Joshua Watson asked:


By now, most people are familiar with the idea of “six degrees of separation”. The 1993 film, which starred Will Smith, brought the idea to the general public by using it as the title and main topic of the plot. The idea became more popular through the “Kevin Bacon game”, whereby you pick any actor or actress and try to link them, in some way, to the actor Kevin Bacon within “six steps”. Entertaining and seemingly frivolous though they are, these popularizing vehicles were based upon a serious academic concept of social interaction and human networks which had been around since the early 1990s.

The concept, as in the Kevin Bacon game, is that due to the technological advances in communications and transport, human beings are becoming ever more connected. Great distances have less effect upon communication and, therefore, human networks were expanding well beyond previous limits and barriers. The modern world is shrinking.

Social networks are at the heart of the Kevin Bacon game, and the six degrees of separation concept. A social network is, essentially, a series of connections between individuals or groups of individuals or organizations. One person or group may have many different networks, for example, one person may have a family network, an old school network, a network of friends, a golf playing network, and many others.

An organization may have an employee network, a supplier network, a client network, etc. Each of these networks is characterized by the type of relationship, or interaction, which connected it. A network of employees might be characterized by an employer, a network of golfers by those who play or are interested in golf. Networks start at the family and go right up to the level of nations. They are the “glue of societies, and are at the basis of all cultures.

While we probably each recognize that we are all a part of a network, or variety of networks, we don’t necessarily think of them as anything more than the people we know in various capacities. Of course, the sorts of networks we are a part of are usually reflective of our domestic lives, our hobbies, our work life, our interests, and so the network itself isn’t such a feature as the people that represent it for us. But it is interesting to consider, for a moment, these networks as structures.

If you were to write down the names of all the people you knew, and placed them each in lists corresponding to how you came to know them through family, golf, school, etc. then you would be close to creating a structural map of your networks. If each of the people in one of your lists then did the same, you could compare lists and then see the true extent of the network. You may only know five golfers, but each of them know five more, and so on. Your recommendation of a particular club could cross national boundaries based upon the advice given to a friend, which got passed on, and passed on.

In analyzing social networks, greater emphasis is given to those individual people, or groups, who not only have more connections within the specific network, but also are members of more networks. If you and all your golfer friends live in an isolated town where you only play golf and work and go home then your network will be restricted in its effectiveness and would be considered to be a “small and tight” network. Knowledge and opportunities in such networks goes no further than the individuals involved.

New and fresh members are less likely to join, the network is less likely to expand or stimulate its members any further once the existing knowledge and opportunities have been shared. If, on the other hand, each member of a network is also a member of many other networks then it is “more open” network and will expand and allow a greater circulation of fresh opportunities and wider access to new information. The flow of knowledge and information in such a network is far greater and beneficial to its members.

If we now apply these ideas to online networking, it should be immediately clear just how useful and beneficial the heightened communication possibilities of a worldwide web of networks would be. Since knowledge and opportunities may be seen as part of the valued currency of a network, then a worldwide platform must be a superior form. With online social network services specializing in this very aspect of networking the ability to join huge, and potentially greatly beneficial, networks is “supercharged”.

Ts2 Satellite Technologies asked:


The Hughes 9250 is designed to deliver the highest available transmit and receive rates of up to 492 Kbps while “on the move” within Inmarsat’s global BGAN satellite coverage area. This mobile satellite terminal facilitates with a wide array of broadband applications.

The Broadband Global Area Network or BGAN for short, is a global Satellite Internet Network with telephony using portable terminals. The terminals are normally used to connect a laptop computer to broadband Internet in remote locations, although as long as line-of-sight to the satellite exists, the terminal can be used anywhere. The value of BGAN terminals is that unlike other satellite Internet services which require bulky & heavy satellite dishes to connect, a BGAN terminal is portable and can be used globally.

The Hughes 9250 controls the fully autonomous tracking antenna via an antenna control unit (ACU). This tracking antenna acquires and tracks the BGAN satellite signal while on the move. It mainly incorporates interface box, cable set, and magnetic feet for roof mount. The compact interface box modulates control signals from the terminal onto the RF link between the terminal and the antenna. All components in the terminal are powered by a single power supply that plugs into a vehicular 12V power source.

The unit offers you the following features and benefits:

Fully autonomous tracking antenna acquires and tracks the BGAN satellite signal while on the move

Easy antenna installation (magnetic mount) on vehicle roof

Includes antenna control unit and all cables and power supplies for vehicular installation

Up to 464 Kbps data (transmit and receive) and 128 Kbps streaming IP data rate1

Speech (4Kbps)

ISDN voice (3.1KHz audio)

ISDN data (64Kbps)

WLAN access point

Multi-user capability for sharing a single unit

Selectable Quality-of-Service (QoS)

Full IP compatibility for Email, file transfer (FTP), browsing, VPN, etc.

Cost-effective “always-on” access – charges only for data sent and received

UMTS IP-based services

WLAN, FCC, CE, and GMPCS certified

Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card security

GPS and WLAN status LEDs

Hughes 9250 in Inmarsat BGAN network

Ts2 Satellite Technologies asked:


“We were among the first telecommunications operators in the satellite technology in the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan and as such we have enjoyed a successful cooperation with the US Army for several years now” – says Marcin Frackiewicz, CEO of the TS2 Satellite Technologies.

