Is Satellite Internet The Right Choice For You?
As technology continues to advance and the internet grows, the choices for internet service providers and types of internet service continues to grow. However, there are still people who can't get many common types of internet because they are outside the service zone. If you are struggling with how to provide internet to your new home, check out these facts you should know about satellite internet to determine if it's the right choice for you.
You Can Get Satellite Internet Almost Anywhere
Most types of internet require a landline, so users can access the internet via the cable or telephone line. For this reason, if you live in an area with limited cable and phone service, getting internet can be impossible, difficult, or expensive. Because it is the oldest, dial-up internet is accessible in many remote locations, but there are still locations with limited options. Satellite internet, however, is available almost anywhere because you don't need a telephone landline or cable. The satellite and router communicate wirelessly to give you internet access.
It's Faster Than Dial-up but Slower Than Broadband
If you have dial-up or are considering dial-up, good news, satellite internet is much faster. Especially when compared to more modern internet options, dial-up is slow. Not only does it take time to access the internet and travel from site to site, but downloading files can take at least 10 to 15 minutes, but larger files may take hours. Satellite internet, however, is much faster than dial-up, so you can download and upload faster, but you can also do more, such as watching videos. Unfortunately, satellite internet is not as fast as broadband or cable, which are still the ideal options for fast internet speeds, online gaming, online streaming, etc.
It Can Be Expensive With Strict Limits
One drawback of satellite internet is the bandwidth limitation. In order to comply with satellite internet's fair use policy, most providers put a limit on bandwidth. Once you hit this limit, your connection is throttled, which means your connection becomes even slower. Plus, these limits come at a high price. Satellite internet is expensive, and the better the speed, the higher the price. Depending on your package, your satellite internet can likely be more expensive than dial-up, broadband, or cable internet. You may also have data limits on how much data each user can download. Once you hit that limit, expect slower downloads. Luckily, however, although there are bandwidth limitations, satellite internet connections can handle a lot of bandwidth usage, so you won't see slower speeds during peak use times.
Service Can Be Unreliable
Another disadvantage of satellite internet is the unreliability. Many factors can impact your internet service. If you are experiencing bad wind or rain, expect poor connection if any. Even sunspots can interfere with the connection, causing delays. The connection can also be blocked by physical barriers, such as mountains. If the satellite isn't pointed correctly, and/or there are trees, branches, etc. in the way, the signal may be interrupted. This can make it a poor choice if you live in a heavily wooded area or an area with poor weather. Similarly, the farther you are from where the satellite orbits, the weaker the signal.
Overall, satellite internet is a great alternative to dial-up, making it a great choice if you are unable to get internet via other providers. It can also be a good choice if you don't use your internet much because of the unreliability and data limitations. For more information about satellite internet and if it's the right choice for your home, contact a service provider today.
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