Many RVer's use cell phones as modems, particularly with Verizon's America's Choice or Nation Single-Rate plans. Outside of major cities, where they also offer the faster Express Net, speeds are on the order of 14,400 bps. So throughout the day, you want to do quick POP mail downloads, read and compose responses off-line, and then upload them at the next download. Web email such as hotmail, not to mention web forums, are just too slow to use during primetime. You definitely want to have unlimited nights and weekends (as well as a lot of patience) to do those things. Unfortunately, unlimited nights and weekends are no longer available with Nation Single-Rate, and America's Choice has a LOT of roaming areas, particularly out west.
Another problem is that these are digital services, and if you're at a campground very far from an interstate highway, you many not have digital service. Considering that, and the fact that sometimes you just NEED faster service, you really need to also have an ISP with as many local number dial-ups as possible, such as EarthLink or AOL. As I previously mentioned, you can use an Ositech card for data access in analog areas, but you're usually limited to 9600 bps on these.
Finally, there may be places where you have neither digital service or a local toll ISP number, so you need to carry a phone card to make long-distance connects.
Data over cell phone is pretty slow, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a Motosat (automated DirectWay) setup. DirectWay setups can't be self-installed because aiming a transmit antenna legally requires a certified installer. I've heard of a DirectWay installer who installs on RVs, AND trains and certifies the owner to be an installer, LOL!
[on edit]Oh yeah, with satellite, you also need a Windows PC to control the sat antenna. You can use it as a router to feed a Mac.