TS2 Satellite Technologies offer two-way high-speed internet access with no phone lines, no cable, no dial-up modem. It’s always on, available virtually anywhere, and affordable. The laptop, or WLAN network, can receive internet signal through a special satellite VSAT modem which is usually set up in a building or tent when deployed.

To the soldiers stationed in the war-torn countries, one VSAT access point provides broadband access to the internet; telephone connections including voice over internet protocol (VoIP), IP phone and video-conference connections. In addition, soldiers can also transfer data to many other users simultaneously and share connections with others stationed in the same base. TS2 additionally equips its customers with Thuraya, Iridium and Inmarsat satellite telephones, which are often the only means of communication in this region of the world.

TS2’s satellite military networks are located in Al Taqaddum Air Base, Bahgram AF, Balad Base, Baquba Airfield, Brassfield-Mora, Cob Adder, Cob Speicher, Camp Al Asad Airbase, Camp Bucca Basra City, Camp Buehring, Camp Charlie Basra, Camp Eggers, Camp Fallujah, Camp Grizzly, Camp Korean Village, Camp Liberty, Camp Mejid, Camp Ramadi, Camp Slayer, Camp Stryker, Camp Taji, Camp Victory, Fob Bagram, Fob Brassfield Mora, Fob Delta Al Kut, Fob Diamondback, Fob Falcon, Fob Garryowen, Fob Gardez, Fob Ghazni, Fob Kalagush, Fob Kandahar, Fob Lagman, Fob Mchenry, Fob Marez, Fob Normandy, Fob Rustamiyah, Fob Summerall, Fob Sykes, Fob Salerno, Fob Torkham, Fob Warhorse, Fob Warrior, Herat RTC, Jallahabad Air Base, Kabul Airport, Kabul Camp Eggers, Kandahar Air Base, Lsa Anaconda Balad, Q-West Base Complex and Tallil Ab Lsa Adder.

TS2 delivers satellite equipment specially for U.S. Military Personnel, Contracting Officers and DoD Contractors to many military addresses in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East within a maximum of 5-7 days .

http://www.ts2.pl/en/Internet-in-Iraq-for-US-Army-Soldiers

http://www.ts2.pl/en/Internet-in-Afghanistan-for-US-Army-Soldiers

Bob Exum asked:


If you are a corporation in search of disaster recovery networking solutions, a first responder who may need connectivity from anywhere at any time, or you simply need broadband internet connectivity from remote locations you have probably considered that satellite may be your only reliable option. In the midst of a disaster many businesses and first responders may find themselves without communications of any kind due to the loss of terrestrial infrastructures, or the lack of it ever existing in the first place.

The problem is that most business professionals and emergency service workers do not have a complete understanding of the satellite business and the idiosyncrasies of communications via satellite, and why should they? Satellite communications is not their profession. In the quest for a satellite internet service provider there are certain questions you should be prepared to ask before you get locked into a contract for services that won’t satisfy your needs:

1) Do you have Non pre-emptible satellite space segment?

Satellite operators such as SES Americom, Intelsat among others lease space segment to satellite service providers. There are different levels of protection available in varying price ranges. Many service providers will opt to contract for pre-emptible space segment because it’s much less expensive and they can make larger profit margins which they may or may not pass on to their end users. Pre-emptible space segment gives the satellite operator the ability to deny access to the satellite for the service provider in the event of an on board equipment failure, or to make room for a service provider who is willing to pay the Non pre-emptible premium.

During large scale disasters such as the hurricanes in the Gulf States in 2005 many pre-emptible segments of satellite space were cleared to make room for government requests for satellite service leaving other service providers with no access. If you are considering contracting for service for disaster recovery applications it is highly recommended that you find service providers that guarantee that they have contracted for Non pre-emptible space segment. The service provider should be able to provide you with evidence of their service agreement with the operators if you ask. You may pay a little more each month for your non pre-emptible service, but at least it will be available when you most need it.

2) What is your “Over Subscription” or “Contention Ratio”?

Most satellite service providers who are providing Internet services are operating systems that use TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) based systems. A TDMA system is normally controlled by a central hub location which will command the remote units in the field to transmit their data when the hub is ready to receive it. This allows for many remote units to share the same slice of bandwidth improving the overall efficiency of the system. The transmissions from the remote units are sequenced at a very high rate, many times per second, which makes the service appear to be continuous.

However, the more units that are added to the system, the slower the service will be. A true enterprise level operator will never allow their contention ratio to exceed 20:1 or essentially 20 terminals per segment of bandwidth. Many operators that offer lower grade services will over subscribe their systems as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Some operators may not be willing disclose this information to their end users. If a service provider will not tell you their contention ratio, you might consider looking elsewhere as their ratios are likely to be high. This will directly affect the quality of the service you receive. Enterprise level operators with contention ratios of 20:1 or less will charge more for their services since they have fewer users for their contracted space segment. But, you get what you pay for.

3) What is your system Latency, and does your hardware or software include TCP/IP acceleration?

Any IP transport platform will have a certain amount of latency that is inherent to the structure of the system. Latency is normally measured by how long it takes for a TCP/IP “Ping” to be sent to a server on the other side of the transport link and be returned back over the link to the point of origin. Satellite systems, due to the physics involved will have much higher latency figures than any terrestrial link. Data is transmitted to the satellite at the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. The satellite is located 22,223 miles above the equator.

