| Just as satellite dishes competed with cable | | | | Internet via land-based infrastructure. |
| decades ago for premium movie channel services, | | | | 4. Data returning from the Internet follows the |
| dishes are now back, offering satellite acces to | | | | same process (in reverse) back to your |
| the internet to compete with cable and DSL. In a | | | | computer. |
| practical sense, satellite Internet access isn't so | | | | In theory, this entire process takes only about |
| much of a competing technology as much as it is | | | | half of a second, but in practice it takes longer, so |
| an alternative in areas where cable or DSL | | | | this isn't the method of choice for online gamers. |
| services are not available. Internet access via | | | | (The time delays inherent in satellite |
| satellite is a somewhat pricey option at this time, | | | | communication can be somewhat distracting to |
| though with downstream rates from 150-1,200 | | | | online gainers.) A two-way setup provides |
| Kbps and upstream rates around 50-150 Kbps, | | | | always-on Internet connectivity that makes |
| available bandwidth is far greater than dialup | | | | access convenient. |
| connectivity. | | | | A one-way satellite transmission downstreams |
| Satellite Internet access operates via | | | | data from the transponder to your dish antenna |
| geostationary (fixed-position) satellites that beam | | | | but does not allow for transmitting data upstream |
| microwaves from about 22,300 miles above the | | | | in the same manner. One-way internet satellite |
| Earth's equator to your dish antenna and | | | | access requires that you transmit upstream data |
| transceiver (transmitter/receiver). Satellite | | | | through a dialup connection but only downstream |
| Internet access is available in two forms: two-way | | | | data travels via satellite. |
| and one-way. | | | | It is worth noting that because satellite Internet |
| A typical two-way satellite Internet connection | | | | access operates off "lineof-sight" communication, |
| allows for upstream and downstream | | | | transmissions are susceptible to heavy |
| transmissions via satellite. Here is an example of a | | | | precipitation signal degradation (rain fade) and |
| typical two-way satellite data transmission: | | | | occasional solar interference. A variation of this |
| 1. Your transceiver (connected to your computer) | | | | technology called fixed wireless uses cell towers |
| passes the digital signal to your dish antenna, | | | | and has less latency but even more line-of-sight |
| which beams the information to the satellite | | | | problems. But with the growth of the internet, |
| (transponder). | | | | and need of customers, satellite internet service is |
| 2. The transponder forwards/beams the digital | | | | improving both in practicality and price. |
| signal to a network operations center (NOC) back | | | | So if DSL or cable or even dial up internet service |
| on the ground. | | | | is not an option for you, satellite internet service |
| 3. The NOC forwards the data request on to the | | | | may be your ticket to net freedom. |