| The idea of using satellites orbiting the Earth for | | | | The remaining component of a satellite internet |
| communications purposes was originally put forth | | | | connection is the dish that can commonly be seen |
| in the 1920s, but it would take many years for | | | | mounted on roofs and walls in residential and |
| the idea to really become operational, and many | | | | commercial areas. Individual, residential customers |
| more years until the first satellite internet | | | | tend to have tiny dishes of about 3 feet or more |
| systems would be launched. Today, people can | | | | in diameter, whereas commercial customers of |
| connect to the web from just about any spot on | | | | satellite internet technology tend to use wider |
| the planet-including mobile vehicles and marine | | | | dishes that can reach a diameter of more than 20 |
| vessels-thanks to satellite technology, though | | | | feet. Of course, the larger the dish is, the less |
| precisely how they are doing so is probably | | | | energy required on the satellite's behalf to |
| beyond most people's comprehension. | | | | transmit the signal, which results in lower costs |
| Satellite internet connections are basically | | | | pet bit, which ultimately means greater efficiency. |
| comprised of three separate units: the uplink site | | | | Since rain and moisture can affect the quality of |
| (also called the teleport) from which information is | | | | the satellite signal, scientists have found ways of |
| broadcast; the geostationary satellite in orbit | | | | maximizing signal quality and getting around this |
| above the surface of the Earth; and the downlink | | | | kind of complication. Larger dishes of course help |
| dish mounted on a customer's wall or roof. The | | | | in reducing the amount of time that a signal may |
| uplink site uses a conventional terrestrial internet | | | | be lost, and also switching to lower frequencies |
| signal and converts it into a radio signal which is | | | | tends to allow the satellite internet signal to |
| sent out into space where the satellite will receive | | | | traverse water without being absorbed or |
| it. The geostationary satellite-perhaps the single | | | | dispersed. |
| most important innovation in telecommunications | | | | Since the technology was debuted several years |
| technology of the last century-is a unit which | | | | back, the quality of service has gone up |
| floats some 45,000 miles above thee Earth and | | | | tremendously, and among the biggest advances in |
| appear motionless from the ground. This is due to | | | | this regard have been the switch from one-way |
| the fact that its orbital periodicity is identical to | | | | to two-way communications capabilities for end |
| one revolution of the planet on its axis, so if you | | | | users and the surge in bit rates from only a few |
| observe the satellite from the ground it appears | | | | kbps to now roughly 3mbps from the most |
| to stay in the same part of the heavens even as | | | | reliable providers. These advances have helped |
| the stars and planets migrate from one side of | | | | solidify the role of satellite technology in the |
| the horizon to the other. Always located on the | | | | internet (and telecommunications) field. Surely |
| plane of the equator, these geostationary | | | | many more advances are on their way in the |
| satellites do not vary latitudinally, but only very | | | | near future. |
| slightly longitudinally. | | | | |