| TV versus satellite television is an old rivalry that | | | | One serious drawback to satellite Internet access |
| can be seen discussed on TV at all hours of the | | | | is signal latency. Every data packet sent and |
| day. The comparison seems to end however | | | | received must travel from the consumer's |
| when it comes to satellite internet and cable | | | | computer, through the Internet, through a |
| internet access. This seems strange as cable and | | | | transmitter, into orbital space, then return. The |
| satellite companies are pushing packaged services | | | | round trip is around 45,000 miles, and can create |
| over anything else. So, which is the superior | | | | a great deal of lag. Although satellite ISPs offer up |
| Internet service provider, cable or satellite? Here | | | | to 1.5 Mbps downloads speeds, the average signal |
| we will examine both and see if we can answer | | | | speeds are closer to 512Kbps. Add latency to this |
| the question. | | | | and you can see how the connection can be very |
| Cable Internet: | | | | slow compared to cable or DSL. |
| Cable modems allow Internet access through the | | | | Satellite internet access is also far from |
| same lines that over 60 million Americans now | | | | affordable. The service typically costs around |
| receive cable TV. The infrastructure is proven and | | | | $50.00 to $120 per month. This doesn't include the |
| sound and more importantly already paid for. The | | | | equipment investment which can cost around |
| coaxial cable allows dual band transmission, one | | | | $300.00 to $600.00 or more, and this is most |
| for uploads the other for downloads. Cable | | | | often an upfront cost. This additional cost does |
| Internet offers about as much bandwidth as any | | | | not bring any additional reliability. Many customers |
| consumer customer would ever need boasting | | | | complain about slow or even no Internet access |
| downloads of up to 30Mbps and uploads passing | | | | during inclement weather, and though these |
| 512Kbps in some areas. | | | | interruptions are generally brief they certainly |
| Cable also offers a high degree of reliability as it | | | | don't help justify the cost. |
| has been in service in many markets for over a | | | | Conclusion: |
| decade, and of course the cable companies date | | | | It appears as if there is no competition between |
| back to the early 1970's. Generally 99% uptime | | | | cable and satellite Internet access. Cable is |
| can be expected. | | | | superior in performance and pricing, as well as |
| Bundled together, cable TV and cable Internet will | | | | reliability. If this is truly the case, then how can |
| cost around $90.00 per month, or around $55.00 | | | | satellite companies intend on competing with cable |
| for Internet-only. This is comparable cheap for a | | | | Internet? The answer is they don't. Satellite has |
| broadband Internet service, with DSL being a | | | | one thing cable does not, and that is the ability to |
| slightly less expensive option in most areas. | | | | send access to any dish anywhere in the country. |
| Satellite Internet: | | | | Rural America may for the first time have a |
| Internet over satellite, or IoS Service, is the | | | | broadband solution in satellite Internet. |
| technology that provides Internet access via a | | | | If you can get cable, get it. If you can't, then at |
| low, geosynchronous orbiting satellite. This means | | | | least satellite provides you with a viable (but |
| that the static position of the satellite relative to | | | | expensive) alternative to your old 56Kbps dial up |
| Earth allows customers to maintain connections | | | | Internet service. |
| any time of day. | | | | |