Features and benefits of gaining access to the worldwide network through satellite communications

Today, the Internet accompanies us anywhere, allowing us to quickly find the necessary information, get directions or contact loved ones. Despite the development of modern GSM networks and the presence of a network connection in almost every home, there are places where Internet access is difficult, not at all possible or simply not cost-effective, for example: in the open ocean, in the taiga or desert, as well as in remote settlements . The advent of satellite Internet has greatly facilitated the life of travelers, scientists and residents of areas remote from civilization.

What is satellite internet

Satellite Internet is a way of transmitting data and providing access to global network the Internet using technical means of satellite communications, namely artificial satellites as repeaters and ground terminals for receiving and transmitting a signal

The history of the emergence of satellite Internet

The formation of satellite communications, and subsequently satellite Internet, began in the 60s of the 20th century, along with the beginning of active space exploration, marked by the launch of the first satellites. The organization was formed in 1964 Intelsat(International Telecommunications Satellite Organization), which already in 1965 launched "Early Bird" - the first commercial satellite. The USSR did not join the organization and developed its own satellite program by launching the Molniya-1 communications satellite.

After 30 years, the first attempts were made to organize global access to the Internet through satellite technologies, but they were not successful due to the high cost of equipment and incredible rates for ordinary users. The development of technologies and their reduction in cost have made their own adjustments, and now satellite Internet is not something surprising and new. More and more satellites are launched into orbit, the coverage area, performance and communication quality are increasing. Today, the Internet is available in any corner of the planet, subject to the presence of an antenna satellite system.

Until now, leading technology companies are looking for ways to improve satellite communication technologies and provide Internet access to every inhabitant of the Earth, investing billions of dollars in new ambitious projects of satellite constellations.

Types of satellite internet connection

One way satellite internet is a system consisting of a satellite dish, LNB converter, board and internet connection. This type of connection is relatively cheap and easy to connect and install. The principle of operation of such a system lies in the asymmetric transmission of information: packets from the user's computer are transmitted via terrestrial networks, and are received by the user's antenna.

This type of satellite Internet connection is suitable for browsing the web, using browser applications, downloading data, however, this type of access is ineffective for downloading and sending data by the user. You should also pay attention to the quality of terrestrial communication services: with their low performance, the efficiency of satellite Internet as a whole will be reduced.

Advantages of asymmetric (one-way) access:

• Relative cheapness of equipment and tariffs;
• Simple and easy to install design;
• Large incoming traffic at an acceptable speed;
• Possibility of quick change of provider.

Disadvantages of asymmetric access:

• The need to connect to a terrestrial communication network;
• Signal quality depends on weather conditions;
• Complex organization of multi-user access.

Two way satellite connection, or symmetrical, provides reception and transmission of information to the satellite directly from the user device using special equipment. For symmetrical access to the Internet, you must install satellite dish, LNB converter, BUC transmitter and satellite terminal. Unlike the hardware component of one-way access, two-way access requires the connection of more expensive and complex devices. Installation and connection of satellite Internet in this case is carried out exclusively by professionals.

However, symmetrical Internet access allows you to connect to the network a large number users, does not require other communication channels, the operator is responsible for setting up the equipment, and the subscriber has to perform the minimum number of simple steps to complete the settings.

Benefits of symmetrical (two-way) access:

• Complete independence from terrestrial communication systems;
• Simple organization of multi-user access;
• High data transfer rate in both directions.

Disadvantages of symmetrical access:

• Data delay up to 800ms;
• The high cost of equipment and tariffs;
• The need to attract qualified specialists for the installation and configuration of the antenna system.

Ranges and coverage areas

Communications satellites of various companies rotate in various orbits: from low near-Earth (400-1200 km) to geostationary (36,000 km). The closer the satellite is to the Earth, the closer the quality of communication to terrestrial networks is for satellite Internet, but the low orbit has one significant drawback - more satellites are needed for full coverage. For example, the new constellation of OneWeb low-orbit satellites will launch 648 vehicles to provide full Earth coverage.

MEO satellites provide acceptable latency for video communications and other two-way applications. And satellites in geostationary orbit, although they have a wide and stable coverage area, are too far from the Earth to provide fast operation for some applications, especially for two-way communication due to a serious delay in data transmission. Another serious disadvantage of geostationary satellite constellations is the deterioration of signal confidence as they approach the poles, as at high latitudes the signal skims over the surface of the Earth, forcing the use of higher antennas.

In addition to differences in the location of satellites in earth orbit, the ranges in which they broadcast the signal also differ.

