If you live in the countryside and are looking for a dependable internet connection that cable or fiber internet could just not provide in the area, then you must have heard of satellite internet. Unlike wired connections, they are available almost everywhere so long as you have a clear view of the sky. And more often than not, they are preferable to the other options you have, such as DSL and dial-up.
But how does satellite internet do the job, exactly?
How does satellite internet work?
Let us settle first what it is not: it does not depend on telephone lines or cables that are usually built underground. Often, in rural areas, these are absent anyway as there just is not enough demand for the service, and building the necessary lines takes too much time and money.
To understand how satellite internet works, you have to go above terrestrial connections and include the skies and beyond in the explanation. After all, the word satellite refers to objects that orbit planets or anything that has a center of gravity while floating in space. (And yes, moons are referred to with the same word as well.)
In the case of satellite internet though, these things are man-made. In order to work, it relies on other equipment on the ground, such as your computer, a satellite dish, and the Internet service provider. The connections are two-way to allow the exchange of information.
Imagine connecting to the web using your phone or your laptop. When you want to access a particular website or send an email, these actions trigger a request which is transmitted to the satellite dish and is shot in space.
The signals are then sent from space to your ISP [1] and back. Subsequently, these go back to your dish, your modem, and your device of choice, which would manifest as a success page on your screen.
This process is faster than the typical systems used for cable and DSL internet, especially when there are no physical obstructions that could get in the way of these satellite signals. It is ideal that satellite dishes are also pointing towards the direction of the equator as space satellites are hovering above the area. The data travels almost as fast as the speed of light, and when you imagine the area that has to be covered, then the process becomes more amazing.
Even more impressive is the fact that a satellite can process requests from 5,000 different channels. This is made possible with the use of Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting technology which can transmit compressed data coming from many sources simultaneously at a single time. Terrestrial alternatives to internet connection are unable to do just as much.
What are the things needed for satellite internet to work?
You will need the following in order to connect to the internet:
A satellite internet dish
In order to send signals through space, you will have to install a satellite dish at your location.
Position is highly crucial here to get the most out of the service. Its path should be clear of any obstruction like walls or trees as these could affect latency. Position is also decided relative to where the direction of the satellite in space, which is often above the equator. This may have to be adjusted more if used while on a moving vehicle, like an RV.
You do not have to set up a satellite dish alone. Internet service providers will usually send a certified technician your way to help you with the job, although it pays to know how and where to install one if help is not available. You may have to tend to it too, making sure that it is free of debris that could affect performance.
A modem and a router
You will need a modem and a router before your device can send and receive data.
Similar to DSL, cable, or fiber internet, a modem is needed to translate the data between the source of connection and your gadget of choice.
Often, we need more than one phone or computer to go online, and this is where a router should come helpful. It works side by side with a modem. Not only does it send the data that has been requested, but it also distributes connection through equipment in your home. Wi-Fi works this way.
ISPs will usually provide you with a modem and a router. You have the option to buy your own though if you want to optimize your satellite internet. Occasionally, you will have a modem and router in one that can save space as well as money. A word of warning: not all modems and routers will work with your satellite dish. It is best to do your research first to see which ones are compatible with your dish.
A device that can connect to the Internet
Depending on your household, this can pertain to many electronic devices. Most often, these are smartphones, computers, laptops, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. These display the signals sent back to you through your satellite dish, interpreted by your modem, and distributed by your router.
Meanwhile, here are the things your provider will take care of for their subscribers:
Space satellite
Hovering the equator, space satellites receive data from your satellite dish and transmit this to your service provider’s Network Operations Center. Once your ISP fulfills the request, compressed data is sent back to the space satellite and then to your dish.
Space satellites do not change their position above the Earth as they follow the planet’s orbit. This ensures that the signals passing through it remain reliable and consistent.
Network Operations Center (NOC)
When you make a request, space satellites pass this on to the NOC. NOCs are on the ground and operate with similar-looking but larger satellite dishes.
Through this, your provider is able to act on your request, regardless if it is web browsing, gaming or streaming YouTube. The NOC is responsible for working and gathering the data needed to fulfill your request. The information is transmitted to space satellites through beams, which in turn are sent back to Earth and to your satellite dish.
Conclusion
When wired connections are absent, you can count on satellite internet to go online. The pathway of signals is not dependent on the location of wires as much as alternatives would because the data is transmitted through space and back.
Understanding how a satellite internet completes your requests may seem simple, but what is far more impressive is how it can manage to do simultaneous requests coming from different users at once.
You may be in a remote area where people do not heavily rely on the Internet, but you do not have to be offline so long as you have a satellite dish, a modem, a router, and an Internet-ready device with you.
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