For a ping to make its round trip it must travel up to the satellite, back to earth to the server, up to the satellite again and back to the origination point. This is a round trip is approximately 88,892 miles. When calculated with the speed of light, in a perfect world the round trip will take about 448 milliseconds. When you add in coding delays and processing delays you can increase that figure by 100 to 250 milliseconds. On an efficient system, a round trip ping should take between 550 and 700 milliseconds (225 ms one way in each direction).

Many lower grade systems on the market today will actually return ping times of 1200 milliseconds or greater which is too slow to allow for functionality of certain software applications. Some system operators have added TCP/IP acceleration products to their equipment. This can either be a hardware or software solution. Acceleration of TCP/IP does not speed up the actual transmission as it is already being transmitted at the highest speed possible, the speed of light. The acceleration is achieved by modifying the TCP protocol in ways that allow for more efficient transmission over high latency networks such as satellite. Acceleration can significantly improve the speed of loading web pages, so it is a highly desirable product to have. Most of the products are not capable of accelerating encapsulated data such as VPN’s, but the system should still pass that data, however more slowly. Be sure to ask whether or not the system has an acceleration product included.

4) Does your system support VoIP, VPN, and Streaming Video transmissions?

If you have certain applications that you intend to operate, be sure to inquire whether or not these applications are supported on the system. VoIP (Voice over IP) for telephone connectivity is becoming a very common need in satellite communications. All types of users from emergency services to business continuity are asking for telephone connectivity. The biggest concern most prospective users of VoIP over satellite have is that the latency will be too high for effective voice communications. This has largely been proven to not be true. In fact, most cellular telephone systems will experience as much or more delay in their systems than VoIP over satellite. Most satellite providers will support these systems, but if the system latency is more that about 800 milliseconds, you may experience difficulty carrying on a conversation. Some service providers will also sell VoIP equipment. If you choose to purchase from them, or on your own you will want to make sure the equipment includes good voice compression.

Most off the shelf VoIP systems that are not designed for use with satellite will occupy between 40 Kbps and 90 Kbps of bandwidth to complete each call. If you purchase 128K of satellite uplink bandwidth you may consume all of your bandwidth with one or two phone calls leaving none for internet access for your computers. There are compression VoIP systems available that have been designed for use over satellite that will use as little as 8 Kbps per phone call and the call is toll quality. There are even compression systems that will allow for a 1544 Kbps T1/PRI connection over less than 256 Kbps of satellite bandwidth. You will also want to inquire about connectivity to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). When the signal lands at the hub it will need to connect your VoIP traffic to a telephone line. Some service providers will provide this service for a fee; some will not provide it at all, so be sure to ask.

If you need to operate a VPN over the system, keep in mind that it will likely not be accelerated over the satellite. Acceleration of VPNs can be achieved with external hardware; however it is normally up to the customer to provide that equipment. There are some systems, mostly consumer grade, that will not support VPN’s at all or there are additional charges so be sure to ask. The same goes for Video transmissions from a streaming device, or a web cam. Video streams are highly bandwidth intensive applications and most service providers will require dedicated bandwidth for these applications. The pricing for dedicated bandwidth will be substantially higher than the shared ratio pricing as it consumes 100% of the bandwidth 100% of the time. If you are planning to stream video to multiple receive sites it is recommended that you stream the video over the satellite to a server, and allow other users to get the stream from the server. This way there is only one active stream over the satellite where the bandwidth is expensive.

5) Do you offer CIR or CRA services?

CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed Rate Assignment) are different acronyms with the same meaning. It is dedicated satellite bandwidth that is usually required by the service provider if you intend to operate high bandwidth applications such as video streaming over the satellite. Most enterprise level service providers offer CIR/CRA packages, most consumer level operators do not. The pricing for these services will be significantly higher than shared ratio services, so be prepared. Some providers also require CIR/CRA services for VoIP. Be sure to inquire if this is something you need as some operators may not volunteer this information until it’s too late.

6) How many public IP addresses do I get?

Many consumer level services do not assign public static IP addresses for you to use. This is primarily why they don’t support services such as VoIP and VPN. Enterprise level providers usually provide at least one address, some will provide more. Most providers will give you a fixed number of addresses with your service and charge you if you want additional static IPs. The recommended way to avoid the additional charges is by using your own router on the system and natting your own addresses. Some systems will not support natting so be sure to inquire if this is what you need.

7) Do you have a FAP?

A FAP or Fair Access Policy is a set of rules that you agree to abide by when contracting for their services. They also will include certain restrictions on your service. Read this policy very carefully as the providers like to include wording that can seriously restrict your usage. Some service providers will “meter” your throughput on the system. If you reach a certain level of usage, usually recorded in Kbps, or Mbps they may restrict your bandwidth to a low level, or cut off your service entirely until the next billing cycle. It is very difficult to measure your own usage since most people have no Idea how many Kbps are sent or received when loading a web page. The FAP is also where the provider will spell out the rules of usage concerning applications such as streaming video and VoIP. Going over that document with a fine toothed comb will be in your best interest.

What will be my actual measured speeds?

The service providers will sell you a specific rate plan that will have an uplink or return data rate, and a downlink or forward data rate. This will usually be expressed in a manner such as “128 x 512” or sometimes “512 x 128”. The larger number will always be the forward channel which is your downlink as a user. Most providers will not tell you that the speeds include IP overhead. Every internet system whether its satellite or terrestrial uses IP protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth to process the IP traffic. Because of the overhead you can expect that your actual measured payload speeds will be around 20% lower than what you are paying for. Actual speeds can be measured by running a speed test from a PC over the satellite link.