• C-band centimeter wavelengths in the band from 3.4 and 7 GHz is most stable and independent of weather conditions. To receive a signal in the C-band, antennas with a size of 2.5-3.5 m are required, which can cause some inconvenience in installation.
• extends over the frequency band from 10.7 to 18 GHz and has a shorter wavelength than the C-band, which allows the use of small parabolic antennas up to 1 m in diameter.
• - the frequency range of centimeter and millimeter waves and is used due to the fact that the previous two ranges no longer have enough space. Ka-band frequency bands: from 18.3-18.8 to 19.7-20.2 GHz on the Earth-to-satellite link, from 27.5 to 31 GHz on the satellite-to-Earth link.

Russian and Asian satellites support operation in the C and Ku bands, the development of the Ka-band is at an early stage. Now, many Russian satellites being designed are provided for the Ka-band, but when and how broadcasting in this band will be carried out is still unknown. However, antennas with a Ka-band transceiver are already being installed by users.

satellite equipment

The most important device for organizing access to satellite Internet is an antenna that provides relaying via satellites. Satellite dishes are of several types:

LNB Converter(Low Noise Block) is a small device that should be located at the focus of the reflector antenna. The device converts the electromagnetic signal into electrical and transmits it to the receiving device. Satellite Internet converters operate in the 10.7-11.7 GHz and 11.7-12.75 GHz bands.

dvb card- this is a device for decoding a signal from a satellite, when buying it, you need to pay attention to its type, since a high-speed satellite Internet connection will require a card with its own MAC address and special software. DVB cards are software and hardware, external and internal.

The most reliable satellite communications equipment today are American-made devices, for example, companies, and others.

Subscriber identification

Subscriber identification is necessary in order for the user to receive the necessary traffic from the total flow of all signals coming from the satellite. To highlight their data from the general stream, the user is assigned a PID (Program ID or program identifier). The PID is a ten or sixteen digit number communicated by the operator to the subscriber.

The traditional method of identification by MAC address or IP address is also used. The user device only accepts data packets that match its MAC address and ignores the rest.

In two-way communication, the IP address is automatically bound to the device's MAC address. If the access is one-way, then the subscriber will have to independently inform the operator of communication services the MAC address of the satellite board.

Transfer rate

The data transfer rate when using satellite Internet access services depends on many parameters, but the main ones are:

• Distance to the satellite - the farther the satellite, the greater the delay;
• Weather conditions - precipitation can reduce data transfer speed;
• The visibility of the satellite relative to the antenna.

Today, the speed of satellite Internet is on average about 4-5 Mbps when choosing a tariff in the average price range.

Advantages and disadvantages of satellite Internet

Satellite Internet connection is available to everyone, as its cost has decreased significantly. Today, outside of big cities all over Russia, you can see satellite dishes on many homes, travelers use mobile terminals, the Internet appears on intercity trains and buses. Among the advantages of the technology, it is worth noting especially the ease of installation and connection to the network, wide coverage, autonomy, a single information environment, the selection of a specific solution for each client.

Of course, satellite Internet still has such disadvantages as the high cost of equipment, the need for permission to use radio communication equipment, channel delay, and some others. But, despite these disadvantages, satellite Internet is often the only way to communicate with the outside world in places that are hard to reach for laying an Internet cable or where there is no cellular coverage.

Users have the technical ability to use inexpensive parabolic antennas and computer DVB receivers to receive a signal from a satellite - both television signal and digital data stream. The speed of receiving information from a satellite can reach values ​​from 128 kilobits to 16 megabits per second, which is a lot. The average speed of Internet access for users is from 256 kbps to 1 megabit per second, which is 5-20 times higher than through a conventional modem.

Satellite Internet providers, in turn, have the opportunity to use transmitting equipment, servers and communication equipment to organize Internet access with the transmission of user-requested traffic through a satellite hanging in a stable geostationary orbit.

With this scheme of work, payment for incoming traffic is traditionally used, as is the case with terrestrial dedicated Internet access. Since monopoly fiber optic communication channels are not used in this case (information is transmitted through space), and competition in this market is quite high, traffic prices are quite affordable: from $32 per gigabyte of received information during the day to a ridiculous $5/gigabyte at night at a speed of 256 kbps. s (see for example SpaceGate, SG-Traffic tariff.). In practice, this means that a CD is downloaded in a couple of nights, while you need to pay only one hundred rubles for such a volume. For example, you can estimate the real costs by a survey on the forum Spacegate - Who and how much spends per month on the Internet

There are also unlimited options with payment for Internet access at a certain fixed price per month with corresponding restrictions on the reception speed. As a rule, unlimited tariffs are suitable only for organizations or home networks, because they are quite expensive for an individual private trader, however, one of the offers (PlanetSky, SkyCrystal tariff) is quite suitable for home use, especially if several apartments cooperate to share such access.

