| Before the advent of digital broadcasting, "DXers" | | | | are simply amazing but that the quality is very |
| spent their free time trying to pick up radio | | | | impressive and the communication can be |
| broadcasts that skipped across the atmosphere | | | | two-way, clear and feature video as well as audio. |
| from locations around the globe. The idea of | | | | In the past, where DXers had to invest in a great |
| hearing another human being located on the other | | | | deal of complicated equipment and hope that |
| side of the planet was both romantic and full of | | | | whomever it was with whom they'd struck up a |
| the "gee-wiz" factor that makes technology fun. | | | | friendship would be on at the same time as was |
| Today, hearing a voice from across the globe is | | | | the radio enthusiast, today's Internet users can |
| as easy as booting up a computer possessed of | | | | simply see a person's online status via a |
| the right Internet connection. With satellite | | | | messenger, a video feed or an audio feed. |
| broadband, the "gee-wiz" factor is still there and | | | | Perhaps ironically, having the capability to |
| more impressive than ever. | | | | broadcast digital signals so far into space has |
| Satellite Internet uses broadcast technology that | | | | made the world a much smaller place. If you're |
| makes the shortwave radio of the past pale in | | | | trying to decide between vacationing in Patagonia |
| comparison. Signals are generated from a server | | | | or Africa, it's a simple affair to make an |
| and shot clear into space where they're bounced | | | | acquaintance in each region and have them tell |
| off a satellite and back to the tiny dish that sits | | | | you about the area and perhaps even give you a |
| atop so many homes today. Through this | | | | view out their window with a webcam! |
| medium, people from around the world are able | | | | Probably the best thing about all this is that, unlike |
| to communicate and share far more than a | | | | amateur radio, it requires no specialized |
| static-laden conversation. | | | | knowledge, license and no expensive and exotic |
| Because satellite signals are available from most | | | | equipment. The satellite dish on your roof is |
| anywhere, it's possible to broadcast from nearly | | | | probably the most powerful type of consumer |
| any region of the world. There are webcams | | | | radio antenna ever conceived. Instead of just |
| broadcasting online from almost every major city | | | | picking up those signals which manage to make an |
| in the world! It's a simple affair for anyone to see | | | | unusually long distance based on a fluke, it's |
| the lobbies of the most posh European hotels, the | | | | capable of receiving information from around the |
| most exotic shorelines of the Caribbean or the | | | | world by design. The satellite Internet packages |
| busiest intersections in Tokyo. | | | | that make it all possible are very affordable an |
| One of the most exciting aspects of having a | | | | getting one started is as easy as a phone call to |
| satellite broadband connection is that the | | | | most any satellite television provider and signing |
| communication can not only span distances that | | | | up for one of their packages. |