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So, I was wondering if anyone out there is using a Satellite internet connection?
I have heard that DirePC isn't too good. Anyone have some good suggestions?
Can't comment on any suppliers though - we use BT, who use G2 in Germany, so I get German Google AdWords! BT haven't a clue!
I use a satellite internet connection because I have to - My analog modem gets 14.4kb on a good day. No cable, no DSL (lots of cattle, though).
The data rate is high, but so is the latency - It takes 482mSecs minimum for the signal to travel to the satellite, back down to the earth station, onto the internet, back to the earth station, back up to the satellite, and from there to to my dish again. That is one-half second added to every request that has to go out over the air.
Now, the SISPs do a fairly good job of interpreting html at their end, and pre-fetching <IMG>'s and other resources included in a page, working with client software on your PC to speed up the process. But this speed-up can break down if the requests are dynamically-generated client-side by scripts, or if you access secure sites. I notice really bad performance on secure web sites like [symantec.com...] - The images sometimes take 30 seconds or more to load.
On the other hand, you can download the latest Netscape, Opera, or Mozilla browser in less than five minutes - Once the data gets flowing, the pipe is quite fast.
I can recommend the satellite system to anyone who MUST use it because there is no other choice - It is far superior to a slow analog connection. However, because of the latency problem, if I were you, I would look into LMDS and MMDS - Two point-to-point microwave wireless broadband internet solutions. This is essentially the same as a satellite system, except that the ISP's transceiver is terrestrial - mounted on a building, water tower, etc. within 15 to 30 miles, line-of-sight required. Because your don't have to shoot the 22,300 miles to the satellite four times for each request (up, down, back up, back down=89,200mi), there is no long-latency problem.
These are available in many cities now.
I had one rural provider come within 7 miles of being able to provide me this new service. If they do get within range, I will change over. Again, not unhappy with the service in any way, just the latency involved in the satellite hops.
HTH,
Jim
Thanks for the advice. I did look into the microwave thing, but I live in kind of a "DIP", and the line of sight wasn't good enough. However, I do have a good view of the Southern Sky, so I think the Satellite will work.
Our cable television was AT&T, but now is COMCAST. AT&T told me that I was a coupld blocks short of being able to get a Cable Modem. However, I have heard that Comcast is more aggressive, so I have written them and I am waiting to hear back. Crossing my fingers. I feel I will probably still need to go Satellite.
Thanks for the info;
mike
Starband/Dish Network combination deal. I get the internet, the family gets the satellite TV... :)
If you can get around being in a hole by using an antenna tower or by any other reasonable means, I'd recommend trying... Satellite internet is wonderful in rural/remote areas, but all the other broadband options are better if you have a choice. Minimum ping time with satellite is 500mS - 1/2 second minimum. This won't allow online interactive gaming, and most VPNs won't work either.
Just for throughput reference... Low (peak hour) is 500kbps, high (my late night/early morning upload window) is about 900kbps, and average (most of the time) is about 700kbps.
It has been quite reliable except during violent storms, and when the transmitter ices over. The dish is about 2 x 2.5 feet oval.
It requires a Windows PC to run the satellite acceleration client software. You can also use that PC to work on, or just use it as an internet access gateway for your network. You cannot use a standard gateway/router to connect to the satellite modem - a PC is required. That PC can/must have a second NIC to connect to your network, and this approach works well with proxy software such as WinProxy.
HTH,
Jim
I live in the mountains on the side of a cliff, and I learned the hard way not to put both eggs in one basket. Lightning hit my *band/Dish Network combo & both were knocked out. IMO it's better to seperate the two; at the very least you don't confuse the heck out of the occasional incompetent dish repairman, and you never have to experience the trauma of no Internet AND no TV!
I searched on Google Groups and found no simple solution. It seems there are lots of people that have trouble with any given provider. I guess it's kind of trial and error, and depends on where you live.
It does seem that Direcway gets the best reviews, but there are plenty of complaints out there about them also.
I was hoping there was one WONDERFUL satellite system out there that EVERYONE loved. But, that's just foolish thinking I guess.
I'm fairly-well convinced that the major factor in whether these things work or not is whether the dish is installed correctly and aligned perfectly.
I was surprised at how reliable the service has been... The amount of technology used to connect this keyboard here to the internet is rather mind-boggling if I think about it too much... I mean, this post is on it's way to WebmasterWorld *and* to Alpha Centauri as well! :)
Jim
that would really worry me about getting satellite service...
One point not yet covered is the benefit for those located in countries with poor infrastructure and overloaded ISPs. A VSAT link can allow you to completely bypass the bottlenecks by connecting directly through another country with better services and facilities; in our case Hong Kong. The microwave alternative is available here but useless for much of the time as the associated ISP is way oversubscribed and the national backbone also overburdened.
