Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
problems even though the sky is clear; those problems are invariably caused by snow and
iceaccumulation onthedish.Withthatinmind,trytohavethedishmountedinalocation
where you can access it to brush off any snow and ice accumulation.
Because of the higher latency, slower overall speeds, limits on downloads and uploads,
greater equipment costs, and sensitivity to snow and ice, few would recommend satellite
service when alternatives are available. But when the only alternative is dial-up or an ex-
pensive T1 line, satellite is certainly more attractive. Although the costs are higher than
cable modem or DSL access, satellite might be the only even remotely cost-effective op-
tion for people outside urban areas. Many people have creatively adapted the dishes for
use on recreational vehicles when stationary or in various tripods and platforms for use
while camping.
Living Within Your FAP Budget
The fair access plan features of all satellite services are a challenge to live within, espe-
cially with frequent OS updates, streaming video, and other high-bandwidth uses for the
Internet. Here are some ways to avoid exceeding your download or upload budget:
• Use download managers to schedule large downloads overnight.
•InsteadofusingWindowsUpdatetodownloadlargefilessuchasservicepacksorpro-
grams such as Windows Live Essentials, download a single installation program that
you can distribute via your network to other users.
• Use the service's usage checking feature to determine whether your usage is getting
close to the limits set by the service.
• If you consistently get close to or exceed the bandwidth limits, consider upgrading to
another plan that offers higher limits.
ISDN
The connection speed of dial-up modems is limited by Shannon's Law. (See the section
“
56Kbps Modems
,
” later in this chapter.) To surpass the speed limitations of dial-up mo-
dems, you need to use a digital signal. ISDN was the first step in the move to digital tele-
communications. With ISDN, you can connect to the Internet at speeds of up to 128Kbps.
Because the telephone companies developed ISDN, you can purchase a variety of service
plans. Depending on the ISDN service you choose, you can use it strictly for Internet ser-
viceortoservicemultipletelephonyapplicationssuchasvoice,fax,andteleconferencing.
Depending on where you live, you might find that ISDN service is available for Internet
uses, or your local telco might offer faster DSL service as an alternative. Because ISDN
wasnotoriginally designedforInternetuse,itsspeedismuchlowerthanotherbroadband
options. Also, ISDN costs about twice what a typical ADSL or cable modem connection
