Satellite Internet Connection: How does it work?
Satellite Internet service is fast becoming a popular way of going online for many people today. Exclusively for big companies and government use in the past, Satellite Internet connection has grabbed its fair share of the home market. Satellite technology for widespread consumer use was first introduced for RV’s (Recreational Vehicles). This provided families to watch their favorite cable channels anywhere at any time. With internet use becoming more and more of a necessity, satellites provided a convenient way of supplying data and information to simple consumers.
With the continuing growth in the satellite industry, consumer applications are becoming more available. Satellite technology has also been widely used and cost has been greatly reduced. The technology for internet connectivity through satellites has always been present. Satellite costs we’re one of the main of the stumbling blocks in offering it to the general consuming public. Equipment such as dishes we’re outside the budget of many users that its use was limited to those who can afford it. With a wider bandwidth available for consumer use and the mass production of satellite equipments, satellite internet has found its way to ordinary households.
Equipment for Satellite Internet Connections
Satellite internet connections allow wireless connection to an internet provider. The use of satellite dishes allows for transmitting and receiving data over great distances and remote locations. Below are some of the equipments used for Satellite Internet Connections.
Satellite Internet Modem
The word modem comes from two technical terms, modulator and demodulator. This simply means that a modem works as translator of signals. Data and signals being used for satellite communication are different from those being processed by your computers. Modems for DSL, Cable Internet and Satellite all work on the same principle. The modem acts as a translator for these different signals between your internet provider and your PC.
There are many types of modem. Their main difference is in the areas of cost, amount of data, and physical setup. One special type is a two-way modem. This setup uses two modems working separately for transmission and reception. They are located after the satellite dish and connected separately from your PC. One acts as a receiver for data and one for transmitting information. One benefit is faster speeds and more accurate transmission and reception of data to the satellite.
Satellite Internet Dish
These are similar to the ones you see on RV’s (Recreational Vehicles) or news teams. The main difference is what type of data and bandwidth they receive. A satellite dish works like your standard antennae, the main difference is that it can receive and transmit data at greater distances. Satellite dishes are bowl-shaped and contain a feed horn at the center. Signals are then focused into a narrow beam which allows it to accurately travel at long distances.
Ideal setup requires the dish to be mounted in a location with no physical obstruction. It should also be pointed in the direction of the orbiting satellite. Satellite dishes are pointed generally towards the equator. Orbiting commercial satellites are often located at the equator. Advance satellite dishes are able to accept and transmit signals to more than one satellite. This is done with two horns; signals are bounced back from the dish curved surface at different angles to hit a specific horn. The satellite’s horn contains an LNB (Low Noise Background converter). The LNB functions as an amplifier for signals and filters noise (signals not containing information).
How does Satellite Internet Connection Work?
Satellite Internet connections provide online capability access for remote locations and those which are not currently served by traditional or conventional internet providers for DSL and Cable Internet connections. Setting up a connection requires a qualified technician because of the equipments used. The satellite dish should be properly installed and positioned for optimum performance. Setting the cables is tricky and the satellite modem should be properly configured.
Transmission and reception of signals through the orbiting satellite is possible with Internet Protocol Multi-tasking Technology. Orbiting satellites are able to transmit huge amounts of data over great distances at amazingly fast speeds. With Multi-tasking Technology thousands of users could be accommodated simultaneously.
Internet connection through a satellite service all starts when data or information reaches your satellite dish. The size and shape of the satellite dish also plays a role in how much data is gathered and significantly amplifies the signals. But this signal which the satellite collects easily disappears within a few feet and could not be directly reflected inside a house or a cable.
Data is focused to a horn which is integrated in the satellite dish structure. The satellite dish concave structure allows it to focus the signals to the horn. Signals are then received by a hollow tube at the tip of the horn structure. The size and form of the tube is specifically designed to receive a particular type of wavelength. The signals bounce through the tube and received at the LNB (Low Noise Block).
Signals are filtered at the LNB and transferred to a cable which runs to your satellite modem. The modem translates these signals to language your computer understands. Another cable exits from the modem and connects to your computer. An Ethernet cable is usually used to connect the modem to the computer’s Ethernet card. The signals are then processed by the computer and appear as data or images on your website.