If the service provider has their own speed test server at the hub location this will give you a more accurate test of the satellite link than an Internet based speed server. The internet based servers have too many variables to obtain accurate results since the data is being transferred over connections that are not under your control, or theirs. Most systems will be similar in their IP overhead usage, but be aware of this when you purchase your service. If you don’t think the speeds will be high enough when you factor in the 20% overhead you may want to consider a higher service level plan.

9) What Pricing plans do you offer?

In your search for a service provider you will likely encounter a multitude of pricing plans. Each provider will create pricing structures that meet their business model, and that will give them an edge over their competition. Because of this you may find it difficult to compare price. All providers will offer full time 24×7x365 service plans. Some will also offer plans based on usage, and some will sell daily or hourly plans. There are even providers that will sell service for a fixed number of days each month. These plans can be attractive as you will not likely use a system designed for disaster recovery every day of the month, so why should you pay for full time service? If you are comparing price between providers it is easiest to look at their full time rates to determine the cost. However, keep in mind that operators base their pricing on their cost for the satellite space segment. If they are charging less it may be because they don’t have non pre-emptible space or because they operate with high contention ratios, or both.

10) Do you offer other services such as terrestrial connectivity and collocation?

Be sure to inquire about value added services such as collocation space and terrestrial connectivity. Unless you are only buying internet access and have no need for VoIP, streaming, or data backup, you will likely need these services. Some service providers will provide connectivity to the telephone network, and some will not. If you need dial tone you will probably want to contract for that as well. For disaster recovery solutions it is highly recommended that you originate your dial tone from a safe location that is far away from the affected area.

In many disaster scenarios the terrestrial connectivity including cellular phones will not be available. It is important that this is taken into account when designing a backup network. Some of the satellite providers will also offer services to back up corporate or government server data at the satellite hub location. This is highly beneficial to the customer as it provides both off site storage of valuable data, and easy access to that data via the satellite when it is most needed. A satellite hub with a collocation facility can be a powerful tool, and should be highly considered when contracting for satellite services.

This article was written by Bob Exum who is a 24 year veteran in the communications and satellite industries. For comments or questions Bob can be reached at Clear Channel Satellite in Englewood, CO. 303-925-1708 bobexum@clearchannel.com

Eyal Mizrachi asked:


We are not sure about you, but at least two (maybe three) times a week, we receive a number to our cellphone that we are not able to identify. When they call, of course, the inevitable happens and they do not leave a message. Why people do not leave messages, we will never know. If they did, it would make it a whole lot easier to determine who is calling.

Perhaps that is it, they do not want you to know who is calling. However, when you take the right tips into consideration, you will finally be able to successfully identify that silent one. How? You see, it all involves a cellphone number search. As we continue this article, we are going to tell you how to find out who that phone number belongs to.

There are many different types of directories on the Internet that are free and will allow you to find that caller. However, if it is a private listing, then you will be required to pay a small fee in order to see the name and address behind that caller.

The right type of cellphone number search directory will unmask that face that is sitting behind that machine and will give you information that will put your wonders to an end. You will be able to find their service status, phone company, name, addresses and much more in only a couple of seconds. With the help of those Internet directories, you will be able to find almost anything and everything.

Privacy can be a very good thing, but when it falls in the wrong hands, it can instantly be turned into a bad thing. If someone has recently been invading your phone, you will be able to put an end to it and fight fire with fire. Don’t let those annoying, masked callers take anymore of those minutes that you earned.

Draven John asked:


GPS Navigation is the most in thing these days and almost every kind of smart devices are incorporating this software in their newly manufactured models and product line. One of those devices is Smartphones. Smartphones, PDAs and Palmtops are increasingly using the GPS Navigation system in their new range of products. And one such model is the HTC P3300 which has the Tom Tom Navigator 6 application. It comes loaded with the standalone features of GPS Navigation system. The HTC P3300 is one of the first Smartphones that has inbuilt personal mobile navigator.

What is GPS Navigation?

GPS or Global Positioning System that helps you detect the location, speed and direction of any object or vehicle or device that is connected through this system. It is excellent system to track whatever you wish to in order to find out the whereabouts of any thing. Other than tracking it is used to find places in the map and how to reach there or accurate information on the distance, direction etc.

GPS Navigation System in Smartphones

When GPS Navigation has taken the world by storm and every body seems to benefit from this software so much, how can smart devices like Smartphones stay behind? Smartphones are all about making smart people smarter by empowering them with all kinds of software, applications and features of their utility on the go. Now no matter where you go, you can always find your way out with the help of GPS navigation system incorporated Smartphones, PDAs and Palmtops.

Worried of getting lost in unknown places? Forgotten where you parked your car in the multi layer parking lot? Do you need to go to a new place and find out some address? Well worry no more as with GPS Navigation system you can track your route, spot your car and also explore new and unknown places without getting lost.

Ryan Wills asked:


12/05/2008

USA

Do you want to get back some of the costs or want to recycle your damaged or used cell phones? If you are looking to recycle your cell phones then you have got the solution. Manley Solutions offers a wide variety of services for developing and deploying a broad range of wireless network solutions for enterprise, municipal, and vertical applications. Manley Solutions have significant experience in wireless equipments, network development and deployment, with emphasis in Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, and cellular technologies.

