If you live in an area that does not offer cable or ADSL broadband service, your next option to enjoy the high speed that broadband offers is to move to satellite broadband access. This service connects to the Internet via a satellite dish and dish service provider that offers high-speed broadband access.
Satellite broadband is possible through satellites that beam the Internet signal to a dish mounted on the customer’s building. One of the advantages of satellite broadband is speed, which is several times faster than dial-up.
While satellite broadband offers high speed, it is not without its drawbacks. Satellite broadband is one of the more expensive options for Internet access, and is therefore used only in cases where other less expensive options are not available. Because the signal is transmitted through the atmosphere, it is common for the satellite signal to be interrupted by weather. This is another important disadvantage to consider if you live in an area prone to heavy rain or especially snowfall.
To fully appreciate the affect that weather or atmospheric conditions can have on the satellite signal, it helps to understand the scale involved with the travel of the Internet signal that comes from a satellite. The signal initiates as a request for data from the user’s computer here on earth. A signal then travels from the satellite dish to the satellite orbiting the earth, which is over 35 thousand kilometers from the earth. Once it gets to the satellite, it is re-broadcast down to the service provider’s facility, which is another 35 thousand mile journey. Once the signal is sent through the Internet and the user’s request is processed, the whole journey is repeated in reverse so the user can see the result of his request. Because of this great distance, the chances for slight interruptions are increased this can result in less than perfect performance.
The distance also creates a bit of delay, which is not difficult to imagine. While satellite broadband is faster than dial-up, it is still one of the slower broadband alternatives due to the long distance the signal must travel, and due to all of the potential interference that can occur along that journey. Cable and ADSL are generally immune from these types of issues.
Costs are higher with satellite broadband right from the start, as professional installation of the dish is required. Monthly costs for satellite broadband are also traditionally higher.
