J,
 
    I looked into Internet via a radio-transponder modem.  In mountainous areas it's great and can go out quite a few miles.  As I remember it, I think that six miles is about the outer limit.  The problems are:

   1. Trees & Foliage - they totally block the signal.
   2. Buildings - same as #1
   3. Smog, Fog, Rain & Smoke - they attenuate the signal.
   4. It's a line-of-sight system - it the antennas can't "see" each
      other, there's no connect.
   5. In flat terrain (like Florida), with lots of tall trees, it's
      tough to get a signal without a rather high antenna.

    That said, if you can get a signal, it's a great system and it provides high-speed, two-way service .  A client of mine has one at his office, and I've used it quite a bit.  It's as transparent as the cable system; and, I'd estimate it's as fast as cable - perhaps a little faster.  I've heard that you can get about 1.5 Mb/s.
 
    GL

Jack Beale
jack.beale@att.net <mailto:jack.beale@att.net>
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<http://home.att.net/%7Ejack.beale/computerguy.htm>
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Sower <mailto:canarder@frontiernet.net>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 11:07 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Satellite Internet - WAS: Bellsouth test

I'm waiting for wireless that will reach out the same 5 kliks from the
station as DSL.  Sadly, where I live, cable and DSL only arrived the
last year or two.

Jack Beale wrote:

> R,
> >     I have the DirecWay satellite Internet service, and have for about
> two years.  I also continually monitor the upload/download speeds, so
> have some understanding of how well it works.
> >     DSL speed is usually 350,000 b/s (/0.3 Mb/s/) in either
> direction.  Cable is variable, but generally will provide 1.2 Mb/s,
> unless you happen to live in a neighborhood where cable use is very
> high.  In that case, your bandwidth will be limited by your neighbors
> use of the cable.
> >     Satellite is fast on download, but slow to upload.
> >     If you average-out the satellite download speeds, it's about 1 to
> 1.2 Mb/s.  I've seen it vary from zero to 4 Mb/s - it's a very
> "saw-toothed" type of connection.  Rather than being a steady 1.2 Mb/s
> connection the graph shows a lot of variation during any download
> session.  As I said, though, it's about 1 Mb/s average.
> >     Uploads, on the other hand are limited to about 64 Kb/s.  This is
> quite slow and can be a big problem if you try to upload large graphic
> files.
> >     Here, in this area, cable and DSL are (/currently/) non-existent....
> > Jack Beale
> jack.beale@att.net <mailto:jack.beale@att.net> <mailto:jack.beale@att.net>
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> <http://home.att.net/%7Ejack.beale/computerguy.htm>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Russell Duffy <mailto:13brv3@bellsouth.net>
> *To:* Rotary motors in aircraft <mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> *Sent:* Monday, February 14, 2005 12:28 AM
> *Subject:* [FlyRotary] Re: Bellsouth test
>
> Unfortunately, I can't find my satellite dish....The hurricane removed
> it.  Paul Conner
> > Call your insurance company.  They have a new one for you :-)  > > I've never heard anyone complain about the more recent DTV internet,
> but I expect that it isn't as fast as a good DSL or Cable
> connection.  It all boils down to how much it's worth to you. > Internet is VERY important to me, and I'd pay whatever it cost to get
> a good connection.  If you want to spend your money on something less
> important, like say.... food, go ahead :-) > > BTW, Bellsouth might be behaving now, since it doesn't seem like I'm
> getting all the posts at one time like before, so I'll see if this
> shows up in a timely fashion. > > Rusty (always on, as it should be)


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