Satellite Internet Terminologies for the Uninitiated – Globalcom

Satellite Internet Terminologies for the Uninitiated

Satellite internet is fast becoming popular all over the world. After all, a lot of Internet technology has been based on phone lines and cables, but this can be difficult for people who live in far flung areas, or who may not have ever had the chance to get phone lines or cable television. Satellite internet is also fast, and it can be a great way to get downloads faster. An example of a satellite internet provider is Hughesnet, which offers satellite Internet packages for homes and businesses.

Before you embark on your own satellite Internet installation and use journey, you may need to know a few terms that can help you understand the technology and use it better. Here are a few basic terms that can acquaint you with satellite Internet.

  • Rain fade – Although satellite Internet is fast, it can be easily affected by rain and other kinds of moisture. This can be mitigated by increasing the size of the satellite dish.
  • Latency – This refers to the delay that comes between you requesting data from the satellite internet company and actually getting a response. This can be high for some satellite Internet companies, which may make online games harder to play, or which can make interactive software, such as videoconferencing, voice-over-internet-protocol, and messaging harder to undertake.
  • Line of sight – This is your distance from the satellite, which you would like to keep clear in order for you to get a good signal from the satellite. Even the presence of trees or plants within the line of sight can impact how well satellite internet service can work.
  • Bandwidth – This is a term that is familiar to most users of the Internet in general. It is, simply, the share of Internet data that you are allowed to receive. When using satellite Internet, you may be given a bandwidth limit. If you exceed this limit, your access may be slowed down, or you may be charged for the extra bandwidth. The larger the files that you need, the higher the bandwidth that you require. Therefore, if you need to transfer large files, watch videos or listen to music online, or talk to people using voice-over-Internet-protocol, then you will need higher bandwidth.
  • Portable satellite Internet – The equipment that falls under this category is smaller and easier to carry. In general, you can have a portable satellite modem, which can have their own Bluetooth and satellite phone capabilities. Such a modem can be expensive.
  • Internet via satellite phone – You can also connect your satellite phone to the Internet. This can be advantageous if you need to telecommute, or if you are working as a journalist in a remote area of the world.

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