With the explosion of wireless technology in the last several years, there are over 100 million unused cell phones collecting dust in the U.S. today. We are a strategic partner who can help your organization manage your wireless asset base more efficiently and cost effectively.

Our integrated approach to the (re)deployment or liquidation strategy and execution process can help you reduce your expenses.

Make money by recycling your used cell phones or any wireless equipment or make use of your dead wireless equipment.

Wireless Buyback, AVL Equipment, Cellular Modems, Wireless IP Backup, Mobile Data, Wireless Auditing, RFP Design, Reverse Logistics, Used Cell Phone, Vehicle Tracking, Business Continuity, Wireless Consulting, Bill Management, BlueTree Modem, pubic safety modems, AVL

Install, Airlink Modem

Manley Wills is a person attached with mobile Technology and a specialist distributor of mobile and wireless solutions. Always connected with newly introduced technologies in Mobile World. Also having knowledge of Wireless Technologies in IT Field.

With the explosion of wireless technology in the last several years, there are over 100 million unused cell phones collecting dust in the U.S. today. We are a strategic partner who can help your organization manage your wireless asset base more efficiently and cost effectively.

Our integrated approach to the (re)deployment or liquidation strategy and execution process can help you reduce your expenses.

Make money by recycling your used cell phones or any wireless equipment or make use of your dead wireless equipment.

Wireless Buyback, AVL Equipment, Cellular Modems, Wireless IP Backup, Mobile Data, Wireless Auditing, RFP Design, Reverse Logistics, Used Cell Phone, Vehicle Tracking, Business Continuity, Wireless Consulting, Bill Management, BlueTree Modem, pubic safety modems, AVL

Install, Airlink Modem

Manley Wills is a person attached with mobile Technology and a specialist distributor of mobile and wireless solutions. Always connected with newly introduced technologies in Mobile World. Also having knowledge of Wireless Technologies in IT Field.

Do you want to get back some of the costs or want to recycle your damaged or used cell phones? If you are looking to recycle your cell phones then you have got the solution. Manley Solutions offers a wide variety of services for developing and deploying a broad range of wireless network solutions for enterprise, municipal, and vertical applications. Manley Solutions have significant experience in wireless equipments, network development and deployment, with emphasis in Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, and cellular technologies.

With the explosion of wireless technology in the last several years, there are over 100 million unused cell phones collecting dust in the U.S. today. We are a strategic partner who can help your organization manage your wireless asset base more efficiently and cost effectively.

Our integrated approach to the (re)deployment or liquidation strategy and execution process can help you reduce your expenses.

About Manleysolutions:

Manley Solutions offers independent consulting services for analyzing, designing and implementing wireless network solutions. We have the experience to manage and facilitate the complete development of your wireless network.

For more information you can contactus or visit our website http://www.manleysolutions.com or e-mail at webmaster@perceptionsystem.com

TravisOl asked:


Wireless internet connections have many advantages. If you are a businessman and run your own business then WiFi is the best solution to access internet and manage your business when you are away from your desk. Even if you are a common user, wireless connection is a good opportunity to chat to relatives, friends, being able to read your mail letters when you are on your holiday and just surf some interesting sites. Positive and practical sides of wireless networks are mobility, rapidness, security and attainability to distant places.

Over the last years broadband width for Wireless networks has considerably increased. This growth rises due to up-to- date technologies and modern devices like mobile phones, laptops, personal digital assistants, iphones, iPods etc. Network by wireless has become faster and more reasonably priced thanks to progress in the bandwidth arena. Now it can transfer data up to two megabytes per second, as usually in the past it was just one megabyte. Furthermore, wireless broadband connection is more secure than a satellite one due to the fact that the signal does not travel in the process of transfer, but goes straight to the recipient. Also, you are pleased with the wireless connection’s speed while downloading web pages. It is rather easy to check your mail letters as well as send them. Interactive functions. Regarding applications like games, audio-video programs, chats, multimember chats, video-conference calls, local networking or wide area network are rather painless to navigate. On the whole, your computer usage becomes more and more efficient.

Wireless connection for rural users means internet access, high rate and comfort as no need to set up additional wires or lines. By the way, you can install such a wireless internet connection so that you can access it within a one-hundred foot radius. Thus, you can move your laptop freely about the house or have a nice cup of tea in your arbor enjoying internet surfing. Now it is no need to sacrifice internet connection if you want to move to another room. Wireless networks means work well for a businessman. He/she can contact any person anytime and anywhere. This is a big advantage. Almost all new PCs have already installed wireless chipsets that allows you to connect internet automatically. It saves you time and does not involve devices or cables. Also any Bluetooth works simply with the wireless connection. To make our life easier, wireless technology enabled us with a wide range of new and advanced wireless gadgets like wireless microphones, wireless headsets, wireless stereo speakers, computer peripherals, televisions.

The leading UK Telecom company can provide you with a piece of advice on wireless broadband internet connectivity. Certainly, we can say that our generation steps a new era. This era is called Wireless Connection. Wireless connection spreads rapidly and we become a wireless society. Technologies for wireless are improving constantly. These described above advantages of wireless connection make our life less stressful. Moreover, it is very valuable and helpful in both professional sphere and personal life. Apply network by wireless and enjoy your life!

Daniel Manson asked:


When the World Wide Web first made its way into living rooms and business offices across the globe, users were content with simply logging on and surfing the web. It did not matter how long it took for that internet connection to be established. Users would wait a great deal of time just to see a funny video or hear their favorite song play. As time went by and the interest in what the internet had to offer expanded, users became fed up with slow connection times. This brought the development of cable and DSL internet connections in an attempt to speed things up a bit.

