With so many people switching their internet plans lately, there is plenty of new ground to be covered for users who are trying to figure out the tricks of the trade to maximizing their new connection. While there are definitely some unique points to be troubleshot when information traveling at the speed of light is being beamed to your computer just so you can check your email or stream an audio file, this doesn’t mean that satellite is more or less reliable than terrestrial sources of internet. You just have to know what to do to nip any potential troubles in the bud.
The two biggest concerns that users have who are switching their internet service are the rumors and exaggerations concerning latency issues and weather-related troubles. While the latency issues mostly stem from the tens of thousands of miles that data must travel and are actually minute (the same sort of lag can occur with cable or DSL connections just because those companies overload their own connection points with multiple users competing for a spot without even realizing it), weather issues can be a bigger problem. Since so many satellite internet users live places that are off the grid, there is more of a likelihood that weather in general is already a bit of trouble there.
Take for instance parts of the southwest where the only option is dial-up. Here, there is a monsoon season, where rainy weather sweeps in suddenly and can sometimes last for hours at a time with an onslaught. While it makes sense to unplug your internet and computer in the event of lightning strikes, most people can carry on doing normal things like watching television and surfing the internet through the rainstorms where thunder is the biggest problem. However, since things like snow can affect the speed and functionality of satellite-based communications, it is important to figure out ways to make sure that you minimize the impact that this has on your ability to surf the internet, especially during the rainy and the snowy months.
First, it’s best to understand what weather actually does to impede a satellite broadband connection. Since rain and snow is in the air and the data being transferred is making its way through the air, their placement can literally be in the path of the signal, making it difficult not just to transmit information from space to earth, but between different stations on the ground. One of the best ways to get around this problem is to search for a satellite provider operating on lower frequency levels, where weather has less of an impact. This is a great way to sidestep this sometimes frustrating side effect of satellite.
Another option for those who are still in the market for their satellite dish is to actually go with something larger, because a larger satellite can actually receive more information easily, as well as transfer it quicker, due to the large surface area. However, for most consumers who are investing in a switch to satellite broadband, the cost of a smaller disk is going to be markedly more appealing, making finding a company with optimal frequencies the best bet for avoiding troubling weather-related connectivity issues.