Can’t Get DSL? Look to the Sky

By D. A. Taylor

As I am a software developer who works with clients all over the country, high speed Internet access is now a requirement for my business. Unfortunately, I live and work in an area where DSL, cable and frame relay aren’t yet available. This has become a substantial challenge, and I’ve been searching for an alternative short of relocating.

Recently, I discovered a solution from StarBand Communications Inc., which is targeted to residential and home office users. StarBand, in a strategic partnership with Gilat Satellite Networks, Microsoft Corporation and EchoStar Communications, has created America’s first bi-directional, always-on, high-speed satellite Internet service.

The StarBand equipment consists of a two-way satellite dish and a USB satellite modem that costs approximately $400. Professional installation, which is required by FCC regulations, starts at $200. The monthly service, requiring a 1-year commitment, is $70 per month. The equipment can be purchased from StarBand directly at www.starband.com, or from a local dealer. If you wish to buy a computer along with the dish, an integrated system is available from Radio Shack.

Once the StarBand service was installed, I immediately noticed a significant improvement over my 56k dialup connection. After years of drumming my fingers impatiently waiting for pages to load, I was delighted with the new speed. I could download e-mail quickly, and even better, I no longer had to worry about periodic disconnects.

Although the StarBand system is better than dial-up, it’s not without disadvantages. The system has a nearly 1-second latency on all data requests, since data is sent from my computer to the satellite and then back to the ground. This makes the service unsuitable for applications that require quick responsiveness, such as voice-over-IP, Virtual Private Networks and some online interactive games. Although downloads run between 150-500k, with an average of about 250k, upload speeds run at about one third of that rate. As a result, uploads are only slightly faster than my old dialup connection.

The most significant deficiency I found is that incoming data requests to the standard web and FTP ports are blocked by StarBand’s network. This prevents subscribers from setting up FTP and web servers. Although I definitely would not want to host a production server on StarBand because the connection is far too slow, this restriction interferes with my ability to set up test servers. Although the problem can be partially addressed by reconfiguring my server to use non-standard ports, it’s far from an optimal solution.

Despite its limitations, StarBand does offer a valuable service to people who aren’t able to get any other type of high-speed Internet access. Although not as speedy or inexpensive as DSL, it offers a considerable improvement over a 56k dialup connection. If you need high-speed Internet and can’t get DSL, cable or frame relay, StarBand is an acceptable alternative.

D. A. Taylor is a partner of Taylored Software, a Buellton firm providing custom web and business software development services. D. A. can be reached by e-mail at dtaylor@taylored-software.com.