Undoubtedly, satellite dish Internet access is a booming technology. Here, we will deal with the various aspects related to the same and how to get satellite dish Internet access to your PC.
Satellite dish connection can be available at the most remote locations, as it does not require a phone line as in the case of dial-up connection, and neither does it require cables as in the case of broadband connection.
Hence, it becomes an easy way, and perhaps, the most feasible way for accessing high speed Internet for people staying at places, which do not have any dial-up connection or broadband connection service providers.
Just like satellite television, dish Internet access is received through the satellite. Another important factor is that it is almost 50 times faster than the dial-up connections. Operating systems like Windows and Macintosh are compatible with this connection.
Vital Information
If you have a clear view of the southern sky, a simple dish antenna connected to your computer can provide you with high speed Internet. Though the speed you get is significantly faster than dial-up connections, the download rate may not be as high as in the case of a broadband connection.
Specially-designed broadband satellites that had been launched in the years 2004 are used for providing this service. A single satellite can simultaneously serve around 5000 channels of communication. This technology is referred to as the Internet protocol multicasting technology.
The satellite sends data to all the receptors in the form of packets (compressed) at the same instant. Dial-up connections and broadband connections have bandwidth limitations, which do not allow multicasting of this magnitude.
Requirements
Let's take a look at the minimum set of requirements that you need for this satellite connection. You will need a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card or PCMCIA adapter with an Ethernet connector. If you want to go for the wireless medium, you will require a wireless router and 802.11g or 802.11b wireless devices.
Two modems solve the purpose of uplink and downlink respectively. The dish that is used for the purpose of transmission and reception of data should be approximately 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Coaxial cables are used for connecting it to the modem connected to your computer.
The installation of this system as demanded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), should be done by trained professionals. Until recently, this connection required the use of dial-up modem and telephone lines for sending data.
But now, this has been eliminated, and two-way connection can be provided directly. Now, all that you need to do is connect your computer with the Ethernet cable provided by the technician.
Prices and Speed
The prices vary from one service provider to another. However, they are comparatively lower than that of the dial-up connections. Download speed is somewhere up to 10 Mbps. It may also reach up to 15 Mbps.
Drawbacks
The first major drawback is its latency, which can cause problems if you are using the phone. In other words, problems may arise in Voice over IP (VoIP) or while playing games or listening to music on the net.
The latency when the computer receives and transfers data using this connection is around 500-600 ms. In case of dial-up or broadband connection, it is somewhere in between 50-150 ms.
The next important drawback is that it requires a clear view of the southern sky. If there are any trees on the way, or if it is a rainy day, the connection speed will probably decrease.
Many organizations are also opting for this technology, and it seems to be one of the most booming technologies round the corner. There are already various service providers working in this field, and this number is expected to be on the rise in the years to come.