cascadeo Corp. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas, Jared would love to hear them. His email address is jared@cascadeo.com and he welcomes your feedback. Additionally, his firm provides consulting services to companies with mobile and rural telecommunications needs, and is available to provide complete solutions, support, engineering, and even drop-ship pre-configured systems to remote sites around the planet.

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