Satellite Superguide

While the hype and the bandwidth of cable modems and DSL services have many of us chomping at the bit, high-speed satellite access is here today, and can be had almost anywhere. Hughes Network System's DirecPC service is currently the sole U.S. provider, but you can expect that to change in the near future.

This article describes the ins and outs of satellite Internet access, defines the terms used in the industry, and examines how it works, who can get it, and what it costs. We'll also take a look at what you need to get connected, and go over the steps involved in actually getting online.

There are exciting developments coming in the near future for satellite Internet access -- we'll cover those too, and of course provide a wealth of online resources. This article will focus on the current satellite Internet access system available for consumers in the U.S. -- DirecPC. There are many different satellite access systems available for companies, campuses and large installations, with different capabilities then the system available for home use. These systems are beyond the scope of this article.

Getting your Internet feed from a satellite is not all that different from getting your TV signals from one. In both cases data is being sent from the satellite to your equipment, and then translated and decoded on your end.

Of course with the Internet, you're interacting a lot more than with your TV signal. One major limitation of today's consumer satellite technology is that it can only send data from the satellite to your receiver, and not the other way. To get around this problem, a work-around is in place that requires a separate ISP connection to send data to the Internet, typically over an analog modem. This connection works in conjunction with the satellite feed -- as information is requested via the modem line, the data is sent back via the satellite.

Since most Internet users fall into the pattern of needing high bandwidth from the Web (called downstream -- typically Web pages and file downloads) and less bandwidth going to the Web (upstream -- typically link requests), this scenario of sending upstream data over a standard modem line, and downstream data over the high-bandwidth satellite feed has been surprisingly effective. Future satellite technology will allow for 2-way communications, and higher upstream bandwidths.

Sort of the forgotten cousin of the current family of high-speed Internet access methods, satellite technology has one strong advantage over cable modems and DSL -- accessibility.

While the cable companies and telephone companies are struggling to upgrade their facilities to support these technologies, the infrastructure exists today to provide 400 kbps (kilobits per second) downstream bandwidth to almost anyone with a 21" satellite dish.

The basic idea is you request Web pages over an analog modem line, and the pages get sent to your computer over the satellite feed to a satellite modem card in your PC.

It may be hard to imagine that bouncing your requested pages 22,200 miles up to the Hughes satellite and back down again would make for faster access, but the 400 kbps you can receive data at is almost eight times faster than today's fastest analog telephone modems, and three times faster than ISDN. However, it is not as fast as today's cable modems or DSL services, which both can provide over megabits of bandwidth.

DirecPC satellite access isn't quite as enticing as cable modems or DSL, for a couple of reasons. Currently, both those access methods are cheaper and faster than today's satellite system. But odds are you can't get either of them anyway.

You can most likely buy and install a mini-dish satellite receiver and satellite modem for a couple hundred dollars. The 21" dish systems are readily available and fairly easy to install, although DirecPC recommends a professional installation. The satellite modem is a standard PCI card, easily inserted into any modern PC with an available slot. There is also a USB version available.

Like cable modem systems, DirecPC is a "shared bandwidth" pipe. This means that your download performance may vary depending upon other users of the satellite transponder. You will probably notice slower download speeds at peak times, typically early evenings.

The DirecPC system only works on Windows machines today, though they are working on developing their service for other platforms. Macintosh users can still access DirecPC service via a third-party proxy server package, and there are other pricing options for using DirecPC with a LAN.

Monthly service plans from DirecPC will run you anywhere from $20 to $110 per month, and you can even spend more depending on your usage. This is more than you'll pay for comparable cable modem or DSL access, but can be worth it for many. There are not typically low-usage cable modem or DSL options that compare to the low-cost DirecPC plans, so if you're a light Web user this pricing may work out well for you. To use DirecPC as your ISP as well will cost an additional $10-20 a month, depending on your plan.

