| When shopping for a new internet provider, today | | | | However, many reviews claim that the latency |
| customers have more options than ever. Instead | | | | issues satellite services experience are a huge |
| of just choosing from the two local competing | | | | detriment. In order to understand whether latency |
| dial-up providers, the customer has to think not | | | | will negatively impact your internet use, it's best |
| only about the brand of internet he or she wants, | | | | to understand what it implies. |
| but also the kind of internet. Today there are | | | | To begin, latency simply refers to the time data |
| terrestrial broadband internet providers like DSL | | | | spends travelling across an internet network. |
| and cable, WiMax providers in some cities, satellite | | | | Saying that internet by satellite has 'greater |
| internet providers, and of course dial-up providers. | | | | latency' simply means that the time it takes for |
| For each individual, household, business or family | | | | the information, by way of a signal, to move |
| the specific requirements and needs the internet | | | | across the network is slightly longer than with |
| must fulfill will likely determine the kind of internet | | | | other kinds of broadband. While clicking on an icon |
| chosen. When reading reviews it can be confusing | | | | with dial-up may result in a delay of 2 to 10 |
| to debunk all the computer jargon that appears | | | | seconds, the average satellite internet delay is |
| to be written in another language- the language of | | | | around 240 to 280 milliseconds, which is pretty |
| those who know computers. For those | | | | fast and nearly undetectable in most cases. This |
| researching services like internet by satellite, one | | | | makes sense, since the satellite your computer is |
| of the terms that often comes up as a 'negative' | | | | sending the signal off to is located about 22,223 |
| is 'latency.' However, many shoppers don't know | | | | miles above the Equator in geostationary orbit- |
| exactly what causes latency or even exactly | | | | which is no short trip. |
| what it means. Instead of lumping these mystery | | | | Now, it's time to decide if this slight delay will |
| terms into good and bad, learn a little bit about | | | | negatively impact the software or other |
| latency below. | | | | programs you are running. Examples of programs |
| Anyone looking at satellite internet is probably | | | | which might not run smoothly are online gaming |
| either experiencing issues with their terrestrial | | | | applications, and time-sensitive business |
| broadband provider, or lives outside of the area | | | | applications. This slight delay can throw off the |
| where terrestrial broadband reaches. These | | | | 'live action' aspect of such programs and render |
| outlying areas form holes in the broadband map, | | | | them useless. Business applications with sub |
| and up until recently it has seemed the only real | | | | second response time protocols will definitely take |
| option was dial-up internet. Of course as | | | | note of the greater latency. The good news is |
| everybody knows dial-up internet comes with | | | | these programs do not generally run on dial-up |
| many inconveniences like frequent disconnects, | | | | internet either, meaning that if you are making |
| slow download speeds and lots and lots of busy | | | | the switch from dial-up to satellite it is unlikely you |
| signals. If you are in this situation, it's likely you are | | | | will notice any difference, except how much more |
| looking at satellite internet as a way to finally get | | | | quickly your internet runs! |
| broadband at home or for your small business. | | | | |