As you can see, the prices for communication channels in Russia are so high that the use of space technologies and an expensive satellite operating far in space is sometimes several times cheaper than renting channels in an optical fiber cable once buried in the ground. Satellite providers themselves position their service as an inexpensive way to access the Internet in the absence of high-speed terrestrial communication channels or monopoly high prices for them. Total: satellite Internet for the user has a low price and high speed access.

What do you need to connect?

Working on the Internet always involves signal transmission in both directions. Although usually the amount of information transmitted is many times lower than the amount received, the outgoing channel from the user must take place. Ordinary dishes are intended only for signal reception (buying and using transceiver equipment costs quite different money), so we will have to use other means to transmit data.

This is where we will pay attention to the classification of Internet access tools available in Russia, indicated at the beginning of this review, in the Preamble, since any of them can be used as an outgoing channel when working with a satellite.

Obviously, it is possible to use dial-up, but it is not practical: we will increase the reception speed, but it is unlikely that we will somehow reduce the cost of Internet access, since we will have to pay the terrestrial provider for the time plus the satellite provider for traffic. Unless this access is suitable for downloading files at night, but this is for rocking enthusiasts.

The GPRS option is suitable in very limited cases. (Note Now, when GPRS tariffs have decreased significantly, and the quality has increased, using GPRS as a request channel is preferable. As practice has shown, with very low requirements for a request channel, access via GPRS in terms of price / quality ratio is the most optimal) Before all this is the lack of technical ability to connect in another way - as a rule, an absent or "compacted" telephone line (the use of a subscriber seal on a telephone line and also a tonal security and fire alarm prevents the installation of equipment operating according to the "Internet over telephone" scheme). This access method has such serious drawbacks as the possible charge for outgoing cellular traffic (at the same time, the prices are very high) and extremely low speed sending information.

So if it is technically possible to install one of the types of dedicated access according to the "Internet over the phone" scheme, it is best to do just that.

Thus, the first thing we need is a terrestrial Internet access to send information, preferably a dedicated one. I deliberately put this point in the first place, since it is not obvious to many.

The second is the technical possibility of tuning to the satellite. Since the very nature of the geostationary orbit requires the placement of satellites strictly above the equator, it will be necessary to be able to mount satellite dish on the wall or on the balcony, so that the dish can be turned to one of the satellites, and they are all in the south, southeast and southwest, at an angle of about 30-45 degrees to the horizon (the closer to the direction "south" , the higher the satellite is for us). A place for mounting and free shooting to some satellite (of those that providers use to provide their services) - that's all we need.

But even if all your windows face north, if there are high-rise buildings nearby, if there are some incomprehensible trees around, perhaps not everything is lost. After all, the dish can be installed both on the roof and in other places, sometimes the most unexpected ones, and the antenna can be directed to the gap between the tree and the neighboring house, etc.

The third thing you need is to choose a satellite from among the available ones, buy a kit satellite equipment and entrust its installation and configuration to specialists. For the curious, I’ll tell you that the kit includes the following main components:

satellite dish

LNB converter ("head"), installed at the focus of the dish

DVB-receiver (as a rule, this is a SkyStar-2 computer PCI-card)

cable and necessary connectors

The cost of a standard kit with installation and configuration ranges from $200 (with a plate diameter of 90 cm) to $350. (with a plate diameter of 120 cm).

What is the difference between a plate diameter of 90 cm and 120 cm, you ask? It consists in the fact that, ceteris paribus, a 120 cm plate gives a greater margin for bad weather (rainstorm, thunderstorm, heavy cloud cover and snowfall). Occasionally there are situations in which on a dish with a diameter of 90 cm the receiver refuses to "pull" the signal to an acceptable level, with a dish with a diameter of 120 cm such situations happen even many times less.

Sixty-centimeter dishes that are suitable for television cannot be used for working on the Internet - the requirements for the quality of the received signal in the case of Internet access are higher. However, some companies that are engaged in the installation of equipment for satellite Internet report that the Russian provider Dina-Vesta (Rainbow service) has a signal from the Intelsat-904 satellite in our area is so strong that it is perfectly caught on a 60 cm dish ... But not you should rely on it: there is only one such provider, and if something happens to him, you will have to change the plate one way or another.

