Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Hello. its that time again, we are having a refresh to our site soon so be patient if were off line for a short while.

Case study: We supplied our demo unit to a customer who had internet services from an un-named ISP provider, a coloured fruit name and it’s not Apple. The best speed our customer has had in the past two years was 1.5Mb, yet despite having made numerous complaints, the response was ‘that’s the best we can do’!

With our Tooway dish installed, we had an instant improvement to 8Mb, and that’s with our slowest speed!

Our customer contacted his coloured fruit ISP provider and asked why Tooway can provide fast internet and they could not, and he wanted to change. Then it was frantic activity between the phone line installer (guess who?!) and the coloured fruit ISP provider, resulting in them spending a day renewing lines and suddenly it’s a doubling of speed. Its funny how they can double the speed when pushed hard by a service that is fast, reliable and not encumbered by an antiquated delivery system.

Shame that, even with their improvements, they have yet to reach half our slowest speed and how will they ever reach our fastest speed of 18Mb, and the irony of all this is that the location is not a remote farm miles from the nearest exchange but in the middle of a major city in Sussex.

Tooway, installed by FT Solutions, its simple, fast and reliable.

FT Solutions have provided and installed satellite broadband services for many customers in Sussex Surrey and Kent. We had another web site that provided all the necessary information and details for Tooway services. We kept adding information and details over a long period and the site was looking very tired and dated, so we have decided to revamp and renew our Tooway site.

We have found that people in areas of poor broadband services are unlikely to spend much time surfing the internet. To run along side the of launch of our new web site we are running newspaper and magazine adverts to promote the fact that poor broadband service can be a thing of the past for everybody with Tooway.

So visit www.toowaysussex.com for all the information you need to get fast satellite broadband.

Ok, Ok I know that I have let the blog slide! I hang my head in shame and promise I will try harder. So let’s get to business, digital switch over has been and gone but many, many people are still having reception problems.

The answer to most of the reception problems can be sorted very simply by having a new aerial and more importantly new cable. No aerial or cable lasts forever and if your installation is over five years old, get it checked. A quick spectrum test will tell you how your aerials performing, and we do them free.

Now to the thing that have been taking over my time lately; Broadband speed! Upfront I will say we have a vested interest in broadband speed, as we supply satellite broadband installations.

There are lots of speed testing sites on the internet, but the one I think is the best is the BBC iplayer speed testing site, www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics.

I have spent many happy hours comparing speeds in different locations and from different ISP’s via landline copper cables and they all have one thing in common, you don’t know what speed you’re going to get till your broadband is installed. Why?

Our office backs onto the local telephone exchange and we have three broadband providers, Orange, BT and Tooway Satellite Broadband. Greedy I know, but that’s business!

Our BT has been playing up recently, we used to get 4000kbps but that has dropped to less than 2000kbps and carrying out the online tests and diagnostics have returned the result that our MAX should be 2000kbps on our line!

Orange comes from the same exchange and has improved recently and we get average speed of 5200kbps, which begs the question, why the difference between Orange and BT from the same exchange?.

Tooway does not come from the telephone exchange but direct from satellite, not the Sky satellite but an all singing, all dancing, brand new broadband satellite. The average speed we get from that is 7600kbps on our 8000kbps package (that bit of information is important and will become clear later).

These then are the basics of what we have at our office and what we use every day. So now for the fun part, if I go to the Orange web site and do a speed check for our landline number, they say we can have speeds up to 17000kbps, so why do I only get 5200kbps? BT is somewhat more realistic and say that we can have speeds between 10000 and 19500kbps, far more impressive than my actual 2000kbps I would say!

So what do Tooway offer? Tooway have a simple system, you sign up for a speed package and that’s the speed you get. We have an 8000kbps package and that’s what we get. Simple. You can have speeds up to 18000kbps, now this speed does not depend on how close or far you are from the telephone exchange because the signals come via satellite, it’s the same speed everywhere.

We have one service that none of the landline ISP’s have. You can try our service for free for a week; why not ask Orange, BT, Sky or Virgin if they do that?

If you want more information please phone our office and I will be happy to help.

Just had to blog this press release.

