If you live in a rural region, one of the most reliable ways to get internet service is through satellite broadband. This differs from mobile broadband which operates by using a wireless card plugged into a USB port on your computer and an existing cellular tower. With satellite service, you are using actual satellites located thousands of miles above the earth’s surface as well as a satellite dish and modem connected to your computer.
Satellite broadband connections are some of the most tried and true methods of getting on the internet while living outside a metropolitan area. While there are both good and not so good points, the overall aspect of satellite broadband is getting better, mainly thanks to lower rates as companies try to keep up with other broadband providers. In addition, using satellite broadband connections allow users to have instant access at any time and you can also make a connection on a mobile device such as a laptop as well.
However, there are some aspects of satellite internet connections that consumers need to be aware of. One is that the service suffers from high latency. This is due to the great distance that the signal must travel. Satellite broadband connections rely on geostationary satellites in orbit above the equator at an altitude of almost 23,000 miles. Even though the signal is traveling at the speed of light which is 186,000 miles per second the distance is still significant. In fact, the signal will have to make a several thousand mile round trip and as a result the signal delay can be as much as 500 to 900 milliseconds. While this is not noticeable when doing normal web surfing or emailing, it creates an issue when trying to participate in live interactive games or instant messaging. Some games are still able to be played, but there will be that slight delay of half a second or more.
One way around this issue is to use a company that has medium earth orbit or low earth orbit satellites. These are not as high and therefore do not have as great of delays. Current systems using Globalstar and Iridium satellites have a delay of only 40 milliseconds round trip which is considerably better than the delay with a geostationary satellite. However, these satellite services are designed primarily for commercial use. For residential use you can use WildBlue. There are even plans for more satellite launches in both 2012 and 2015 that could cut the latency as low as 7 milliseconds for satellite broadband connections.
In addition, consumers need to be aware that satellite broadband connections are subject to atmospheric conditions such as sunspots and even rain. These two events will result in the signal being subjected to fading in and out. Drop outs can also happen if you are using the signal on the go such as in a mobile laptop. In addition, consumers must have a clear shot to the south as that is the direction the satellite dish must face as the satellites themselves are above the equator.
In all, satellite is well established and a dependable way to access the internet while in the country.
This post was written by MyBlueDish.com. MyBlueDish.com is the best place to get resourceful information about satellite internet service.
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