Satellite Broadband

Satellite Broadband can be a last resort for you if you are unable to get ADSL delivered to your premises.

There are two basic forms of satellite technology - one way and two way.

One way satellite broadband requires you use a normal modem for dial up access to an ISP plus a box which links your PC to a satellite dish. This dial up link is used to communicate all of your information TO the ISP. The ISP processes your requests and then sends the data you requested down to your PC over a satellite link. As most of the data created when surfing is coming from the Internet to your PC this can work well for some users. Some systems can even take their satellite feed from an existing Sky dish.

Whilst the one way system can be OK for people doing a few mainly text emails and casual browsing for business users with requirements for higher upload rates a two way link might be more appropriate. With a two way link a slightly larger dish is installed which has a transmitter for sending data up to your ISP. Both sets of traffic are therefore travelling via this path. Two way satellite connections are also always on, unlike the one way links which require you to initiate the dial up connection.

Unfortunately the laws of physics dictate that even at the speed of light it does take a significant fraction of a second to reach the satellite from the ISP ground station and to get back down to your PC from the satellite. This does not affect big file downloads for instance as much as web browsing because software will start sending all of the requested file immediately whilst every image or object in a web page must be separately requested - each having it's own delay. Most satellite ISPs have software to try to work around the issue.

Two way satellite also requires expensive hardware to be installed (from just under £2,000 but grants might be available) and this includes a broadcast licence for the dish (you may have trouble if you are close to an airport). Rentals start from about £59 per month plus VAT.

My own personal experience was that satellite was a huge improvement over dial up, but once I could move to ADSL I did and the improvement was well worth while. I would describe satellite as a car with a high top speed but poor acceleration whilst ADSL is much nippier off the mark (and cheaper too). I would have no hesitation in recommending my old ISP Remote data Services.

In all satellite broadband, even two way, is not as fast as terrestrial ADSL but it is a damn site faster than dial up and if it is the only game in town then it might just be right for you.

Home 250 - A last resort for BT ADSL?

Most ADSL offerings these days are 'rate adaptive' - they train to the highest speed possible on your telephone line. BT offers their ADSL MAX product which will give speeds up to 8Mbit/sec depending upon line length & quality.

Unfortunately some very long or poor quality lines just cannot support this service and ADSL will fail to synchronise even at 512kbit/sec. Sometimes the BT Home 250 product which is tied down to working at 250kbit/sec will work on these lines. It is possible that if the Home 250 service works then line statistics can be measured and it may be possible for an ISP to get enough information about your line to make some improvements with BT and achieve an upgrade to 'full' ADSL.

Home 250 is supplied by the following ISPs and probably a few more besides.

Andrews & Arnold
Zen Internet
Merula
Zetnet

Andrews & Arnold ADSL Tech Support

We are currently working with Andrews & Arnold to install ADSL.

Whilst we are not actually getting anywhere with the ADSL installation I am very impressed with the A&A technical support team. I have spoken with a couple of their engineers and they are always technically knowledgeable. One engineer seems to be assigned to a case so I can always talk to the same person rather than explaining over and over that I have already rebooted the router.

Currently BT have placed a fail against the line even though the length is listed as just 5.3KM which should be within limits for ADSL.

They are also great at calling me with status updates - even if it just to say that they have not heard anything from BT yet but they are chasing. A&A are reluctant to let this go and are pursuing BT for further investigation and still have some options to pursue.

I obviously cannot comment on the quality of their broadband (yet) but I can say they give excellent Technical Support!

ADSL Over 5kms

OK, I have been struggling to get ADSL at my address on the outskirts of St Albans (BT exchange LBNSTB) for several years now.

We are just south of St Albans and live about 1km down a lane serviced by cable up poles (with a couple of dives underground to avoid overhead power cables). Unfortunately the BT exchange is located just on the north side of town and therefore our measured line length is about 5.3km.

I wanted a spot to document my efforts to get ADSL, partly to help me remember what I have tried, but I also hope it may help others to get ADSL on their marginal line.

I want to make it clear I am not in this to bash BT - I think they do a good job (I also still own a few shares from the old privatisation days). It is just that with the current state of the market and the technology it is not feasible to make ADSL available to all.

I want to understand the factors that might prevent you getting ADSL on a long line and what you can do to mitigate these factors.

I currently have broadband - via a two-way satellite link which cost about £1800 to install, £69 per month to rent and is probably not as good as a £14.99 512Kb/s ADSL link. I am happy with satellite compared with the old dial up connection I had, but to run an it consultancy and internet educational toy store from home really requires something a little quicker.