Connectivity on Wheels

By Dory Devlin

on Tue Jan 3, 3:02 PM ET

For a family that has eschewed DVDs for “Harry Potter” audio books on long car rides, the RaySat SpeedRay 3000 could change our entertainment plans on the next road trip. RaySat offers the first vehicle-based, low-sitting rooftop satellite antenna that provides two-way, high-speed Internet access and live satellite TV reception as the miles roll by.

I’m not sure we really needs more television viewing in our lives away from home screens, but the chance to turn our van into a rolling Wi-Fi hot spot for checking e-mail and IMing friends on the road is appealing. Expect to pay about $2,500 for this new mobile technology, keeping in mind that installation and satellite and Internet service subscriptions are extra. Aside from whether a satellite dish-on-the-go is worth the price, the real question for me is what would we do with the rooftop carrier and all the vacation stuff jammed inside it?

Is this hotspot/satellite TV dish for your car worth the extra baggage?

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Just like satellite radio from Sirius and XM are becoming standard in newer cars, it'll be great once these rooftop satellite antennas start becoming standard as well. Come to think of it, why don't Sirius or XM roll out two way communication with their devices, too much upgrade???

Posted by paulovahn1 on Wed, Jan 4, 2006 12:07 PM ET

I ave Sirius and I love it.The draw back are bridges and the interference they cause.I wonder would i lose the signal everytime i approach a bridge or building?No matter, the mere size of the thing makes it a hard seller.I'll stick to DVDs for now.Besides aint there a built in roof antenna already available for pay per view??

Posted by myjt08 on Wed, Jan 4, 2006 3:06 PM ET

I currently have a Verizon Wireless card for my laptop that gives me internet access at broadband speeds. I just drove from NJ to Florida for Christmas and my kids used my laptop almost thruout the trip with very few dead spots, even in a tunnel in Baltimore which must have had a verizon antenna in it. I was very impressed.

Posted by bkucher on Wed, Jan 4, 2006 10:18 PM ET

Why Doesn't XM or Sirius offer a TV version of their service. After all you only need 10 channels to cover most people's interest and keep the kids entertained. I believe by multiplexing several channels you could receive TV through the tiny XM or Sirius antenna. Who wants to install that behemoth antenna in a car?

Posted by aglenard on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 1:57 AM ET

This kind of satellite antenna would be most useful to long and medium distance trucking companies and drivers. Allowing these people both intertainment and internet access would be a major improvement in their standard of living.

Posted by dungeonratsa on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 2:17 AM ET

This kind of entertainment in a vehicle would make family road trips memorable.Being able to watch satellite TV on the road will be exciting for the kids in the back seat.

Posted by kkangethe on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 8:17 AM ET

Any family that needs a satelite on the roof of there automobile needs to take a serious look at themselves. How about an good conversation with the kids on those road trips, plenty of time to connect.

Posted by kmocars on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 9:47 AM ET

Kudos to kmocars! Now that we have 3 TVs and multiple game stations as well as 2 internet stations it seems that we, a family of 5 have less and less to talk about. I guess this is the downside to these technologies. I am all for a movie or two on a long car trip but would prefer an old fashion game of "guess what I see".

Posted by socer36chick on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 11:06 AM ET

With Verizon's wireless broadband and a slingbox connected to your dish at home, there would be no need for a roof mounted dish on your vehicle. I do agree that road trips with a family would be a great time to connect with children instead of watching TV. Kids watch too much TV as it is these days.

Posted by karldykhuis on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 11:23 AM ET

There you go socer36chick, or how about making words with license plates.

Posted by kmocars on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 12:02 PM ET