By connecting to the terrestrial Internet and installing equipment satellite reception, we need to tie these two things together so that they function as one and give us a normal Internet connection in the end. After all, as you remember, data must be sent through a terrestrial channel, and come through space.

This is done by connecting to a satellite provider. "Connection" is that he registers you in his database and creates a personal account for you, where he puts the amount that you pay in the form of an advance payment for traffic - $10 is enough to start.

You tell the provider the unique MAC address of your DVB receiver (it is usually written directly on the receiver), it activates the Internet access service for you and gives you a login and password for satellite Internet access. You can do all this on our website, and you will only have to independently control the expenditure of funds from the account and replenish it in time. You can replenish by bank payment, through WebMoney - in general, in every way.

Linking together sending data via a terrestrial connection and receiving via satellite is carried out, as a rule, by installing one of the types of VPN connections (Virtual Private Network, virtual private network) with the server of the satellite provider. Well, the provider's server is just configured in such a way as to receive data from you on the ground, send it to the Internet on your behalf, receive a response and forward it to you through the sky.

Some tips for VPN connection:

VPN connections are different types: VPN-Fake, VPN-Best, OpenVPN. VPN-Best has no terrestrial service traffic (all reception is via satellite). Connections like VPN-Fake and OpenVPN generate some overhead terrestrial incoming traffic to service the connection itself.

If the satellite operator does not specify the type of connection (it just says "VPN", and that's it), then this is a VPN-Fake.

If it is impossible or undesirable to work through a VPN for some reason (I don’t know why, but suddenly!) Some providers can work through a proxy server.

As soon as you have successfully established a VPN connection - that's it, you are on the satellite, welcome to the world of the right Internet.

Can games like Quake be played?

No, you won't be able to play dynamic games like Quake, Counter Strike, etc. via satellite, because the delays in information transmission are too high (pings are about 300-600 ms). However, in games that do not require such a quick response from communication channels (for example, strategies) - easily.

Well, how much does it cost?

Depending on what tariff plan and how much to work. In chats, for example, you can at least sit up, on sites, too, unlimitedly. At night, you can download cheaply, it has already been said above that the downloaded CD will cost a hundred rubles - just a fairy tale. I think if you don’t limit yourself almost, then when paying for traffic, the normal monthly costs are 600-1000 rubles per month, plus some payment for terrestrial Internet.

Whom to connect to?

A good option is the Express-AM22 satellite, which hosts four providers at once: SpaceGate, PlanetSky, HeliosNet and Raduga.

What about when moving?

In the event of a change of residence, you will have to reconnect the terrestrial Internet and remount the dish. Choose your accommodation wisely! That is, with good view South.

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What is satellite internet?

How does satellite internet work? Why is a terrestrial connection required when connecting satellite Internet? What are the advantages of satellite Internet and what are its disadvantages?

When working in the Internet environment, the reception and transmission of information is carried out in two streams:

1. user requests for a resource
2. forwarding the requested resource

Satellite, most often, is a combined method of accessing the Internet, when the first stream (user requests) is transmitted via a terrestrial connection, and the second stream (requested information) is sent to a satellite dish installed at the user.
At standard work in the Internet environment, the amount of information sent by the user is tens and times less than the amount of information received upon request. So, using the high bandwidth (up to 4000 Kbps) of a satellite dish, you can greatly speed up your work on the Internet.
With normal Internet access, sending and receiving data is as follows. With a Dial-up connection, by calling the provider and identifying yourself, you get a temporary IP address. Using this IP address, you request a resource and receive it on this IP.
For satellite (asymmetric) access, the following scheme is used:

You access the Internet using a "terrestrial" (eg GPRS) provider and get a temporary IP address from it.

When sending a request for a resource, you, using this IP address, first go to the proxy server of the "dish" provider. It has a username and password, which are given to you when you install the DVB-board. When a connection is established with a proxy server, they are identified.

The proxy server remembers your username and password.

On the request route, you are sent using the IP address of the proxy server. Your temporary IP address remains hidden during the session.

The requested data is received by the proxy server and then transmitted via satellite to the DVB-card whose login and password were identified and stored in memory when the user sent the request.

You get the resource you are looking for.

Today, there are several ways to connect to the Internet. The most famous of them are:

1. Dial-up modem connection
2. Connection via GPRS (via cell phone)
3. Leased line connection
4. radio access
5. satellite connection

Modem connection:

At the moment, the most common connection method, however, is quickly becoming obsolete. The data transfer scheme via a modem connection is carried out according to the following scheme:

The subscriber (user) calls the provider's modem pool via a telephone line using a modem.

