Other ways to get broadband

DoaM

Be aware that satellite Internet only gets the download data via satellite ... the upload data (e.g. when you request a website) still goes via phone line. (Unless things have changed recently).

moneyistooshorttomention

Fingers crossed at the moment.

Just had an engineer from BT phoning me and asking re the situation. Got the feeling they've "had the wind put up them" a bit - fingers crossed!

I was describing the state of play since I moved here - and he seems to agree it's outdated/inefficient/mean and not the norm countrywide.

He's from one our largest cities in the country (though now living here) and I think thinks more the way I do then from what I can make out. He's told me what things to tell them/what to ask them/etc when they come in tomorrow to try and work towards normal countrywide standards (not local standards - thankfully - whew!).

I'm typing with those fingers crossed.

littleboo

DoaM wrote: »

Be aware that satellite Internet only gets the download data via satellite ... the upload data (e.g. when you request a website) still goes via phone line. (Unless things have changed recently).

Things have changed, both download and upload are via satellite. The issue is the high latency that’s inherent with satellite broadband.

moneyistooshorttomention

littleboo wrote: »

Things have changed, both download and upload are via satellite. The issue is the high latency that’s inherent with satellite broadband.

- Good that things have changed:T

- What is "high latency"?

EDIT; Just asked Google that question - and it seems there would be a delay in something appearing on screen. Not sure how long the delay would be and I am used to cable internet (ie had Virgin before moving here). With the set-up I currently have - it will come through nearly as fast as I'm used to - when it's actually working properly.

I guess this is early days for that satellite technology at present? - but in 2?/5? years time the latency issue will have been solved?? I'm picturing something like those outside broadcasts on tv - where it seemed that one side of the conversation was having to wait a few seconds to hear the other person, rather than it happening pronto (as per real life conversation)??

onomatopoeia99

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I guess this is early days for that satellite technology at present? - but in 2?/5? years time the latency issue will have been solved?? I'm picturing something like those outside broadcasts on tv - where it seemed that one side of the conversation was having to wait a few seconds to hear the other person, rather than it happening pronto (as per real life conversation)??

The latency with satellite broadband will never be solved. It's caused by the speed of light, which is (effectively) a constant. Improvements in technology won't change the speed of light.

[Deleted User]

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

- Good that things have changed:T

- What is "high latency"?

EDIT; Just asked Google that question - and it seems there would be a delay in something appearing on screen. Not sure how long the delay would be and I am used to cable internet (ie had Virgin before moving here). With the set-up I currently have - it will come through nearly as fast as I'm used to - when it's actually working properly.

I guess this is early days for that satellite technology at present? - but in 2?/5? years time the latency issue will have been solved?? I'm picturing something like those outside broadcasts on tv - where it seemed that one side of the conversation was having to wait a few seconds to hear the other person, rather than it happening pronto (as per real life conversation)??

It would mostly affect you (big time) if you were an online gamer as you'd be dead before seeing the other player.

DoaM

If you're just doing web browsing and emails you'd never notice high latency. It might affect online calls (e.g. Skype, Facetime) but maybe not too much.

moneyistooshorttomention

Not a gamer.

But I do watch tv programmes on Iplayer on the one hand. YouTube videos on the other hand.

How much effect would there be on that?

onomatopoeia99

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Not a gamer.

But I do watch tv programmes on Iplayer on the one hand. YouTube videos on the other hand.

How much effect would there be on that?

A second or two delay before the video started. It is like the news interviews done over satellite, there is the delay (latency) while one person waits for the question from the other to arrive, but once someone starts talking it all comes through as you would expect.

moneyistooshorttomention

Definitely sounds like satellite Internet is a possible fallback option if need be then I would think.

How does it work in conjunction with having a landline phone? Does one just have a standard landline phone on its own (as per usual arrangements pre-Internet days) and, as a separate thing, have satellite Internet fixed-up?

How do the bills on that work out? Is there a risk of having to pay BT for a landline phone rental/calls made on it on the one hand and, as a separate thing, pay a satellite Internet company for Internet on the other hand? Or does the satellite company deal with both - ie a standard phone the usual way and the satellite broadband as a separate thing?