Satellite TV and Internet

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Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Give me internet in my RV

Give me internet in my RV by Jon Perry

The life of a nomad has never been better.

The ancient man was a nomad, a wanderer, a hunter gatherer. He roamed from place to place with his family or tribe and followed herds of game to hunt while scavenging for scraps all along the way. He often carried nothing more with him than the cloths on his back, a make-shift weapon and maybe a tarp made of animal skin that he would use to make a shelter while camping for the night. Luckily for us, times have changed.

Today, the modern man does not need to roam. All the food he could ever want is just down the street at the local supermarket. For this reason people tend to settle down and build houses. The houses these days are nice too. They have soft warm beds, high-tech kitchens, running water (both hot and cold), heaters, air conditioners, electric stoves, and microwave ovens. On top of all that, the new aged man has millions of cool toys like TVs, computers, video game consoles and, of course, the internet! When today's man goes roaming, he does it because he wants to, not because he has to, and when he goes roaming, an animal skin shelter just won't do it for him any more. The modern man wants to bring his whole house, all of its comforts, all of its joys. This is why he has invented the RV.

Even though an RV can't be as big as a house, a good RV should have everything a real house has (except maybe a garage). A good RV needs a TV, radio, microwave, refrigerator, and even a computer with RV internet. All of these items have been common for some time except for RV internet. Until recently, getting internet on the road was only a thing of science fiction, but thanks to the ingenious combination of several very special technologies, you can now connect to the net no matter where you go!

Satellite VSAT is a technology that has been around for some time. VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal. VSATs are small dishes (never larger than three meters) that receive information being sent to them by satellites. They can be used for TV, radio, or internet.

Satellites are a great way to send internet to a user as long as the user has a dish to receive and then retransmit the information. Under developed areas (or boats in the sea) sometimes won't have a way for you to connect to the web through phone lines and or cables, but through satellite internet, you can connect no matter where you are. All you need is a receiver that is aimed at a satellite. With the proper setup, you could even check your myspace from the middle of the Sahara desert.

The problem with using these dishes when you are traveling in a car or RV is that they have to be aimed at a satellite to pick up a signal. Aiming a VSAT system is not always a simple task. This has rendered the VSAT useless on the road (in past times that is).

The MotoSAT Company has recently solved this problem by creating a dish called the Datastorm that will automatically move to aim itself at the appropriate satellite. It's perfect for RVs and for anyone who frequently visits places with no internet connection. Now no matter where you go, you can always be connected to the rest of the world through the net. The life of a nomad has never been better.


About the Author

Jon Perry is an internet marketing specialist for 10xmarketing. MotoSAT is a satellite production company specializing in mobile satellite internet and other systems for consumer and commercial use.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet services are used in locations where terrestrial Internet access is not available and in locations which move frequently. Internet access via satellite is available globally, including vessels at sea.

Get DIRECWAY High-Speed Satellite Internet Now!

There are three types of satellite Internet service:

- one-way multicast,
- one-way with terrestrial return, and
- two-way satellite access.


One-way multicast

One-way multicast satellite Internet systems are used for IP multicast-based data, audio and video distribution. In the U.S., an FCC license is required only for the uplink station and no license is required for users. Note that most Internet protocols will not work correctly over one-way access, since they require a return channel. However, Internet content such as web pages can still be distributed over a one-way system by "pushing" them out to local storage at end user sites, though full interactivity is not possible. This much like a TV or radio content which offers little user interface.

System hardware components
Similar to one-way terrestrial return, satellite Internet may include interfaces to the Public Switched Telephone Network for squawk box applications. An Internet connection is not required, but many applications include an FTP server to queue data for broadcast.

System software components
Most one-way multicast applications require custom programming at the remote sites. The software at the remote site must filter, store, present a selection interface to and display the data. The software at the Teleport must provide access control, priority queueing, sending, and encapsulating of the data.


One-way with terrestrial return

One-way terrestrial return satellite Internet systems are used with traditional dial-up access to the Internet, with outbound data travelling through a telephone modem, but downloads are sent via satellite at a speed near that of broadband Internet access. In the U.S., a FCC license is only required for the uplink station, no license is required for the users.