Rural wi-fi still not able to fill the gaps

The debate about rural broadband coverage and the best way to tackle the shortcomings of the UK copper infrastructure rumbles on.

The idea of using wi-fi networks as a universal ‘catch-all’ solution to the problem is surprisingly still being lauded as the best way forward by some parties. But increasingly there is a growing crowd of those who think this plan is flawed at best – and hopeless at worst.

One of the few companies already using the technology on a commercial basis accepts that the plans by the big players such as BT and Virgin to use fibre optics to boost the speed of downloads will still leave many remote outposts of the country woefully under-served.

The key issue is that getting fibre to rural exchanges is one thing, but if the copper infrastructure between the exchanges and the end user aren’t replaced, the the consumer will never see the benefit.

ISP Medwave runs an 802.11n service delivering 5.8Ghz to parts of rural Kent. They feel that despite government plans to top up the coffers to aid the infrastructure roll-out, it simply won’t be enough to reach the far-flung corners of the countryside.

Some campaigners are pushing for radio technology to supplement the over-lauded fibre optics networks, but even this compromise option doesn’t impress ISP Medwave and others, who feel that greater investment in the fibre and phone lines route is needed.

“You could use other technologies to fill in the gaps, but it’s not a universal solution in the same way that can be said with fibre and phone lines” commented Steve Howard founder of Medwave.

He claims that the big limitation in wi-fi as a solution is the required line of sight between the transmitter and the receiving household. In the more ‘hilly’ parts of the country that simply is a logistical impossibility. Even in relatively flat areas there could still be not-spots that are left out in the cold.
No single solution, but satellite is the catalyst for many options

It’s just another chapter in an ongoing argument that rural broadband users have all heard before. The general consensus seems to be that no single solution is going to deliver total fast broadband coverage, and that what will eventually solve the problem will be a melting pot of delivery methods.

Satellite broadband, as well providing cost effective and immediate fast broadband coverage through products like Tooway, can be used to facilitate connectivity to wi-fi and cellular GSM/3G networks. Using the latest satellite protocols and Ka band communications, satellite can provide an instant and virtually limitless broadband backhaul to hook up other wireless delivery methods where its too expensive to dig and lay fibre.

This is going to be the only realistic way that the government can hit its own target of a universal 2Mbits/sec delivery to all homes and businesses.

BT has already stated publicly that its comfortable with the idea of a pick’n’mix approach to rural broadband delivery. They have proposed a convergence of delivery methods to reach outlying areas that cannot be serviced via fibre optics that includes copper-based BET, LTE, TV white spaces and of the most flexible, satellite.

First 20 Cities for ‘Local TV’ Announced.
Four months ago, Jeremy Hunt asked the 65 towns and cities Ofcom identified as “potential pioneer locations” for local TV services to make a case why their area should be first to receive the service Hunt has long campaigned for. The service aims to have “commercially viable” stations that broadcast locally made programmes and news.

The first 20 towns and cities have just been announced. Chosen because of their “significant levels of interest,” which means potential operators and audiences see opportunity in the service, and also because it is technically possible the areas chosen are: London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Hove, Bristol, Glasgow, Grimsby, Leeds, Liverpool, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Southampton, and Swansea.

Twenty-four more areas have also been identified as next in line after this initial round. These areas are: Aberdeen, Ayr, Bangor, Barnstaple, Basingstoke, Bedford, Cambridge, Carlisle, Derry/Londonderry, Dundee, Guildford, Hereford, Inverness, Kidderminster, Limavady, Luton, Maidstone, Malvern, Mold, Salisbury, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent, Stratford upon Avon and York.

Media regulator, Ofcom will be conducting further consultation in the first 20 cities and towns beginning the end of next week. This will help them decide on how licenses will be awarded. According to sources, licenses will be awarded through competitive tendering, with regulators accepting bids from both non-profit and commercial operators.

Legislation enabling the stations is also yet to be passed, but Hunt has already announced that there will be three pieces of legislation put to parliament. First, to make the spectrum available for broadcast, another for the local licensing regime, and the final will ensure EPG prominence for the services.

In the meantime, the government will be setting up the statutory framework. Pay-TV broadcasters like BSkyB and Virgin are also getting on board with the system, having committed to offering apps and yellow button use to interactive services. This will give local TV the “appropriate prominence” on EPGs.

