| Did you know we can get a broadband internet | | | | Disadvantages of Broadband by Satellite |
| signal almost anywhere on earth through the use | | | | Line of Sight |
| of satellites? This shouldn't be too much of a | | | | In order for a satellite dish to receive a broadband |
| surprise—after all, by now most of you have | | | | internet signal, it must have a free line of sight to |
| heard of people using mobile satellite phones to | | | | the geostationary satellite in orbit. Obstacles such |
| place calls from deserts, oceans, and | | | | as buildings, trees, and even leaves can get the |
| mountaintops. It's not that much of a jump from | | | | way of line-of-sight and block the signal, leaving |
| a radio signal to an internet signal. | | | | you with no connection. |
| Due to the nature of Broadband By Satellite | | | | Weather |
| technology , it is not the best choice for someone | | | | Although rain will not block a broadband by |
| simply surfing the net at home in a big city with | | | | satellite signal, it will cause an interference known |
| several high-speed broadband internet service | | | | as "rain fade." Rain fade results in slower upload |
| providers (ISPs). Broadband by satellite, however, | | | | & download speeds and a patchy connection. |
| is highly useful for people with no other internet | | | | Connection Speed |
| options, living miles and miles from the nearest | | | | When an internet signal has to travel 22,000 miles |
| ISP. This article will describe the advantages and | | | | to a satellite in earth's orbit and back, a certain |
| disadvantages of broadband by satellite. | | | | about of latency (the delay between requesting |
| Advantages of Broadband by Satellite | | | | some data and getting a response) is unavoidable. |
| Location | | | | The average latency for Broadband By Satellite is |
| First, the main advantage of broadband by | | | | between 500 and 900 milliseconds—much |
| satellite is that you can get a broadband internet | | | | worse than even a dial-up internet connection, |
| signal anywhere on earth, no matter how far you | | | | where the latency is only 150 to 200 milliseconds. |
| are from the nearest Ethernet port of cable | | | | Although this slow data transfer speed is just fine |
| connection. This is useful for people who live in | | | | for basic internet usage—email and web |
| remote rural locations where the only internet | | | | browsing—it is too slow for computer |
| option available is the agonizingly slow 56 Kbps | | | | applications that require real-time internet access, |
| dial-up telephone modem connection. | | | | such as internet gaming, videoconferencing, and |
| Mobility | | | | VoIP (Voice over IP) telephone conversations. |
| Second, by its very nature, broadband by satellite | | | | Cost |
| is a wireless connection that allows considerable | | | | Broadband by satellite costs considerably more |
| freedom of movement. This is particularly useful | | | | than earth-based, wired technology like DSL or |
| for maintaining an internet signal in mobile | | | | cable modems. On average, broadband by satellite |
| locations, such as while in moving vehicle like trains | | | | costs two three times as much as from a |
| or in a ship at sea. | | | | land-based internet service provider. |