System hardware components
The transmitting station is called the Teleport (also called "Head End", "Uplink Facility", or "Hub"). It has two components:

Internet Connection: The ISP's routers connect to proxy servers which can enforce QoS (Quality of Service) bandwidth limits and guarantees for user traffic. These are then connected to a DVB Encapsulator which is then connector to a DVB-S modem. The RF signal from the DVB-S modem is connected to an upconvertor which is connected via feedline, to the outdoor unit.

Satellite uplink: The Block Up Converter (BUC) and Low Noise Block (LNB) connects to the splitter which uses a wave guide (optional) to connect to the OMT which is bolted to the feedhorn which is connected by metal "arms" to the satellite dish and mount.

At the remote locations (Earth Stations) the setup consists of:

Outdoor Unit
- Satellite dish w/mount
- Feedhorn (only if Direct broadcast satellite)
- Universal Low Noise Block (LNB), this is, Ku band.
- Feedline

Indoor Unit
- DVB-S PCI Card (in a computer) or DVB external modem (via USB or similar port).

Each remote location is also equipped with a modem; the connections for this are as with a conventional dial-up ISP. Two way satellite systems may sometimes use the modem channel in both directions for data where latency is more important than bandwidth, reserving the satellite channel for download data where bandwidth is more important than latency, such as for file transfers.

System software components
Remote sites require a minimum of programming to provide authenication and set Proxy server settings. Filtering is usually provided by the DVB card driver.

Often, non-standard IP stacks are used to address the latency and asymmetry problems of the satellite connection. Data sent over the satellite link is generally also encrypted, as otherwise it would be accessible to anyone with a satellite receiver.

Theory of operation
Remote sites use the Proxy server at the Teleport, which is configured to route all outbound traffic to the QoS Server, which makes sure no user exceeds their allotted bandwidth or monthly traffic limits. Traffic is then sent to the Encapsulator, which puts the IP packets inside of DVB packets. The DVB packets are then sent to the DVB modem and then to the transmitter (BUC).


Two-way

Two-way satellite Internet sends data from remote sites via satellite to a hub, which then sends the data to the Internet. The satellite dish at each location must be precisely positioned to avoid interference with other satellites. The oscillators in some radar detectors can cause interference with these systems. Also, each location must use power management to adjust the amount of transmit power to compensate for things like rain fade. There are several types of two way satellite Internet services TDMA including SCPC.

Uplink speeds rarely exceed one megabit per second and latency can be up to one second. Satellite phone services such as Iridium also provide data services at the comparatively slow speed of 2400 bit/s.


This article is licensed under the GFDL
(http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "Satellite Internet"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_Internet)

Brought to you by Satellite TV Tips

What is "Rain Fade"?

Rain fade

In satellite communications, rain fade refers to the absorption of a microwave Radio Frequency (RF) signal by rain or snow, and is especially prevalent in frequencies above 11 GHz. It also refers to the degradation of a signal caused by the electromagnetic interference of the leading edge of a storm front. Rain fade can be caused by rain or snow at the uplink or downlink location. It does not need to be raining at a location for it to be affected by rain fade. The signal may pass through rain or snow many miles away, especially if the satellite dish has a low look angle.

Possible ways to overcome rain fade are site diversity, uplink power control, variable rate encoding and receiving antennas larger than the requested size for normal weather conditions.


This article is licensed under the GFDL
(http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "Rain fade"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_fade)

Brought to you by http://www.satellitetvtips.com

Saturday, February 11, 2006

What is Dish Network?

Dish Network

Dish Network is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that
broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households
in the United States, owned by Echostar Communications
Corporation. Dish Network was launched in March 1996, and is
DirecTV's primary competitor in the United States.

Free Dish Network information here.

Dish Network originally used an 18-inch satellite dish called
Dish 300 which allowed subscribers to receive a signal from one
satellite location. Today, Dish Network uses 20-inch satellite
dishes called Dish 500, which allows subscribers to receive
satellite signals from two satellite locations simultaneously.
Slightly larger, 36"×20" dishes (called SuperDish) are being
introduced with capability to receive satellite signals from
three satellite locations simultaneously. Both Dish 500 and
SuperDish are becoming more common as Dish Network (as well as
other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming
onto their growing systems, particularly local and national
American television network stations, and foreign programming.

In 2003, Dish Network began providing in-flight satellite TV
service to the U.S. airline Song. In 2004, all selected music
channels from the Sirius Satellite Radio audio pack were added to
Dish Network's lineup of audio-only channels.