For a short time, users were satisfied with these new connection options. After a while though, these too began to fade. Users went on a quest for an internet connection that would come in the blink of an eye. In an ideal world, there would be no long wait times. Only the click of a mouse would be needed and a crystal clear webpage image would be displayed before a user could even take a sip of coffee.

Satellite Connection

That time has now arrived with the development of satellite internet connections. This form of internet connection goes one step further than cable or DSL. It operates in much the same way as a television satellite connection does. A computer is connected to the satellite receiver placed on the roof of a residential home or business office. From that point the satellite sends a signal to the desired webpage and displays that information on the computer screen in a matter of seconds.

HughesNet Satellite Internet is making this revolutionary internet connection possible on a daily basis. In many cases there is no extra equipment that must be purchased in order to establish a satellite internet connection. A user simply needs a computer and a satellite dish receiver. The rest of the internet connection is taken care of by a skilled technician. These technicians will come out and install all the necessary equipment and establish the link between the computer and the satellite receiver. Once those components are in place, the user is free to surf the internet.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to running a satellite internet connection. That is why HughesNet goes the extra mile to ensure quality customer service occurs on each and every installation. With a quality product installed and functioning correctly, users are relived of the common hassles that can be found with other internet connection types once a technician leaves the home or business.

One of the greatest benefits for this type of internet connection is the ease of use. It is fully compatible with both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. There is no need for additional software to be downloaded in order to make it functional. Once the technician has installed all the necessary components, the computer operating system recognizes it as the primary internet connection and no additional user input is needed.

Another great benefit is the flexibility that this type of connection offers. Given that the connection is established across satellite receivers, there is no need for a telephone line or cable line connection. That gives users the flexibility to handle phone calls or watch their favorite television program without fear of interrupting their internet connection. It also provides the option for users to not install a home telephone line if they desire. Location of the computer in a home or office is flexible as well. There is no need to design computer space around that phone jack or cable line hook-up.

Service areas are virtually unlimited. Satellite internet connections can go where cable and DSL connections simply can not venture. This expands service areas to include users who may live in rural communities but still desire an internet connection. Connection speeds are quicker than other internet options as well. Users will enjoy faster download times of their favorite videos, music and online games.

Conclusion

With no need to log onto an account each time a connection to the internet is desired, user possibilities are endless. Satellite receiver connections eliminate the need to wait for an available phone line or rearrange a computer workspace around a cable line hookup. Hughes Net is working hard to bring web pages to computer screens faster than ever before.

Digital Landing asked:


You timidly suggested to your nephew that you were considering a move to a faster form of Internet access. Perhaps you have heard the term “broadband connection.” He probably heaved a huge sigh of relief. “Finally!” he said. But when you asked for guidance on which service to choose, you soon were sorry you asked. In two or three short sentences, he left you behind, babbling in technical gobblydegook that you couldn’t possibly follow — when all you really wanted to know was, “What should I get?”

Breathe easy. We’ll explain what the options are for faster Internet connections (which is what’s meant by “broadband” or “high-speed Internet”), with just a teeny bit of “how it works” so you have some sense of what you’re choosing and why.

In doing so, we don’t expect that you want to become a computer wizard. All you want, we assume, is the ability to get the advantages of fast Internet access: a computer that is always connected to the Internet, that permits you to zip around Web pages faster than you imagined possible, and that opens up a whole new set of ways to waste time online. Oh, we mean, a whole new set of ways to be productive. Whatever.

Let’s start out with the key question, and then work our way back to the underlying issues.

Q: What should I get? DSL or Cable Service? Most technical people will give you all sorts of “this is how it works” answers, and they’ll talk about performance (that is, is DSL or cable service faster?) and setup (that is, how will you get your computer hooked into the modem?). There are differences between the technologies, and we’ll get to those in a moment.

But for someone who’s simply trying to find a simple and credible answer, the truth is that “fastest” is not really the most important issue. It’s just like choosing a car. Yes, auto enthusiasts discuss performance and 0-to-60 speeds and other things that matter primarily to other car aficionados. But if all you want is a car to commute to work, then what matters most is reliability, gas mileage, and the phone number of a mechanic whose work you trust. And affordable. It should be affordable.

In terms of high-speed Internet connections, that means:

1) Find out if you have a choice at all. In many places, you can get one kind of service but not another. (We’ll explain the reasons why in a little while.)

2) Choose a provider you trust. If you **** your phone company or if you are already irked with the cable TV provider, why add agony to your life? Choose the provider whose service you trust the most (or whom you **** the least, which may be closer to the mark).

3) When you check into pricing, be sure to find out about installation options. Many cable and DSL providers will come to your house or business to set up the network and Internet connection. If one provider does so and the other does not, your decision is easier. As with many things in life — such as garage door openers — it’s important to get your high-speed Internet service installed right in the first place, or it’ll never quite work correctly. It can be worth the expense to pay a professional.

4) If company-supplied installation is not an option, then ask your “local techie” — that same nephew who’s sure he knows everything — which type of service to get, and follow his advice. If you rely on family-provided technical support, then it makes sense to choose an option with which that family member is comfortable. Doing so avoids those nasty “I told you so” conversations over the Thanksgiving table.