The provider's server processes incoming information from the user, checks the account name and password. If they match, then it assigns a free IP address to the user's computer, i.e. the user's computer has its own name on the Internet.

Thanks to this IP address, the subscriber's computer transmits and receives information from the network.

A dial-up connection attracts most users for a number of reasons: ease of installation (equipment installation consists only in purchasing a modem); ease of interaction with the provider;

Disadvantages of a modem connection: telephone line congestion; low data transfer rate (3KB/s); time-based telephone line charges in some cities; unreliable connection due to low quality telephone channels; low quality of data transmission due to low quality of telephone channels.

Connection via GPRS

Ability to use cell phone as a modem currently offered by most carriers cellular communication. When using GPRS, channels temporarily free from the transmission of voice messages are used. Those. thus, operators increase the efficiency of using their transmission equipment.

Leased line connection:

Everyone knows that the most convenient and fastest connection is a connection via a leased line. The data transmission scheme via a leased line is carried out according to the following scheme:

The provider extends a cable (copper pair or fiber optic) to the subscriber's computer.

Returns the IP range for the subscriber's computers to connect to the network.

Advantages of a leased line: constant direct connection to the network; free telephone line; high-speed data transfer (from 100KB/s); high quality information transfer.

Flaws: high installation cost; the cost directly depends on the distance to the connection point; impossibility of physical movement personal computer to another point without a new wire laying; high channel rental fee (about $300).

Radio access:

One of the wireless connection methods. The data transmission scheme via radio access is carried out according to the following scheme:

The subscriber and the provider are equipped with receiving and transmitting radio equipment with a special radio modem. Through such equipment, the request and forwarding of Internet resources occurs.

Satellite connection:

Uses asynchronous access. Satellite is most often called a combined access method. The data transmission scheme via a satellite connection is carried out according to the following scheme:

The request channel is based on possible or existing connections - Dial-Up, leased line, GPRS. The main requirement is not speed, but the reliability of the connection. One of the best options, especially in the absence or poor quality of telephone lines, is to connect via GPRS.

The receiving channel is a satellite channel.

Advantages: very low cost of traffic (from 10 kopecks per 1 MB) affordable for almost everyone (from $ 350); the speed of obtaining information increases significantly (from 100 Kb / s to tens of Mb / s); the ability to additionally receive satellite television channels; no subscription fee; flexibility of tariff offers.

Flaws: satellite access requires any other connection to the Internet, through which user requests for a resource are sent (the requested resource is "reset" to the satellite dish).

Thus, the transmission of Internet information through asynchronous access is today a compromise between a dying modem connection and a leased line connection. Even if you have a leased line connection, but you are not satisfied with the high cost of traffic, by organizing a receiving channel through a satellite connection, you can significantly reduce your Internet costs. This is especially true for small firms and individuals who need a sufficiently large amount of information.

Satellite Internet is of interest to users primarily due to its ubiquitous availability. After all, access to the Internet from a satellite helps where other options for connecting to the Internet are ineffective or not available at all.

In the age of the ubiquitous Internet, for residents of large cities, its absence seems like a misunderstanding, but what options do residents of private homes and in places remote from large settlements have? Most providers benefit from coverage of residential networks only in apartment buildings. It is much more difficult to organize an Internet channel for residents of the "private sector", not to mention remote areas where providers are unlikely to come in the near future. Of course, there is the possibility of accessing the Network through mobile operator, but with the current volume of traffic it is very expensive.

A worthy alternative to low-speed and expensive mobile Internet - Satellite Internet. More recently, only a few used it, but now this way of accessing the Web has become much more accessible.

Satellite internet coverage

Satellite Internet- this is communication over a radio channel with the participation of artificial satellites of the Earth, which are not independent sources or final receivers of the signal, since they are only repeaters that allow you to bypass the limitation of the distance of terrestrial radio communication due to the unevenness of the relief of our planet. Thus, satellite Internet is only a way to deliver a signal from a terrestrial provider to a terrestrial client.

The peculiarity of satellite Internet is that the repeater is in orbit, automatically increasing the signal coverage area to several areas and regions. Considering also their cost, it is possible to substantiate the reason why this species communication is not available to anyone. One more satellite internet feature is to limit the amount of information transmitted. Indeed, if each subscriber had to be allocated two separate channels (for receiving and transmitting data), then such equipment simply would not fit on the satellite, and the number of possible subscribers would be extremely small. In order to somehow optimize costs, providers use the features of Internet traffic.

