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Written by Kin Lu Wong
What You Need To Know About Satellite Internet And The Way It Works
Satellite Internet is very simple, your computer directs a signal-request from a modem to a satellite dish, which is then sent to the orbiting satellite of the provider, which sends this signal to your provider. The provider will then transmit a signal which directs back to your satellite, onto your dish, the modem, and finally to your computer.
Learn more about who are best satellite internet providers
Signals are sent from the Internet to an orbiting satellite which is above the Earth. The same signal is then directed to your dish, which then transmits these signals to your computer inside your home through a connection that is wired. Information is downloaded directly from the Internet which uses a satellite through the process. In order to upload anything to the Internet, the above-mentioned process operates in reverse.
What Does Latency Mean?
Latency involves the time that data takes to transfer from 1 place to the next. Other Internet forms involve direct lines from the hub of the provider to either your home or street, which means these have lower latency. Satellite Internet always experiences issues with interference, along with Wi-Fi, as they do not work off direct connections.
What is Committed Information Rate?
CIR which stands for Committed Information Rate is a term you will hear frequently in the industry of satellites. It basically means what the lowest speed the satellite ISP has committed to guaranteeing. In most cases, the CIR is 1:1, and this means you will not be sharing a data-channel with other subscribers. It also means that the maximum speeds will be available all the time. The CIR shouldn’t be confused with CRs which are Contention Ratios.
About Contention Ratios
The Contention Ratios are the subscriber numbers that will be sharing your connection at any point-in-time. The Contention Ratios for the consumer satellite Internet services can go up to 400 to 1 which is written as 400:1. Ground Control has always supported premium access which means the Contention Ratio has never exceeded a CR of 20:1. The Contention Ratios are not Committed Information Rates, as the speeds cannot be guaranteed because it is impossible to determine when all the subscribers that share this channel are downloading video files that are data-intensive, which would then slow the connection down for the rest of the subscribers.
How Does Dish Network Internet Work?
Dish Network Internet which also goes by the name of dishNet is made available to all residents who have a view that is clear of the Southern sky. This provides the residents in the areas that are still under-served to obtain a connection to the Internet. If you reside in an area that is remote, dishNet may be your only option.
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Dish Internet Deals And Internet Packages Plus High Speed Satellite
The Dish Network Internet is not accompanied by the fastest Internet speeds in comparison to the other types of Satellite Internet services, yet it still performs a lot better in comparison to dial-up connections. The basic package will offer you a maximum download speed of 5 Mbps (megabits per second), and the upload speed will be around 1 Mbps.
The Internet connection will be delivered as high-speed broadband, which is more commonly used by the consumers that don’t have access to cable or DSL Internet. Depending on what area you live in, services like dishNET can offer you a high-speed connection that you will require in order to run the video-streaming applications or any other program that requires high-speed Internet in order to operate without any interruptions.
How To Subscribe To dishNET Internet
dishNET currently offers numerous Internet plans to match up to your data and connection speed requirements. You can also take advantage of a $10 saving every month if you decide to combine your television and Internet services. All the plans will require a 2-year commitment along with a credit-check. There is also a $10 fee for leasing the equipment. It is important to note that dishNET doesn’t offer a guarantee that you will obtain the upload and download speeds that they advertise across the different plans. This will typically vary according to where you live as well as what time of the day you are using the Internet.
1. The 5GB Plan
This is dishNET’s standard Internet plan which comes with 5GB (gigabytes) of anytime-data, along with 5GB bonus data that you can use between 2 AM and 8 AM. This standard plan provides a download speed of up to 5 Mbps and costs $49,99 a month as the standalone service. There is also a $10 fee to rent the modem. If you decide to combine the plan with your television-programming service, the cost drops to $39.99 a month, along with the $10 modem-rental fee.
2. The 10GB Plan
This plan comes with 10GB anytime data along with 10GB bonus data that you can use between 2 AM and 8 AM. The download speeds reach a maximum of 10GB, and the plan will cost you $59,99 a month. There is also a $10 fee to rent the modem. If you combine this plan with your television service you will only pay $49.99 a month, and the $10 fee for the modem rental.
3. The 15GB Plan
This is the premium package that comes with 15GB of anytime data, along with 15GB bonus data to use between 2 AM and 8 AM. This package provides a maximum download speed of 10 Mbps and will cost you $79,99 a month, along with a $10 fee to rent the modem. If you combine your television services with your Internet plan, you will only pay $69.99 a month and the $10 modem rental fee.
Also :Read Our Comprehensive Dish Internet Review
To ensure that you have chosen the correct subscription, it becomes important to decide what you use the Internet mainly for. If for example, you only use the Internet to check on your emails and to conduct a bit of light browsing, then the standard plan will usually suffice. The 15GB and 10GB plans provide a download speed that is faster and is dedicated to users that are using the Internet more often than just checking on emails and light browsing. If you plan to download lots of media or you often upload larger files, you should be considering either the 15GB or 10GB plan.
The satellite Internet information is directed from Earth to the satellites 22,200 miles into the air, which remains in what is known as geostationary orbit. This means that the satellite remains in point that is fixed which is relative to the rotation of the Earth. It then directs back down into your home.
So even though the information transmissions happen to be fast, they still travel a long way, which means the signals slow down slightly.
How To Obtain A Satellite Internet Service
Most of the people that reside in rural areas are not able to access high-speed internet using fiber-optic, cable, or DSL, internet service providers. It takes money and lots of time along with physical cables to build these types of networks. This is the reason why many of the providers choose not to build up these networks in areas that are sparsely populated.
This is when satellite Internet comes in, as it has the potential to reach nearly every area, and in most cases works well. We have also seen a few significant improvements when it comes to the satellite Internet speeds and technology over the last few years. This is why we recommend that consumers who reside in rural areas should go for satellite Internet, especially when it is the only option available to you. You might want to check out our Best Rural Internet Providers write up for a detailed view of who is best and why.
Service Speeds For Satellite Internet
The satellite Internet service providers offer download speeds that range from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps. This is classified as high-speed Internet.
The upload speeds, on the other hand, are not that impressive when it comes to satellite Internet. If you enjoy uploading images or you attempt to live-stream on Twitch, you might experience longer waiting times or even buffering problems.
Satellite Internet Equipment
To ensure you are receiving the correct satellite signal, you will need specific types of equipment that includes:
• Satellite Internet Dish
This refers to a satellite installed on your house rather than the satellite that is above the ground.
• Satellite Modem
This is a type of electronic device which converts satellite signals into what your network adapter on your computer can read. This is what will provide your computer with Internet access.
• Router
This is also an electronic device that takes the internet signal from the modem and then redistributes the signal throughout your house with either an Ethernet cable or by Wi-Fi.
If you have ever owned satellite TV, it is very similar except for the addition of a router and modem. Check out these Verizon Fios router options for more information