Sat-Net, Is It For You?

Most everyone has heard of satellite TV and radio, it is still amazing at the people who don't realize how readily available these services are to many places. Recent studies compiled data that showed only about 1% of these users took advantage of satellite providing internet services. While only 1% might seem really small, it's importance cannot be denied. It is also known that the majority of satellite users dependent on satellites to deliver quality internet services are located in the rural areas.

Until recently, rural folks had to accept the dial-up connection as their only option; slow speed, frustration and all. It was the only option available for anyone living largely rural and then came sat-net, the internet connection savior, made especially for off the grid, out of the way, off the beaten path and the more rural the better dwellers. These rural inhabitants make up the bulk of the sat-net customers, mostly because of no connection or dial-up connections being the only options.

If there is a choice between cable or DSL and a satellite connection, the sat-net is usually not going to be picked. Simply because it really can't compare to the speed of those others. The problem that comes up for terrestrial broadband companies is cost effectiveness. If there are endless homes close together, such as in most cities, it makes sense to keep going with the installation of the cable. But in very rural locations where the houses are further apart and much fewer in number, it is not a money making plan for the cable companies.

There is no need for cables when getting hooked up with a satellite service. Technically speaking there is a need for the sat-dish to be in a position that has an unobstructed view of the sky where the satellite will be circling. This one issue is not usually a problem with rural areas simply because there are not tall buildings blocking the signal. Of course there could be tree's and rock formations that can get in the way, but installing the sat-dish away from that will solve the problem.

There are setbacks to using sat-net that are usually just an annoyance. One must keep in mind that there is a very big distance between the sender and receiving end of the signal. Because it is so far there will be a short lapse in the signal time. In reality it does not amount to more than a second in waiting time. It is not a big deal unless the user is a big game player and wants to join others in fast moving games. For those shooting games it will mean that the player will pretty much always have a short playtime life span.