The Executive Surfer package offers 25 hours a month of usage for $29.99, including ISP service ($19.99 without). The Family Surfer package offers 100 hours for $49.99, and the Office Surfer offers 200 hours for $129.99, both with included ISP services. The Office Surfer also includes three additional e-mail addresses.

There is not an option for unlimited 24-hour access, a significant downside of satellite Internet access compared to the other methods, which traditionally have a flat-fee structure. In all the DirecPC plans you'll pay an extra $1.99 per hour over the specified maximum. Clearly the cost of this service can add up, especially if you're a heavy user.

Originally the DirecPC service required that you also maintain a separate ISP account for dial-up access for your upstream communication and e-mail, but they have upgraded their service so they now offer that functionality as well.

Of course, if you elect to keep your existing ISP for your dial-up access to the upstream portion of the system, and your e-mail, you'll still be paying them about $20 a month on top of the DirecPC costs.

It may cost you a few bucks, but 400 kbps is a significant step up from today's analog modem speeds, which top out at a never-realized 56 kbps. Suffice to say, satellite Internet access will blow the socks off most jaded Web surfers. To get satellite Internet access virtually anywhere, all you need is a place to mount the dish with a clear view of the southern sky (if you're in North America), and a fairly basic Windows based PC.

Minimum requirements for the PC are a Pentium class machine with either an available PCI slot or USB port. It needs 16 MB of RAM and 20 MB of hard drive space. You may want a little more room on your hard drive than that for all the files you'll start downloading when you see how fast it is, however.

You'll also have to buy a DirecPC package, like the DirecPC Personal Edition which includes the 21" satellite dish, PCI satellite modem card, software and documentation. This package sells for around $300, and there is usally some sort of rebate or promotion being offered that will cut up to $100 off of this. There is an additional installation kit for around $50 if you plan to mount the dish yourself.

It's worth noting that while Hughes also markets the line of mini-dish based home satellite television systems, DirecTV, the standard DirecPC system cannot receive television signals, or vice versa. There is however a combo unit, called the DirecDuo, that for another $150 will perform both functions for you.

There are many sources for buying the packages -- major retailers like CircuitCity, Good Guys and Staples carry them; online retailers like MicroWarehouse, CDW, and PC Connection carry them; as do a large network of independent local dealers. To find a dealer, check the "To Buy DirecPC" section of the DirecPC site.

Once you have the equipment, it's just a matter of installing the PCI satellite modem card in your PC, installing the mini-dish, and running a line from the dish to the modem. If you've opted for the USB version you won't even have to open up your computer -- you'll get an external satellite modem that connects to a USB port on your PC.

Installing the dish isn't too difficult if you're mechanically inclined. DirecPC provides good documentation and software tools to help with the installation and alignment. The DirecPC dish is not quite as sensitive to placement as the DirecTV model, and therefore easier to install.

They do recommend a professional installation, and if you're at all uneasy with this type of thing, it's probably well worth it. Installation will run you around $200, barring any unusual building situations. It includes installation of the satellite modem and the DirecPC software, as well as mounting the dish. This can be arranged by calling 1-800-DIRECTV; most local dealers will also provide this service.

If you choose the do-it-yourself route, once you've popped open your PC and installed the PCI satellite modem card, and mounted your dish, you just need to install and configure the software. The software installs easily -- run SETUP from your CD drive with the DirecPC CD inserted, and it will walk you through the installation process.

Once the software, modem and dish are installed, with cable connecting the dish to your satellite modem, you are ready to rock. Just double-click on the DirecPC icon on your desktop and follow the instructions for registering and activating your account. Of course, have your credit card ready.

DirecPC's Internet service gives you more than just fast Web access. Included in all of their plans are their push versions of selected Web content (including ZDNet) and a usenet newsfeed, called Turbo Webcast and Turbo Newscast respectively. Version 2.0.1 also comes with a new, easy-to-use Electronic Program Guide to navigate through all the services and features available from DirecPC.