5) Consider price as just one element of the equation. In most cases, the difference in cost is negligible. But your existing phone and cable company may be able to sweeten the deal; for example, some cable companies may offer a reduced price if you get Internet access, telephone services, and TV stations from them.

What — none of those things are about technology! Isn’t that the key issue? Shouldn’t I choose the one that’s better?

Yes, there are technical differences between the two kinds of service. There can be major speed differences. But in the real world, “convenience” is often much more important.

Q: What do DSL and cable services have in common? Both types of service provide an “always-on” connection. That is, they’re automatically connected to the Internet as long as the computer is turned on. You need not worry about busy signals or any connection/disconnection process.

Both are billed on a monthly basis, often on the same invoice with your phone or cable TV service.

Both work with your Windows or Macintosh computers without fiddling. They’ll also work with other operating systems, too. However, the typical high-speed Internet service technical support representative may be unfamiliar with the details of getting everything to work with your “alternative choice.” It may take extra expertise, and you may need additional help (that is, expect to buy the nephew a nice dinner).

In most places, DSL and cable access cost about the same.

Q: How is Internet speed measured… and to what degree does it matter? When computer techies talk about Internet connection speed, it’s generally in mbps: millions of bits per second. This can be confusing since everything else in the world of computers is measured in bytes. Bits and bytes aren’t the same thing. But to put it in context: to send a photo that’s 2.2 megabytes (MB) when stored on your hard disk, it’ll take about 3 minutes for the transfer if you have a 5 Mbps Internet connection.

If we were to get technical, we’d quibble with the reliability of those numbers and whether they’re useful for more than a general comparison. So would your helpful nephew. If you later decide to explore the underlying technology, you’ll learn the reasons for this. But for now, simply assume that 6 Mpbs is faster than 5 Mpbs, as a useful oversimplification.

Obviously, most people prefer faster speed to slower. Many providers price their services accordingly.

Realistically, if you’ve been using a dial-up modem to access the Internet, it will all seem blazingly fast. If you’re planning to use the Internet for relatively ordinary purposes, such as e-mail, Web browsing, and instant messaging, then your provider’s “basic” speed is probably enough whether you choose cable or DSL. Speed matters a lot more if you expect to work with large files, such as movies, photos, music, games, and any other application that caused the computer salesperson to say, “Hmm, you probably should get a bigger hard disk.”

Q: Why do Internet providers list upload and download speeds separately? Should I care? One aspect of connection speed that is important is the difference between upload speed and download speed. Download speed measures how quickly the information on the Internet is sent to you, such as the email you receive or the Web pages that appear in your browser. Upload speed indicates how fast the information is sent from your computer to…well, to anywhere else.

In many cases, especially with cable service, the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. That sounds like a bad thing, but in most cases the upload speed isn’t a key issue. Think about how you got to this article. You probably typed something into a browser window (such as “compare dsl and cable service” in a search engine). You clicked on a couple of links. And that was about it. A few words of typing, and the clicks. Those didn’t need to speed up the line at warp speeds; you could manage it even if your typing skills are generously described as “hunt and peck.”

But the computer where this page is stored is sending you several pages of information — so you want the download speed to be fast. (This is a very simple example. Your “just a few clicks” could also have shown you a movie, which would have a lot of data to download!)

In some circumstances, the upload speed matters. But for ordinary home use it’s fine for the upload speed to be much lower than the download speed.

Q: How do cable modems work? A cable modem connects a single computer to the Internet using the cable TV network. If you have cable TV service in your neighborhood, you can almost certainly get cable service.

Specifically, the cable modem is a black box with blinking lights. It connects to the computer with a network cable, which may be Ethernet, USB, or some other kind of plug. No matter how old your computer is, it almost certainly has one of these plug-connections available.

Q: Do you need cable television to use a cable modem? No. You do need to be in an area to which the cable company provides service, and the cable company needs to physically get the cable to your location if it hasn’t done so already.

Also, expect a sales pitch on choosing cable TV service to accompany your new Internet access, perhaps with price encouragement (”do you want fries with that?”), but technically speaking there’s no need for you to sign up for HBO just so you can send e-mail faster.

Q: How does DSL work? DSL (digital subscriber line) connects a computer to the Internet using the same wires as a regular telephone line. Although it sounds like it will make your phone line “busy,” DSL doesn’t work that way; the phone service isn’t affected by the Internet connection. In most cases in the U.S., the DSL connection is a phone socket, and your existing house wiring carries both phone and data. It, too, may use a black (or white) box with blinking lights.

Q: Why is distance an issue with DSL? And distance to what? A key difference with DSL is that its speed relies on the distance to the “central office” or CO. That term sounds as though there are office workers slaving away doing paperwork, but in most cases the CO is a large building with a huge number of wires — no humans at all. The farther your computer is from the CO, the worse the signal quality, and thus the connection speed is decreased.

Don’t take out a tape measure. When the phone company judges your distance to the CO, they measure the wires installed between your home and their equipment, which is probably not a straight line.

While it isn’t a technically accurate analogy, imagine shouting to someone across a field. At some point, the other person won’t be able to hear you. If you’re within 5,000 feet of the CO, your Internet access speed will be faster than if you’re 15,000 feet away. And if you’re 22,000 feet from the CO, you probably can’t even get DSL service because the provider knows you’d never be happy with the performance.

There are different kinds of DSL service, and you may be able to use one of them even if you’re (relatively speaking) far from the CO; but you won’t be able to expect top connection speeds.

