| Perhaps you live in a rural area and you can't get | | | | sent and received. |
| cable or DSL high-speed Internet access, but you | | | | That delay means that certain types of |
| can get satellite. Or, maybe you are at your wit's | | | | applications aren't practical when using satellite |
| end with the cable and/or phone (DSL) companies | | | | systems. One notable example is voice-over-IP. |
| and don't want to give either of them another | | | | Over a satellite connection, a second or more |
| dime. Satellite may be the answer, but you'll need | | | | passes between the time you say something and |
| to do a bit of research before determining if it will | | | | the time it is heard, which makes communications |
| fit your needs. Here are answers to many of the | | | | clumsy. Satellite connections also aren't good for |
| most common questions regarding satellite | | | | so-called "twitch" real-time online games and for |
| service. | | | | use with terminal server software, which lets |
| Q: How fast is satellite access? | | | | telecommuters connect to their company's |
| A: Satellite providers typically offer several levels | | | | servers as if they were in the office. |
| of service with download speeds ranging between | | | | Q: How many satellite providers are there? |
| 700 Kbps and 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds as high | | | | A: In the U.S., there are three primary satellite |
| as 256 Kbps. Note, though, that these are optimal | | | | providers: HughesNet ( WildBlue ( and Starband ( |
| speeds. Typical speeds, particularly during peak | | | | Other vendors and organizations may offer |
| times, can be somewhat slower. | | | | satellite service, but it typically is provided by one |
| Q: How much does satellite access cost? | | | | of the three services. For instance, AT&T |
| A: The price depends on your provider and the | | | | offers satellite service but actually is reselling |
| service plan that you acquire. As a generalization, | | | | WildBlue service. |
| prices range from approximately $60 a month for | | | | Q: Does it matter where I mount the dish? |
| service providing roughly 700 Kbps download | | | | A: The dish must have a clear view of the |
| speed to about $80 a month for service in the 1.5 | | | | southern sky, which is where the satellite is in |
| Mbps range. In addition, your equipment costs can | | | | orbit. Beyond that, the dish can be positioned |
| be as much as $300 or $400 and installation can | | | | using a pole stuck into the ground, on the side of |
| cost another $200, although vendors often have | | | | your house or on your roof. Obviously, a |
| special offers for equipment and installation. | | | | ground-mounted dish is easier in case maintenance |
| Q: What impact can weather have on satellite | | | | is required. Also, sometimes snow and ice |
| access? | | | | collecting on the dish can slow down service -- it is |
| A: As is the case with satellite television, severe | | | | easier to brush snow and ice off a |
| rain or snow can slow or stop satellite Internet | | | | ground-mounted dish. |
| access. That is true both for bad weather in your | | | | Q: Can I install satellite service by myself? |
| area as well as bad weather at the location of the | | | | A: No -- satellite access vendors won't let you do |
| satellite provider's network operations center | | | | that. And that's probably a good thing since it |
| (NOC). However, while severe weather can break | | | | requires certain skills to link the dish to the right |
| the connection, satellite systems typically operate | | | | satellite. Further, the Federal Communications |
| even in strong, steady downpours. | | | | Commission requires that professionals install |
| Q: Besides the weather, how reliable is satellite | | | | satellite systems that both send and receive |
| access? | | | | signals. |
| A: Besides service degradation due to weather, | | | | Q: How does satellite service operate in actual |
| satellite access is extremely reliable. The outdoor | | | | usage? Is it different than using cable or DSL? |
| equipment is quite rugged and, while it does break | | | | A: Other than limits on a few specific types of |
| down occasionally, such problems are rare. | | | | applications mentioned previously, satellite service |
| Q: Still, should I keep a dial-up connection "just in | | | | operates virtually identically to DSL or cable |
| case?" | | | | broadband. |
| A: While it is tempting to keep a dial-up connection | | | | Q: I live in the city. Are there any reasons to |
