Satellite Internet is a wireless internet service that requires three satellite dishes to transmit data. One satellite is at your ISPs hub, the other one is out in space and the third one is located at your home. There is a modem that has cables running to and from the satellite dish. The dish antenna at your home communicates with the satellite dish located in the earth’s orbit. This is quite similar to the way a satellite TV at your home works.
Where there are many advantages of using a satellite internet connection, there are a few disadvantages as well. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of using a satellite internet connection:
Advantages:
Good Internet Speeds
A satellite internet connection is faster than dialup internet. Although it depends on the internet package that you are using, you can expect a satellite internet connection to have speeds that are more than 15 times faster than a dialup internet connection. If you are not satisfied with the internet speeds provided by satellite internet, then you can look for spectrum internet which provides the best speeds and reliable internet service for home and business use.
Coverage To Almost Any Location
Satellite internet provides coverage to almost any location on earth. A single satellite present in the geostationary orbit is capable of covering a distance as big as an ocean or a continent. Wide area coverage makes internet access using Satellite internet services easy and quick no matter what kind of geographical obstacles get in between
Easy Installation and Deployment
You can install and deploy satellite antennas without making much effort. You can set up and connect to the internet in around 5 minutes. Also, satellite internet is easy to set up and carry around as well.
Cost-Effectiveness
In an unserved area, satellite internet can cost around $100,000 at max if you decide on laying fiber in an area of 1 mile. Apart from that, it is a huge investment of time and can take around several months to deploy fiber and make it available for users. Satellite internet becomes the most cost-effective and high-speed internet connection for you.
Reliability
As compared to a terrestrial network service, there is a lesser chance that users experience any kind of network outages. With terrestrial services, there is a very high chance that they might get disconnected or get you a substandard service. But satellite services work independently of any kind of terrestrial infrastructure and make sure that your internet services stays consistent at all times.
Disadvantages:
Data/Volume Caps
If you talk about the shortcomings connected to satellite internet connections, data caps can become one major problem. Your data or volume caps is the amount of information that is allowed on your package to get displayed when you type in a website or make a call or download or upload an image. This depends on the service provider and the purchased plan, data caps offered by satellite internet connections can go around 10 GB per billing cycle. When you reach your satellite data cap, you might get short on internet connectivity until the next business cycle.
Latency
Latency is termed as the amount of time that a packet of information takes to reach its destination all the way from your computer. When it comes to satellite internet service, you are sending data to a satellite located in the space, then it comes to the ISP and then it comes back again. This means that you might have poor latency or a high ping rate. If you are looking forward to use satellite internet for gaming, then this might not work well for you.
Weather Conditions
Satellite internet services or speeds might get affected by the weather as it interferes with the signal path. During rainy weather, or during storms and strong winds, you might experience one of the worst times and worst signal receptions. Also, there can be significant physical damage to the dish as well.
Satellite Internet Might Be Relatively Expensive
The installation cost might not be a big deal but satellite internet itself is quite expensive. For a 2 Mbps speed on your connection, you might end up paying around a hundred dollars. If cost is an issue, then you can always for a faster cable internet service
Signals Get Blocked Due To Obstructions
Signals transmitted via satellites can get blocked even if there is a minor obstruction. So it is a practice that systems located in tropical areas get regularly checked so that trees or any hurdles don’t interfere and block signals. In seasonal areas, a dish installed with a signal passing through bare trees in the winter season can disrupt signals in the summer and spring season when trees have heavy growth.
VPN Are Not Compatible With Satellite Internet
VPNs demand high bandwidth for both uploading and downloading needs. They require low latency and a high bandwidth which you might not get when you are using satellite internet.
Satellite internet might seem to be one reasonable way to get access to the internet. The technology might not seem fast, responsive or fast enough for many people who use fiber optic or cable-based internet connections. So when you are deciding to buy satellite-based internet I would recommend that you should have a look at both sides of the coin. This will help you make a wise buying decision and a way to make the best judgment to invest in satellite internet or not
