Hi Tony

Before my initial chance encounter with the radio based system I did look at satellite services, but they were seriously expensive even before setting a download limit I can live with. That was around 2014. I believe they have got a little bit cheaper since then but they remain a "last resort" option for all but the deepest pockets.

Hi Frank

I can only speak from my own experience. Since the system was installed we've had winds of > 70 mph, thick fogs, thunder and no shortage of heavy rain, but the connection has been unaffected as far as I can determine. 

The network nodes all transmit with a multiple of the minimum power theoretically required to provide the service. That enables the signal to "blast through" bad weather. 

Perhaps where your brother lives there is a greater distance between the nodes which weakens the received signal.

I've just returned from Spain where I noted large numbers of internet service transceivers mounted on houses and apartments. I've since discovered that outside urban areas it is pretty much the default delivery method.