Dish Network is also partnered with Starband to deliver broadband
satellite Internet service along with its television service.
Every month, Dish Network has a show called Charlie Chat which
features news about upcoming hardware, programming events, and
new channels. Company CEO Charlie Ergen and Jim De Franco host
the show and take questions from e-mail and live callers.

On May 1, 2005, Echostar added the first 10 of the 21 original
Voom channels. These channels are available at a 61.5° orbital
slot position. Echostar is planned to carry all 21 original Voom
channels by next year.

Free Dish Network information here.

This article is licensed under the GFDL
(http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "Dish Network"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dish_Network)

Brought to you by Satellite TV Tips

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that
broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households
in the United States and the rest of the Americas. DirecTV is
owned by DirecTV Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation’s Fox
Entertainment Group.

History

DirecTV was launched in 1994 by General Motors subsidiary
Hughes Electronics. It was the first high-powered DBS service
in the world.

In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB for $1.3 billion. In
1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion. In 2003, a
merger with Echostar, owner of Dish Network, fell through.

On December 22, 2003, controlling interest in Hughes Electronics
was sold by General Motors to News Corporation.

DirecTV has long been a victim of an active piracy underground
but has recently begun to crack down on illegal reception of its
signals. On its anti-piracy website, DirecTV claims to have sued
over 24,000 end users as of March 17, 2004, including celebrity
O.J. Simpson. DirecTV bases their suits on purchase records of
ISO-7816 Smart Card devices, which are used to rewrite DirecTV’s
access cards.

General information

DirecTV typically uses smaller 18-inch satellite Dishes to
receive its signals. Slightly larger, 18×24-inch oval antennas to
access multi-satellites are becoming more common as DirecTV (as
well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more
programming onto their growing systems, particularly local
television network affiliates stations as well as hybrid systems
that also receive broadband satellite Internet service.

DirecTV is often abbreviated as “DTV”. However, DTV has recently
been used to refer to digital television. Due to this conflict,
and the fact that Echostar is often abbreviated “E*” (“E” for
Echo, “*” for star), DirecTV is more commonly abbreviated as “D*”.

DirecTV receivers (television set-top boxes) were originally
referred to as “Digital Satellite Service”, or DSS, so that
services being broadcast by both DirecTV and USSB would appear to
be received by generic equipment. In 1998, after the acquisition
of USSB, an American court ruled that the term “DSS” was an
already trademarked term that could not be used by DirecTV.

DirecTV offers local channels in 93% of U.S. markets. Local
channels are transmitted over terrestrial optical fiber networks
to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado,
where they are uplinked.

DirecTV also offers high-definition television (HDTV), and in
partnership with TiVo it offers a digital video recorder (DVR)
service, often nicknamed DirecTiVo. As of March 31, 2005 DirecTV
has 14.45 million customers in the U.S. and 1.57 million in Latin
America. 2005 revenues for DirecTV U.S. is now $3.15 billion.


This article is licensed under the GFDL
(http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "DirecTV" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirecTV).


Brought to you by: http://www.satellitetvtips.com

What is DIRECWAY?

DIRECWAY, or "DIRECWAY" as it is spelled in official publications, is a U.S.-based provider of one-way and two-way satellite broadband Internet technology and service in U.S. and Europe. The service was originally called DirecPC and was only available as a one-way satellite Internet option (uploading was accomplished with a dial-up modem connection). The original DirecPC service, which is owned by Hughes Network Systems launched in October 1996.

DirecWay satellite Internet systems used to require both a home PC computer along with a special DIRECWAY-compatible USB modem. The original dial-up return (one-way) system used a single USB modem, while the satellite return (two-way) system used to use a special dual USB modem that interfaces with the subscriber's computer. The DW3000 USB modem used to be used with one-way setups while DW4000 USB modems used to be used on existing two-way customers' systems.

The DW6000 and DW7000 modems are newer products that have several major improvements over the older DW4000, including automatic software upgrades over the network, a smaller box, an ethernet connection intead of the USB interface, and it hosts an IP router.

The DIRECWAY satellite Internet system uses Ku band satellites for transmission of data from the DIRECWAY network operations center's Internet connection to its customers' personal computers.


This article is licensed under the GFDL
(http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "DirecWay"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direcway)

Brought to you by: http://www.satellitetvtips.com