Clearly the largest advantage DirecPC has over other high-speed access methods is its widespread availability. No other option comes close to providing the range of coverage that DirecPC does. For many it is today's only high-speed option.

With the release of the long-awaited external USB satellite modem, you can now use DirecPC with laptop computers, and other machines where installing a PCI card is impossible. This option will only work with machines running Windows 98.

Limitations include lack of support for platforms beyond Windows; higher costs relative to other high-speed access methods; and potential problems associated with severe weather.

If you're online a lot, DirecPC can get pretty expensive, especially with no unlimited access plans. When you use DirecPC's bundled ISP plans, all online time counts toward your service plan limit, even if some of it does not require high-speed access.

This is one possible reason to keep your old ISP rather than use DirecPC's ISP service. If you sometimes log on when you don't need high bandwidth -- for uses like e-mail or telnet sessions -- you could have unlimited dial-up time with most ISPs for their flat monthly fee, and save the DirecPC access time for Web surfing or downloading.

Another concern with satellite access is how adverse weather conditions may affect the service. In severe snowstorms and heavy rain, you may experience signal fade. DirecPC acknowledges this can happen, but maintains that a proper installation will keep it to a minimum. One powerful aspect of satellite technology is it's ability to easily reach areas that are otherwise difficult to establish contact with. Remote areas have naturally gotten shortchanged when it comes to establishing services like cable or DSL that require good cable facilities and close proximity to the provider's equipment.

In this sense, satellite technology may be the great equalizer. The ability to provide service just as easily in the Sahara desert or the Sierra Nevada may give satellite technology the winning card in the high-speed access game.

For a glance at what's coming up in the not "too" distant future of high-speed satellite access, check out Spaceway and Teledesic, two sites that highlight major satellite initiatives currently under way.

Spaceway represents Hughe's next generation of broadband satellite delivery systems. The initial deployment consists of two Hughes-built HS 702 geosynchronous satellites, which will make possible two-way communications and bandwidth measured in Mbps (Mega or million bits per second) not kbps.

More ambitious and newsworthy has been the Teledesic project, founded by Craig McCaw and invested in by Bill Gates, Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, Motorola and Boeing. Motorola will divert the existing work they have done on their Celestri project into this effort. This company, founded in 1990, plans to deploy a constellation of 288 low-Earth-orbit satellites to cover the globe.

Teledesic promises to be the first worldwide broadband satellite system, claiming they are building a "global, broadband Internet-in-the-Sky." With expected bandwidths of 64 Mbps and above, the application possibilities are exciting. Designed to support millions of simultaneous users, Teledesic is projected to cost $9 billion.

Maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves -- let's not get too greedy too fast. The Spaceway service will be offered "as early as 2002" and Teledesic promises to have services available in 2003.

After all, settling for 400 kbps for now isn't so bad.

Online resources:

DirecPC
www.direcpc.com

Spaceway
www.spaceway.com

Teledesic
www.teledesic.com

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Common Terms Defined
Not quite as daunting as the many flavors of xDSL, there are still plenty of confusing terms and industry jargon to sort out when looking into satellite Internet access. Here's the lowdown on the most important ones:

Upstream -- data sent from you up to the Internet

Downstream -- data sent from the Internet down to you

Earth Station -- any system that can transmit or receive signals from satellites, including mini-dish satellite receivers

Uplink -- data sent from an earth station up to a satellite

Downlink -- data sent from a satellite down to an earth station

Transponder -- the circuitry on a satellite that receives the uplink signal, amplifies it, and retransmits it as the downlink signal

VSAT -- Very Small Aperture Terminal, small satellite dish used in high-speed satellite communications

DirecPC -- the consumer high speed satellite Internet access system that uses a 21" satellite dish

DES -- Digital Encryption Standard, DirecPC uses a 56-bit DES to encrypt information

CAS -- Condition Access System, another security system used by DirecPC