| because of the complex technical nature of | | | | consider satellite access? |
| satellite connections, it isn't necessary for most | | | | A: In most cases, DSL or cable access is faster |
| people. As mentioned above, the satellite | | | | and cheaper. If that type of service is available to |
| equipment is very robust and rarely breaks down | | | | you, chances are high that it will be preferable to |
| and weather-related problems occur infrequently. | | | | satellite access. |
| However, if something does go wrong, it can | | | | Q: Is satellite access two-way access? |
| take days before repair personnel can get to | | | | A: Yes. Data that you receive, such as |
| your house. If that concerns you, you may want | | | | downloaded files and Web pages, is sent via the |
| to have a dial-up back-up but know that you'll | | | | satellite system, as are items you upload. Early |
| rarely, if ever, use it. | | | | satellite systems, however, were one-way |
| Q: What equipment is required? | | | | systems. Downloads occurred via the satellite but |
| A: Satellite access requires installation of two | | | | information sent by you was transmitted via a |
| pieces of equipment. Outdoors is a dish that | | | | standard dial-up connection. Such old-fashioned |
| collects and transmits the signal to and from the | | | | systems haven't been available for several years. |
| satellite. Indoors is a "satellite modem" that is | | | | Q: I'm a Mac user. Can I use satellite access? |
| connected to the dish via coaxial cable. The | | | | A: Yes. All major satellite access systems work |
| modem is connected to a PC or to networking | | | | with Macs. |
| equipment such as a router using an Ethernet | | | | Q: Is mobile satellite access available? |
| cable. | | | | A: No. A satellite connection requires a constant |
| Q: Is any on-going maintenance required? | | | | connection with a satellite that is in high orbit. It is |
| A: Although nothing is absolute, typically, no | | | | a time-consuming task for a trained installer to |
| on-going maintenance is required. On rare | | | | aim your dish at that satellite. While some |
| occasions, you will need to have your dish | | | | companies have been experimenting with |
| "re-peaked," or re-aimed at the satellite. Even | | | | antennas that can maintain a connection with the |
| more rarely, there will be an equipment failure and | | | | satellite while a vehicle moves, this technology isn't |
| some part of the system such as the receiver, | | | | yet practical for day-in, day-out use. |
| transmitter or modem, will have to be replaced. | | | | Q: I also get satellite TV. Can I use only one dish |
| But, as mentioned above, the equipment is quite | | | | for both? |
| rugged and such problems are rare. | | | | A: No. While single dish solutions once were |
| Q: Can I network my satellite connection so that | | | | available, vendors determined that separate dishes |
| more than one computer in my home can have | | | | work better for both Internet Service and TV. |
| access? | | | | Q: Can I download as much as I want over a |
| A: The satellite systems can be networked the | | | | satellite system? |
| same as DSL or cable connections. That is to say, | | | | A: No. Like other broadband providers, satellite |
| you can connect the indoor satellite modem to a | | | | vendors have Fair Access Policies (FAP) that detail |
| router using a standard Ethernet cable, which then | | | | how much you can download at a given time. The |
| distributes the connection to other computers. | | | | purpose of the FAP is to prevent a few heavy |
| Note, however, that the satellite providers won't | | | | downloaders from hogging bandwidth used by |
| help you set up or troubleshoot home networks. | | | | everybody. Satellite vendors tend to have stricter |
| Q: What is latency and how will it impact me? | | | | FAPs than other broadband providers. For |
| A: Latency is the time required for a signal to | | | | instance, with HughesNet you can download as |
| travel from its source to its destination. In the | | | | much as 350 MB at a time, depending on your |
| case of satellite access, that includes the time it | | | | service plan. That is roughly one-third the size of |
| takes to send the signal up to a satellite and back | | | | a typical downloadable feature-length movie. When |
| down to the ground. Since satellites typically orbit | | | | you surpass the limits of the FAP, the provider |
| about 22,000 miles above the earth, that latency | | | | has the option of temporarily throttling down your |
| can be as long as a second every time data is | | | | speed. |