However, we used Starband for a couple of years.
We're in Northern Maine, and the options have been quite limited until lately.
Originally, we had massive problems, but they came out and messed with it repeatedly for nearly 2 months, finally chopping down part of a tree, which seemed to fix the problem.
We didn't have many problems with snow, which was my original concern, but every time it rained hard between here and Georgia, we lost access. :(
It was, as has been mentioned, better than nothing.
I did some research and yes prices vary from $ 50- $200 mth.
Install varies from $8,000 DISH self locating - laptop size case costing $1,200.
As a wandering photographer / webmaster this has me thinking..
Cellphone would not work as speed and limited coverage in Canada.
Jim
We are in the UK.
It is lousy to say the least. Latency is between 600ms on a very good day, and 3000ms at most other times. Download speeds are no better than 35KB/s. They have a lot of downtime and congestion is also a problem - from the horse’s mouth. This makes browsing websites 33.6k-like.
I could post something very funny from their tech support but I’m not allowed:(
Support has been quite good via email but if you want to call them, it's going to mean a 45 Minute wait via an international call to their technical support center in Brussels.
I agree with most, go for satellite as an absolute last resort.
I have tried it against the DSL, Cable and the T1 connections I have on ground lines......it is horrible!
If it is your only option I guess it is better than dial-up 56k, but not a great deal better here in Florida.
Considering it is 5+ times the price of dial up (approx equal to cable & DSL) I don't see it as viable unless there is no other choice.
I'm spoilt with 4 high speed providers, Satellite doesn't get a look in. But having said that I firmly believe it will in the future.....just too early yet!
Here in the UK it is X2 price of DSL!
Latency can be a problem, though for reasons stated previously.
We have a multi-user satellite connection, which is a little different to the norm - and it beats the pants off having our network on ISDN (most of the time).
They will probably get here and tell me they can't do it. But, at least it's further than I got with AT&T. AT&T just looked up my address and said "NO". So, I'm crossing my fingers. Otherwise, one of the Wifi ISP's here in Spokane tells me that they may be able to service my location in a couple weeks when they get some new equipment. So, at least there are some rays of hope. I may actually get rid of this 26k connection.
I bought A wireless-G 54g Broadband Router yesterday and two wireless adapters for both computers. Got it set up and going last night so I could share files and a printer between my laptop and desktop. Works great, but took me A LONG TIME to figure out. I've never laid my hands on anything to do with Networks. The sticking point was the SHARING thing. My two computers wouldn't recognize each other until I specified which folders to Share, then Re-Booted, and OH MY GOD, it actually worked. This was after many hours however.
So, I thought I would get bolder and take my laptop and wireless adapter down to a local restaurant that advertises FREE WiFi access. THIS IS WHERE I NEED SOME ADVICE....
I was able to detect the network, and it showed that I had a nice strong signal. However, I don't have a clue how to get online. I tried just going into Internet Explorer, but it tells me I'm not logged on. Do I need to log into a service provider? Do I need to set up a new Network Place on my computer? I was totally lost. If there are any WiFi experts out there, I would love to hear from you.
I assume you were trying to access your own computer from the restaurant?
There are two ways this could work: One is if you were still able to reach your own computer, i.e. you were not too far away to use your own home WiFi network. This is unlikely.
The second way would be if your computer was set up as an internet server, running IIS or Apache, for example. In this case, your laptop would connect to the restaurant's WiFi network, and then you would access your server via the internet, using a domain name or the IP address of your server.
Jim
I was using my laptop with a 802.11g wireless notebook adapter in my PCMCIA slot. I found the restaurant on a web site that lists "HOTSPOTS" for WiFi access. So, we went there for dinner last night (Downtown Spokane, Wa.). I sat down with my laptop, and opened the control panel for my Wireless Adapter. It automatically shows what kind of signals were available. Surprisingly, there were 3 different signals coming into the adapter. I chose the one with the strongest signal. My adapter showed that it was recieving a nice strong signal.
That's as far as I got. I am receiving a signal, but have no idea how to connect to the web. I also have a wireless nextel modem that works on the Nextel network. When I get a signal with my Nextel card, I can just open the MS Internet Explorer, and just start surfing. But, it didn't work with the 802.11g wireless adapter. I am assuming that there is something I am missing. What do I need to do to actually surf the web?
Hopefully, somebody who has actually done this before will chime in. If not, try starting a new thread.
Jim
I only have one card inserted at a time. I will tinker with it some more.
I got it. Finally, I have high speed internet. Got the Cable Modem today. I'm so happy :)
