What is Tooway Satellite Broadband?

What is Tooway™?

Tooway™ is a bi-directional high-speed Satellite Internet service for Internet access. Bi-directional means that receive and transmit functions are performed via the satellite; therefore there is no need for a telephone line. Tooway Broadband covers the majority of Europe including the UK.

Does the Tooway™ service cover where I live?

Click here to see the coverage footprint of the satellite Tooway™ utilises (KA-SAT)

There are various speeds available; offering download speeds of up to 22 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 6 Mbps.

What speeds can I achieve?

The Tooway network is capable of speeds up to 22 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 6 Mbps. Please note speeds may vary significantly according to congestion levels and location.

What data quotas do you offer?

Packages are available with data quotas ranging from 2GB - 175GB. Please use our handy Broadband Usage Calculator to determine how much data you need.

How much data do I need?

Packages are available with data quotas ranging from 2GB to 175GB.

Are there any minimum requirements for computers?

No. The satellite system can connect to any PC, MAC or laptop provided a wireless network is available (networking hardware not supplied by Bentley Walker).

How big is the dish?

The size of the KA-Sat Tooway dish is a parabolic 72x68cm.

Can I play online games?

In principle yes, but it is not recommended to play "first-person shooter" games because of the significantly longer ping times (approximately 600-800ms)

Does weather affect the dish?

The service is designed to cope with most weather conditions and wind speeds up to 100mph. During periods of extremely heavy rain or snow the radio signals could become attenuated (reduced). There are, however, sophisticated and automatic measures to effectively increase the power of your system to compensate for any attenuation.

Does it support VOIP?

Yes, all of our packages will support VOIP. Please note however that due to the high latency times associated with satellite broadband there may be a short delay (~1second) between you speaking and the other person hearing.

Can I use Skype on the Tooway system?

Yes. Please note that Skype was originally designed for terrestrial ADSL connections, it is based on the P2P protocol so is not as efficient over satellite networks as some other VoIP solutions.

What is FAP?

To ensure fair internet access for all satellite broadband subscribers, Tooway maintains a Fair Access Policy (FAP). This policy establishes an equitable balance in internet access for satellite broadband subscribers. Tooway assigns a throughput threshold to each service plan that limits the amount of data that may be downloaded/uploaded during a specified period. A small percentage of subscribers who exceed this limit will experience a temporary reduction of speed.

What happens if I exceed my quota and go into FAP?

There are no financial penalties for exceeding your quota it is simply a case of having your speeds 'throttled' back. If you do happen to find yourself in that position you have the option to purchase a volume booster token of 1GB or wait for the recovery period to lapse to have your typical speeds reinstated.

Do I need a phone or phone line?

No, the Tooway satellite system does not require a telephone line. It is a bi-directional satellite system therefore independent of the telephone lines.

Can I have a British IP address?

Yes; all of our Tooway KA users based in the UK, utilising Home User packages, will have a UK IP address by default, this in turn will provide access to sites such as BBC iPlayer etc. UK based Business plan users may have UK based IP Addresses on request. In all other cases the IP is based on the country of internet service origin (usually Italy).

What happens when I opt for your installation service?

We work with a nationwide network of professional, friendly installers. When opting for our professional install service, the installer will endeavour to visit your property, professionally align and install the system within seven working days. The installers will provide the hardware components required (cable and mounting bracket). You will be able to choose the cable colour best suited to match your property and a mount to best position the dish. The installer will ensure that the whole system is working for you before they leave.

What happens if I opt for a self install kit to do this myself?

The Bentley Walker self installation kit contains all of the hardware components required (cable, wall mount and compass) so that you can perform the installation independently. With some basic DIY tools and a basic level of skill you will be able to align your dish. The radio head on the Tooway dish has a built in 'beeper' system that gives you a clear indication that you are pointing in the right direction and will alert you once the dish is locked to the satellite.

Is the system Wireless?

The Tooway modem itself is not wireless, however; any cable wireless router can be plugged straight into the Tooway modem to create a wireless network within your home. Please note we do not supply a wireless router but these are readily available from all computer stores and online and are relatively inexpensive. Whilst we do not recommend any specific brand of router, we do suggest looking for one utilizing the most up to date 802.11N standard for maximum range and efficiency.

Can I have a fixed Public IP?

Tooway business packages include one fixed IP addresses. Home packages use dynamically assigned IP addresses and port restrictions apply; on Business packages, all ports are open, and on Home packages Outgoing ports are open, but incoming ports are blocked.

Can I run a VPN connection on my Tooway system?

In theory yes, however; we recommend utilizing SSL based VPN solutions over satellite.

How long is the contract length?

Our standard contracts on our Home User packages are 24 months. All business packages operate a 24 month contract.

How do I pay?

You can order the kit, installation and your first month of service via our secure shopping cart on our website.

What cards are accepted?

We accept all major credit and debit cards.

What support and warranty comes with the Tooway product?

The equipment is covered by a 24 months full manufacturers "Return to Base" warranty from the commencement date; we offer this warranty by default.

Can I use a Vodafone Sure Signal (3G Signal Booster) or similar device?

No - the latency on a satellite based connection is too high for these devices to work.