Q: Why are there different flavors of DSL? Do they matter? When people talk about DSL, they generally mean ADSL (Asymmetric DSL). It would be easy to get extremely technical here, but the simplified explanation is that ADSL is intended primarily for low use, with download speeds many times faster than upload speeds. That’s fine for most residential purposes.

In contrast, the upload speeds on Symmetric DSL (SDSL) are almost the same as its download speeds. That matters if you plan to do a lot of online gaming or to run any kind of Internet server (the latter is unlikely for home use, but the former is quite common if you have children at home). However, SDSL is more expensive than ADSL, and you usually have to be fairly close to the CO to be able to get the service.

There are a few other kinds of DSL connections. You’re unlikely to choose these, but you may want to be familiar with the names when you see them on price lists. Very high bit-rate DSL (VDSL) and Rate-adaptive DSL (RADSL) are of use primarily for businesses. IDSL is based on ISDN technology, and can connect from as far away as 50,000 feet with the currently used versions; it’s a lot more expensive because it’s based on another telecom technology.

Q: I’ve been told that one is slower than the other…? It depends on whom you talk to. Cable service detractors point out that you are sharing the connection with all the other Internet users in your neighborhood. Thus, one person playing an interactive game can hog all the resources and reduce your connection speed, particularly during peak hours (such as when the neighbor’s kid ought to be doing her homework).

Those descriptions make it seem as though you’re on a telephone party line (if you’re old enough to remember those…), with a neighbor listening in on your conversations. It’s not like that; the situation is much closer to waiting in a long line at the bank at lunchtime. They never seem to have enough tellers to deal with the sudden up-tick in customer demand.

On the other hand, the people who criticize DSL point out that residential DSL is also over-subscribed, and the Internet access speed suffers — another example of the missing bank tellers.

So the summary is: yes, one is slower than the other. But which is faster will depend on the area in which you live, and which service is more popular!

Q: What if I have more than one computer? This essay was written assuming that you have only one computer at home. But many families (and many individuals) use more than one computer, in which case you want them all to use the same fast Internet connection. To do so, you’ll need to set up a small home network, in which one computer (connected directly to the cable modem or DSL connection) acts as a referee for all the other computers in the house.

The setup for such a network is outside the scope of this article, but be reassured that it isn’t difficult to get one working. You should be able to find a local computer consultant (or brilliant nephew) to assist you if you don’t want to take on the challenge yourself. In addition, some providers will sell you networking setup at an additional price.

Q: Does it matter if I’m running a business, versus connecting to the Internet from home? Maybe. It depends on the nature of the software you’re running at your business, and how many people need to use the Internet at the same time.

For most small businesses, with only a few employees, there won’t be any difference between residential and business service, without regard to DSL or cable. A business in which several (say, ten or more) employees are concurrently using the Internet should probably examine the business services branch of the DSL or cable provider. These cost more than the residential versions but they also give you additional services, such as more e-mail accounts.

Another reason you’d need business-class DSL or cable services, even in a solo home office, is if you choose to run certain kinds of Internet software, such as an e-mail server or a Web server. Those applications require something called a “dedicated IP address,” which we’ll get to in a moment. Should you plan to add Internet servers to your business, you’ll probably need professional help. It’s more likely that you’ll arrange with another company to manage your Web site and e-mail, which makes the DSL versus cable issue much simpler.

Q: What’s all this stuff about “IP addresses” and why should I care? Under most circumstances, you won’t need to know what an IP address is. However, you’re sure to come across discussions about them while you’re shopping for broadband services, so you might as well have a basic understanding of the term.

Most simply: think of the IP address as the “telephone number” of your computer. Just as you need to know his phone number to call your nephew for help, the computers with which your computer interacts online need an address to reach it, at least for the duration of the current conversation.

With both DSL and cable connections, the standard type of IP address is called a “dynamic IP.” That is, the Internet service provider can change the IP address of your computer at any time. That’s never a problem when, so to speak, your computer is the one calling out. Just as it doesn’t matter to your nephew from what phone number you called him, the only thing you both care about is that you dialed the right number so he could pick up the phone.

However, Internet servers (such as the computers that manage and send out e-mail or host all the pretty Web pages you look at) must have an unchanging address, called a “static IP address.” It’s one option when you look at business-class DSL or cable modem service, and it does cost more.

Q: Do I need to buy extra hardware? Usually, you don’t need to buy anything more than the cable or DSL provider includes with the service. If your computer is an older one, you may need to buy a network card (the techie nephew might call this a “NIC”), which should cost about $10. If you decide to network together your home computers you’ll probably buy additional equipment. But in general, you don’t need to spend additional money.

Q: What about security? This is a bit of a tangent from DSL-versus-cable, but it’s an important item to mention for anyone who is considering moving from a dial-up connection to an always-on Internet.

In most ways, a faster Internet connection will be a wonderful experience. It will change the way you work online and give you more freedom to explore the world.

But there’s one disadvantage that someone needs to warn you about. You’ve probably heard about computer viruses, spyware, spambots, and other “malware” (malicious software). You’ll now be more vulnerable to it. One side effect of your faster connection is that it’s easier for Bad Guys to exploit your computer because the computer is more regularly accessible.

The result is that you’ll need to acquire anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and probably a software firewall — particularly if you use a Windows-based computer. (Other types of computers aren’t immune but they are much less at risk.)