“Local TV will be a fundamental change in broadcasting in this country, meeting a real demand for local news and content. We are now putting in place the measures needed to establish a series of commercially viable local TV stations,” said Hunt.

“I am confident these new stations will provide local communities with programming which is relevant to their daily lives, will support local democracy, boost the Big Society and enhance local communities.”

Though promising, the project isn’t without its critics. Shadow minister for media, Helen Goodman believes that the government is simply “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Goodman is referring to the fact that £40m is needed for the project, not including £25m in start-up costs and the £15m that will go to acquiring content over three years. The money will be coming from the BBC license fee.

“The BBC has always provided excellent local content, but as a result of the harsh licence fee settlement agreed by the government, many local services are being slashed by 20%. This government is distracting attention away from these cuts by promoting new services with old money,” Goodman said.

“Labour backs community enterprises and wants to see new business flourish. However, there is little point in cutting high quality services which the public enjoy to fund other projects.”

It is believed that the BBC Trust will need to approve the final figures for the cost, however, and though controversial now, in the end, advertising will fund the services.

The festive time is here, and with our business head on thankful for no snow, but our fun head would not mind a small amount.
We have had a very busy year running up to the Digital Switch Over in Sussex and Surrey, plus our connection with Tooway supplying and installing broadband services via satellite has been very popular.
DSO happens during February and March in Sussex and March/April for Surrey. The changes to the Rowridge transmitter will make huge changes to reception around Arundel and Bognor Regis. Reception patterns for digital signals will be different than those for analogue signals; this has great significance to areas that used to have poor reception, plus the introduction of HD channels allows a catch up with Freesat.
Freesat has always been an attractive alternative to Freeview and with the introduction of 5* and 5USA Freesat has a fantastic channel line-up with a wider choice than Freeview. Hopefully more televisions will come on-line with Freesat built-in.
Tooway provides a great broadband service for rural homes and businesses. The on-going lack of performance form conventional broadband providers in rural locations has highlighted the need for a high performance alternative. Tooway is that alternative, high performance simple to understand system giving a great service.
We wish all our customers and visitors to this blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Broadband services in Sussex has a poor reputation. We wait while BT talk about upgrades for 2015 or beyond! Why, fast broadband is here already, without the need for telephone lines, don’t be held hostage to the poor telephone infrastructure.

Tooway satellite broadband is delivered direct to your home via a satellite dish, fast upload and download speeds directly between you and the satellite, no phone lines, no limited speeds, no outage time! These services are available now in Sussex, visit  ToowaySussex.com.

Devon and Somerset has understood problems with rural broadband and have taken action. Why are we still waiting in Sussex?

Tooway is to connect 1,050 homes in Devon & Somerset with Rural Connection

The UK’s largest Tooway satellite broadband distributor, Toowaydirect, has won a bid to connect 1,050 digitally disadvantaged rural homes and businesses in Devon and Somerset. The scheme uses European funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), matched with private sector investment to connect users using the latest generation satellite technology.

The project, which is being launched across Devon and Somerset today is called Rural Connection and focuses on connecting premises that are the farthest from their local exchange; in short those that stand little chance of being connected via wired broadband in the foreseeable future. Fast broadband internet connectivity is an essential enabling infrastructure. Without it many business, economic, and educational opportunities can’t be realised.

Devon and Somerset have a number of rural areas that receive little or no broadband connectivity, so called ‘not spots’. Devon and Somerset County Councils have conducted an in depth analysis of connectivity across the counties. This forms the basis of wider investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) connectivity, but in the short term the analysis has led to the targeting of four pilot community clusters.

The four clusters that receive a particularly poor broadband service (less than 2 Mbps) are in areas of North, Mid and East Devon and Wheddon Cross in Exmoor, Somerset. Toowaydirect is launching a Post Code checking service to enable residents and companies in these areas to determine whether they qualify for the free standard installation and hardware.

The grant means that the first 1,050 applicants in specific postcodes in these areas will be provided with the latest generation standard Tooway satellite broadband equipment, and standard installation. The scheme is being run in conjunction with a program of free ICT training and support from Devon based ethical IT Company Cosmic to help first time broadband users and businesses get the best out of their new broadband connection and their PC or MAC.

