| Every time you start to lean toward a new cell | | | | the internet at any time of day. |
| phone or internet service plan, you get an earful of | | | | 3. Mini dish plus modem. For people who still have no |
| tech talk. Do you need to be able to launch a satellite | | | | idea what the different boxes involved with internet |
| to receive a satellite broadband signal on your | | | | service really do, you will get an extra device with |
| desktop? Let's face it: as the end user, all you really | | | | satellite internet service that could complicate things - |
| need to do is keep the complicated jargon away | | | | that is, if you needed to pay attention to it in the |
| while you use the service as you would. Leave the | | | | first place. Your dialup modem will get replaced by a |
| tech talk to the geeks at the next satellite | | | | different modem, while a satellite dish will be |
| convention. Here are the 5 elements of satellite | | | | attached to the roof of your home. Again, simplify |
| internet service that will allow you to forget about | | | | things for yourself by seeing if your home has |
| the tech stuff in a few minutes. | | | | access to the South. This will take only a compass. |
| 1. Ka-band or otherwise? The types of satellites | | | | 4. Download to upload. Most internet users can put |
| different providers use will probably mean as much to | | | | away the concept of downloads after a few months |
| you as the different types of space ships astronauts | | | | online. However, if you still need a hand with it, it's |
| use. What's one compared to the other when you | | | | fairly simple. A website has information; your |
| still have trouble telling the difference between | | | | computer doesn't have it yet. To get the data to |
| computer operating systems? Just make sure the | | | | move from the website to your computer, a |
| company delivering your satellite broadband signal has | | | | download is necessary. It could be as small a thing as |
| got a few satellites in place and has the gateways to | | | | getting print from a news story or something as |
| direct the internet data to your computer. | | | | large as transferring an HD movie. Uploading is when |
| 2. Bandwidth MB. If you got lost trying to figure out | | | | your computer has something that you want to send |
| the difference between bits and bytes, you're not | | | | to a website. Usually, photos or word documents are |
| alone among satellite broadband users. Again, it is less | | | | the items in question. |
| than essential for you to know what these different | | | | 5. Gateways. What stands in between the satellite |
| units of bandwidth measurement amount to. Ask for | | | | and the dish on your roof? These portals called |
| the breakdown when compared head on with dialup | | | | gateways are the place where the information gets |
| internet service. If a satellite provider can deliver | | | | transferred your way. You won't have any reason to |
| 35-50 times the speed your local dialup companies are | | | | know more about them than that. Using an internet |
| delivering, you're going to be happy when you access | | | | connection like this just isn't complicated. |