KVH TracPhone FB150

[TBW]

Does anyone have the KVH tracphone fb150?
I need to cover voice / email through the Bahamas as far as the Turks and Caicos (from USA east coast).
Looking for the usual information from first hand users.
Installation? Does it work? Data plans?
Would you buy it again?
A few years ago I looked at the Vsat mini's but could not get a data plan that would allow long periods of idle without still running a fairly expensive meter.
This would go on a 50 foot trawler; 7 knots.
TIA
TBW

[CarstenWL]

... had it on a boat I worked on in the past. Worked 'like advertised' (was mainly in the Bahamas to that time) but data is VERY expensive.

You can see the plans here: https://tinyurl.com/y7lw9nqy

Contract will at least last 6 (or even 12 months), Fleet One Coastal or Global, Coastal would work for you.

Think it is 'not very attractive' if you need a bit of data ... They are talking MB (NOT GB ;-))

AFIK the prices are more or less 'regulated' ...

Regards,

Carsten

[Ip485]

I do, or at least not the KVH version but the Fleet Broadband 150 which is to all intensive purposes the same.

Limited use so far, but works superbly. I expected web access to be slow, back to the days of dial up, but actually it is surprsingly good - not as good as your living room or office of course but very useable. Never had it drop out anywhere. Phone calls perfect and clear unlike many other sat service providers.

In short, nothing to dislike, other than the data plan cost. Phone calls are too bad I guess as long as they arent too long! Great for keeping in touch, maybe not so good between lovers .

Inevitably, because of the cost, I suspect many will want to use it when 3/4G services are not available. There is the problem, because the data plan normally lasts a month, but stepping up a plan you can buy 12 months data and use it at any time during the 12 months which is what I intend to do. Its available then for those longer off shore passages.

[TBW]

Thank you all.
There seems to be more than a little of a "moving target" to these plans.
I recall finding a use whenever 24 month data plan but it is no more.
Thank you again.
TBW