Asymmetric - satellite internet at 50%

If we talk about statistics, then on average, incoming traffic exceeds outgoing traffic, and when designing networks, they start from this factor, providing different speed incoming and outgoing channels. Take for example an ADSL channel (by the way, this abbreviation stands for "asymmetric digital line"), in which incoming traffic is several times faster than outgoing traffic. At the same time, users feel quite comfortable, and the provider saves on the frequency resource. A similar technology is also used in the organization of satellite communications, only here operators take advantage of the opportunity not only to reduce the speed of the reverse channel, but complete removal it from the satellite, that is, the transfer of this function into the hands of terrestrial providers. Such a scheme is called asymmetric channel. As a rule, a telephone line (fixed or mobile communication) is used as a reverse channel, but a provider operating through a local network or wireless access can also act in this role.

There is a stereotype that satellite Internet is focused on regions with poorly developed infrastructure; this cannot be understood as the complete absence of telecommunications as such. Rather, it means the lack of decent land-based providers with acceptable rates. Also, this option allows you to significantly increase the speed of access, if, for example, access to the Network is possible only through a telephone modem or a slow GPRS mobile Internet channel.

However, there is also two-way satellite Internet, but the phenomenon is far from widespread. This option is intended primarily for those who need access to the Internet in the absence of an alternative from anywhere in the world. This solution does not really depend on existing networks although it still requires electricity to operate. But due to the high cost of such a channel, it is used mainly for emergency work purposes, so most often under satellite internet it is precisely the asymmetric channel that combines the following:

• satellite receiver for reception
• services of a terrestrial provider (for example, a mobile operator) to send requests and data.

Options for organizing a reverse channel

There are many ways to organize a return channel. Of course, the choice of technology should primarily be determined by the capabilities available in a particular geographic point. It can be not only a fixed or mobile telephone line, but also some of the radio access options. The local provider with " home network” (for some reason, not suitable for you as the only connection to the Global Web).

The software supplied by the satellite Internet operator is responsible for the correct distribution of data (where to send the request and where to read the information). Without it, the competent operation of an asymmetric channel is impossible.

Features of the asymmetric channel

Unfortunately, even with asymmetric scheme for organizing Internet access the number of frequencies for transmitting data from the satellite is limited. This means that it is impossible to provide each subscriber with a separate channel not only for receiving / transmitting, but also simply for receiving information. Moreover, any other division of the channel, for example in time, is also not efficient. Therefore, the satellite Internet standard implies broadcast data transmission for all users, which means that the information received by the receiver contains not only the pages you requested, but also your neighbor's mail, parts of your relative's downloadable movie in another city, and even messages from some stranger's messenger .

The satellite receiver decodes the incoming satellite signal into the requested Internet data

The selection of the necessary data from this mass is handled by the receiver at the MAC address of the satellite terminal. Of course, satellite Internet providers resort to various tricks so that users cannot read information that is not intended for them - for example, channels are encrypted using various algorithms. But the very fact that sensitive data can be accessed attracts a lot of scammers and just curious people. Entertainment, consisting in reading other people's data, was called "fishing from a satellite."

Equipment for satellite internet

The most popular standards for organizing satellite Internet today are DVB-S and DVB-S2 (the second is an improved version of the first). To connect to the Network via satellite using a common asymmetric scheme, you will need:

• satellite "dish" of the recommended diameter
• signal converter
• receiver (satellite Internet terminal)
• necessary cables
• contract with a satellite operator.

As I said earlier, you also need an alternative connection to the "terrestrial" network and software for managing data packets.

Satellite dishes are no different from devices for receiving digital satellite television, but differ significantly both in price and size with transceiver antennas. Usually the operator satellite internet, as in the case of satellite television, recommends a certain minimum diameter of the "dish", depending on the geographic location of the subscriber (and hence the strength of the satellite signal in ideal conditions). For exact information, please refer to the operator's website. Theoretically, a satellite dish can be installed independently. However, most often it is recommended to contact specialists who will direct it clearly to a satellite located in geostationary orbit.

Converters may differ from each other in a number of parameters (for example, by the polarization with which they work), therefore, when choosing, it is recommended to pay attention to the lists of supported hardware on the provider's website.

The receiver in the format of a PCI-board is inserted inside the system unit and provides the user with both incoming traffic from the satellite and satellite TV.