“The Rural Connection project means that people can get online with fast broadband now with no more waiting. This will give them immediate access to an amazing range of online services and applications which can enrich their lives, but also save them money, and let them access new work and educational prospects.

The internet has become an important part of most peoples working life and is rapidly becoming as important in home life as well. For most of us, how the internet works and what wizardry goes on in the background has no importance; we have no need to know or wish to know. As long as when you plug in your computer, press the go button and it works, that’s fine.
Until: you press the button and wait, and wait, and wait, make a cup of tea, come back and wait some more. Slow broadband speed at home is annoying; at work it moves beyond the realm of annoying to vexation.
Most broadband services are delivered along telephone lines and when you move a relatively short distance from a local telephone exchange delivery speed slows, the further you move the slower the speed becomes. What can be done about this?
Services delivered via satellite are very common, television, phone, data etc. Now fast broadband is available via satellite. Tooway is a pan-European satellite broadband service that delivers fast broadband direct to your home or business without the need for telephone wires. You are no longer dependant of BT, Virgin or any telephone service provider or 3G mobile services. The satellite broadband signal is beamed direct to your own dish and you beam back your signals to the satellite from the same dish. This service is fast, reliable and secure. Tooway is available, now, anywhere in the UK. Tooway doesn’t discriminate by location, and don’t advertise a funny headline speed and then tell you later that because of where you live you can only get half that. You can even make use of the ‘try before you buy’ service. If you want faster broadband and haven’t been able to get it, you can now.

Why not visit our sister site for more detailed information www.toowaysussex.com

The Internet has been a quiet revolution, becoming an important part of every household. This has not been achieved through loud proclamations and fanfares but by low key applications that are useful in everyday life. Even if you’re not a direct internet user, it still has an influence on your life; everything you do, purchase, read or watch will have been touched by the internet.

So why is it that unless you live anywhere other than next to a telephone exchange in West Sussex, your alleged super-fast internet service is closer to a three legged donkey? Invention and software applications have outstripped the capacity of the telephone system. Although plans to install updated systems have been announced this doesn’t help you today, this minute, now. Well, as you may have guessed there is a viable option available today that can compete with the best and fastest ADSL service.

Satellites have provided commercial two way connections and internet services for many years; probably the most commonly used on the High Street are lottery terminals. Internet via Satellite for the domestic market has seen many false dawns, mainly due to the hybrid nature of the systems used. Data was downloaded via the satellite but all uplink data went via the telephone network at dial up speeds. With new satellites having been launched specifically for internet services the same capacity previously only availability for large corporations is now within reach of domestic households and small and medium business.

Internet services allow two way communications, measured as download speed for incoming data and upload speed for outgoing data. You can carry out online speed tests; the results will show download and upload speed for your connection. Results can be affected by test method used and time of day and location. I carried out a number of tests with results ranging from 4Mbps to 6.5Mbps download speed and upload speed never greater than 0.4Mbps. Results from similar tests carried out within 5miles of this location returned download speeds ranging from 9Mbps to 0.9Mbps and upload speeds of 0.4Mbps to 0.1Mbps

WildBlue is an American internet via satellite system that has 400,000 subscribers, launched in 2005 and servicing mainland USA. Tooway is a European equivalent serving mainland Europe, Scandinavian Countries and parts of North Africa.

With Tooway there is no need for a telephone line. So, if you have no access to ADSL or if the performance of your current internet access is unsatisfactory, Tooway gives you a simple, fast and reliable access to high speed internet. Satellite internet access guarantees the same high level of performance in every location, regardless of landscape; on the top of a mountain, in the middle of the countryside, in a small isolated village. Tooway can be installed on any building with a southerly aspect and comes with all hardware including a modem allowing connection to a single computer or router, for £199.99 plus installation. Different packages are available, starting with a 6Mbps download speed and upload speeds of 1Mbps at £25.00 per month, up to packages with download speeds of 10Mbps and upload speeds of 4Mbps.

FT Solutions TV Ltd can supply and install all necessary equipment and installation. All you need is a satellite dish and a modem and you can have both fast up load and down load internet speed regardless of the limitations of the telephone network.