Did you know we can get a broadband internet signal almost anywhere on earth through the use of satellites? This shouldn't be too much of a surprise - after all, by now most of you have heard of people using mobile satellite phones to place calls from deserts, oceans, and mountaintops. It's not that much of a jump from a radio signal to an internet signal.

Due to the nature of broadband by satellite technology , it is not the best choice for someone simply surfing the net at home in a big city with several high-speed broadband internet service providers (ISPs). Broadband by satellite, however, is highly useful for people with no other internet options, living miles and miles from the nearest ISP. This article will describe the advantages and disadvantages of broadband by satellite.

Advantages of Broadband by Satellite
Location
First, the main advantage of broadband by satellite is that you can get a broadband internet signal anywhere on earth, no matter how far you are from the nearest Ethernet port of cable connection. This is useful for people who live in remote rural locations where the only internet option available is the agonizingly slow 56 Kbps dial-up telephone modem connection.

Mobility
Second, by its very nature, broadband by satellite is a wireless connection that allows considerable freedom of movement. This is particularly useful for maintaining an internet signal in mobile locations, such as while in moving vehicle like trains or in a ship at sea.

Disadvantages of Broadband by Satellite
Line of Sight
In order for a satellite dish to receive a broadband internet signal, it must have a free line of sight to the geostationary satellite in orbit. Obstacles such as buildings, trees, and even leaves can get the way of line-of-sight and block the signal, leaving you with no connection.

Weather
Although rain will not block a broadband by satellite signal, it will cause an interference known as "rain fade." Rain fade results in slower upload & download speeds and a patchy connection.

Connection Speed
When an internet signal has to travel 22,000 miles to a satellite in earth's orbit and back, a certain about of latency (the delay between requesting some data and getting a response) is unavoidable. The average latency for broadband by satellite is between 500 and 900 milliseconds-much worse than even a dial-up internet connection, where the latency is only 150 to 200 milliseconds. Although this slow data transfer speed is just fine for basic internet usage-email and web browsing-it is too slow for computer applications that require real-time internet access, such as internet gaming, videoconferencing, and VoIP (Voice over IP) telephone conversations.

Many companies and businesses are offering customers wireless Internet access in homes. If you are a subscriber to wireless Internet access, you probably know that this type of access gives you the chance to access the Internet without having to connect and use cables and wires. You don't have to wait for your modem and your computer to connect to the Internet server and provider that you are calling.

Wireless Internet providers give customers access to the Internet without the wires, of course. Not only do they offer access, they also offer other services that are Internet related. Wireless access to the Internet guarantees users flexibility, for they can work anywhere and at anytime they want. They can do this without having to go through the hassle of trying to set up their computers and waiting for a connection to be established. Service fees vary, for there are different features that each wireless Internet provider offers.

By using Wireless Fidelity, or more commonly known as Wi-Fi, wireless Internet providers are able to provide users access to the World Wide Web. As long as your computer is turned on, access is continuous. This is unlike accessing the Net with the use of cables and connections that could take some time. Wireless Internet also assures quick transfer and exchange of data. Just ask your local Internet provider.