A satellite terminal is an interface board that can be inserted into a computer system unit (for example, via a PCI interface) or located in an external case and connected to a PC via a USB port.

Attention! You should not first buy equipment and then look for a satellite Internet service provider. If the "plates" are more or less universal, then the access terminals offered by different operators are very often incompatible. Your ISP can usually provide you with both hardware and software that already has its own settings (encoding, proxies, etc.).

Two-way satellite communication channel

symmetrical channel

It is obvious that the organization of a two-way channel will require not only receiving, but also transmitting equipment, that is, a more expensive receiving-transmitting antenna, a transmitting unit (in addition to the receiving one), as well as a special terminal. In addition to the high cost of all this equipment and the lease of satellite capacity, two-way satellite Internet has other disadvantages:

• since the data from you is sent over the air, the transmitting equipment must be properly registered with government agencies, which can take a long time, but most often the providers take care of this problem.
• two-way satellite Internet is a very specific way of communication. Given the time it takes for a radio signal to travel through a satellite to a provider and back, responses to sent requests may not be returned in a few milliseconds, as we are used to with terrestrial providers, but in seconds. A certain delay is also inherent in an “asymmetric” satellite link, but in this case the signal travels only once along the “long” path (via the satellite). When organizing a balanced line, the signal goes through the satellite twice (a request to the provider and a response to the user), that is, the waiting time doubles and becomes noticeable. And this means that about any network computer games that require a quick response, and you should not think.

Is satellite internet expensive?

Traditionally, satellite Internet is characterized by a high cost of connection, because the subscriber has to pay for expensive equipment. But with the popularization of the service, more and more accessible terminals and satellite dishes appear, which allows us to hope for price reductions in the near future. Today cost symmetrical access is about 2-3 tens of thousands of rubles for connection and configuration, as well as from 1000 rubles per month for traffic or as a subscription fee.

WITH asymmetric access the situation is better: the cost of receiving equipment is about 5000-7000 rubles. Monthly traffic costs or subscription fees average from 500 rubles for connections without a lower guaranteed rate threshold (CIR) and from 2000 rubles - with such a threshold.

Do you need satellite internet?

Satellite Internet may be the only chance to connect to the Internet where there is no stable cellular or cable telephone connection. And if the price of the issue does not stop you, it makes sense to pay attention to the symmetrical access method. But it is worth taking into account the disadvantages of satellite Internet communication types. Unfortunately, such Internet access, oddly enough, is not so reliable. Considering that the signal travels thousands of kilometers to the satellite, any noticeable cloud can become a hindrance. To combat this, the use of a larger satellite dish, which will cost more, allows. Another disadvantage of such a connection is the need for specialist assistance in installing and configuring equipment, which also requires money.

There are situations when there is no connection wired internet and no nearby wireless networks, and traffic via GPRS/3G channels is either absent or very expensive. For example, you live far from the regional center or the Internet service is poorly developed in your city.

You have the opportunity to connect satellite Internet. To do this, just hang up a “satellite dish”, make the appropriate settings and get the coveted access to the worldwide network.

In this article, I will tell you what satellite Internet is, what set of equipment you need to purchase, and how you can set up the equipment yourself.

The key word, as the name suggests, is Satellite, which is typically located in the Earth's geostationary orbit. The main function of the satellite is to transmit information from one point on the planet (from the base station) to subscribers located in the satellite coverage area (this is a very large area, which usually includes several countries or the entire European continent).

The coverage area is the main advantage of this technology. For comparison, one base station tower mobile operator covers an area equal to one block or microdistrict. It is not possible to install a mobile operator tower everywhere, and a satellite signal can be received anywhere in the world.

Information transmitted through satellite channels connections are varied. This includes television, Internet data, telephony, and service requests. Each communication standard uses its own data transfer protocols. The Internet, like modern digital satellite television, uses the DVB-S2 format.

Satellite Internet Connection Types

Experts distinguish two types of satellite Internet connection: symmetrical and asymmetric. This difference is primarily related to the organization of incoming (from the Internet) and outgoing (transmission to the Internet) traffic transmission channels.

1. Symmetric Internet access implies that data is transmitted from and to the satellite using one antenna and two (or one) transmitter. The cost of the receiver is about 500-1000 rubles, but for the transmitter the transmitter will have to pay a tidy sum (from 30 thousand rubles). If you buy a complex transceiver right away, then it will cost even more.

It is because of the high cost that this type of connection is not popular with ordinary users.

