If you are one of the many unfortunate people across the United States who live in a remote or rural location, or somewhere with rough terrain, where neither DSL broadband nor cable broadband services are available, you are not so unfortunate anymore. If you thought snail-paced dial-up service was your only option, you thought wrong. Satellite Internet broadband offers a high-speed alternative to people who do not have access to wired broadband services.
If you live in a place where the wires needed to connect to DSL and cable networks do not reach and are tired of all the waiting that comes with using a dial-up connection, you ought to seriously consider whether getting rid of your dial-up service and signing up for satellite Internet broadband is the right decision for you – and chances are, it is.
For those of you out there who are thinking about making the switch from dial-up to high-speed satellite service, to help you make your decision, here are the answers to some of the questions you may have.
1. Are there any geographical requirements for being able to access satellite service? Unlike wired broadband services like DSL and cable, satellite Internet broadband service does not require that you be connected to a network of terrestrial wires. Rather, signals are transmitted using a satellite dish that is either mounted on your roof or on a high wall, or stands by itself in your yard. Because of this, for people living anywhere in the United States, the only geographical criterion is that your satellite dish be able to be positioned in a way such that it has a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. If you live in a wooded area, you might need to cut down some trees to open up your satellite dish’s view of the sky.
2. Aside from a satellite dish, what other equipment is needed in order to receive satellite service, and how is this equipment obtained? You do not really need to worry about gathering the various pieces of equipment needed to put together a satellite system – most of the time, your satellite service provider will supply you with all the equipment you will need. In some cases, though, your satellite service will require that you have a land telephone line, and you should on this.
3. How much does satellite Internet equipment cost? Sometimes, your satellite provider will rent the equipment to you for a monthly fee. But more often than not, you will not be charged for this equipment. Usually, when you sign up for at least a year-long contract, both the equipment and the professional installation of the equipment will be provided free of charge.
4. How fast is satellite Internet broadband? Is it really worth the switch from dial-up? There are variety of satellite services packages that you will have to choose from. The most deluxe packages are capable of connection speeds up to 50 times faster than the speeds that your typical dial-up service is capable of. Of course, the fancier the package, the more it will cost, and you have to assess your own individual Internet needs. If you only use the Internet for casual purposes, you can save money by choosing a more basic package. But even the most basic satellite package is up to 20 times faster than dial-up.