In this sense, it is much more affordable due to its efficiency. It involves using only an incoming connection via satellite (ie, only a cheap receiver is required for the antenna), and an outgoing connection is organized through any terrestrial communication channel.

Which can be used as an old cell phone modem, analog modem landline phone(DSL), local cable network.

Efficiency of this type connection is explained by the fact that the user most often uses the Internet to download media content, view email messages or visit social networks. Those. an ordinary user most often sends short requests to the Internet, and downloads large amounts of data from the Internet.

Disadvantages of Asymmetric Internet Access

• Due to the low outgoing speed, you will have to refuse online Skype calls (they can be used, but without video broadcast).
• A significant delay in downloading and transmitting information (due to the location of the satellite at a considerable distance from the earth), which leads to a decrease in comfort when playing online action games.
• In heavy rain and snow, the signal quality is negligible, but degrades.

Organization of satellite Internet

Since the satellite coverage area is huge, the data is transmitted immediately for all users. In order for a subscriber to allocate a data channel intended specifically for him, it is necessary to identify his electromagnetic wave (carrier).

The parameters of this carrier are provided by the satellite Internet provider. And they include:

• carrier frequency (MHz);
• symbol rate (kbps);
• type of electromagnetic wave polarization (right/left, vertical/horizontal).

In addition, there are usually multiple user data on a single carrier wave. To identify them, special identifiers (PID, LID) are used and MAC address receiving card (receiver) cards.

Also, to organize a more reliable connection, special programs(accelerators), which, in addition to encrypting traffic, also compress it, which saves the frequency resource of the satellite and increases the data transfer rate.

Equipment selection

A standard set for organizing asymmetric Internet access includes a satellite dish, a feed with a built-in downconverter, a cable and a receiver (DVB-card).

The main parameter of the antenna is the diameter of its mirror. The larger it is, the greater the gain, and, therefore, better signal reception.

Typically, the diameter of the antenna mirror is chosen based on the geographic location of the subscriber and the satellite coverage area (you can check with the provider). Most often, antennas with a mirror diameter of 0.6 - 1.5 m are chosen for home use.

A feature of the choice of mounting location is the need for a direct line of sight between the satellite and the antenna, as well as the orientation of the antenna to the south (for residents of Russia, the geostationary orbit is located in the south).

2). Irradiator (converter). The feed is the receiving part of the antenna, which includes a polarizer, a low-noise amplifier and a downconverter (frequency converter).

The polarizer is determined by the type of polarization used (circular or linear). Although now there are models on the market that use both types of polarization.

Also for the irradiator important characteristic is the operating frequency range. Satellite Internet providers operate in the Ku-band (10.7 - 12.75 GHz).

For home use, it is preferable to purchase irradiators with two outputs. So you can use one antenna to watch digital satellite TV and to access the Internet.

3). Cable. The main characteristics of the cable are the wave impedance and attenuation coefficient. Wave impedance should be 75 ohms. And with attenuation, everything is simple - the smaller it is, the better. For a cable 10-15 meters long, attenuation can be ignored.

4).DVB-card (receiver). The most popular manufacturers of DVB-cards are:

• TwinHan (twinhan.com);
• TechnoTrend (technotrend.ru);
• TechniSat (technisat.com).

The main parameters for choosing a DVB-card are the supported data processing protocol and the card interface.

But there is no unequivocal opinion about the interface for connecting the card and cannot be. Here everyone decides for himself. I used a PCI card. It was convenient for me - I inserted it into the computer, connected the cable and forgot about the card.

If you are using a laptop, it is better to purchase a DVB-card with a USB interface. Just pay attention to the presence of external power.

There is another option, a card with a built-in GPRS modem. In this case, as a rule, there is also an external GSM antenna. Option, in principle, is also good.

5). Software usually supplied with a DVB card. main function software is the connection setup, and the organization of direct asymmetric access to the Internet, i.e. union of two various networks data transmission: satellite and, for example, GPRS/3G.

Also, accelerators are usually included in the software. The most common software is DVB-Data and Tuner4PC.

Conclusion:

In large cities, wired and wireless Internet is now booming, and there is probably no need to install a satellite dish.

But for non-regional centers and residents of rural areas, most often there is simply no other alternative. Since the number of providers is steadily growing from year to year, this leads to lively competition and, as a result, lower prices for communication services.

The approximate cost of equipment will be 2000-3000 rubles. Tariffs for communication services will need to be clarified with the provider (by the way, there are also unlimited tariffs).

Another nice addition to satellite Internet is free access to open satellite TV channels.