DirecWay 2 way Satellite update

BobT · May 31, 2002

The article you reference on latency was written in 1997, and the comments were regarding download satellite, with uploads via phone lines.

The current DirectPC broadband is two way satellite transmission. While it does have some latency, the delay should be under one second in most cases. I would like to hear from someone who is actually presently using the service, just how the latency affects daily service.

MikePA · May 31, 2002

The latency I've read about refers to the time it takes to to get to/from the satellite and it applied whether there was a one way or two way satellite link. The impact is usually to interactive game playing.

Also, does DirecWay still have the FAP (Fair Access Policy) where they monitor how much you download and, if you download too much, they slowly cut back your speed?

TerryinMD · May 31, 2002

It affects VPNs also. There is a lot of overhead in setting up and utilizing the VPN tunnels. Don't know the actuals on the overhead, but it is a very "chatty" protocol. This is to ensure that the tunnel is there. There is also some dependencies on if the connection is point to point or a full mesh. Point to point is straightforward. A VPN mesh is very, very messy. A mesh ensures that you pretty much have a tunnel available to you.

There is probably a lot more to it and I could dig it up. Oh... let me check... anyone's head tilted to one side with drool running out of your mouth. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif - thought so. I'll turn off the geeky stuff now!!

Terry

WVBill · May 31, 2002

We ran VPN tunnels from site to site in the last project I worked on and found that the "overhead" used by the VPN was 40% of our bandwidth utilization on any given link.
AND the additional latency (latency = the time it takes a packet to get from here to there) introduced by the VPN caused unacceptable slowness in our Lotus Domino Database application (I know, why the heck were we using Lotus...). We were wresteling with the "do we dump the database or dump the VPN" decision when I left the project.

TerryinMD · May 31, 2002

WVBill,

If it were up to me, I'd dump the Lotus Notes. But, that's me. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Never liked the silly product.... But, that's me. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Did I mention that I don't like Lotus Notes. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Terry

JonLeonard · May 31, 2002

You guys are a bit harsh /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif As a Lotus Notes administrator and developer for the last 4 years, I can feel your pain though.

Jon

DVerbarg · May 31, 2002

The satellite system is very fast where significant chunks of data are downloading. For simple and small text web pages the speed difference between a simple dial-up and the two-way satellite is insignificant, but then when was the last time we saw simple web pages (besides the "latency" link listed in the post above)? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

At work we use Citrix server for remote access to our network. It seems to be a rather "chatty" type of setup. I can work just as well on a dial-up (sometimes faster) than I can with the satellite /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Usually I use the speed of the satellite to download the files, work for a few hours, then upload them again. Of course this is not the "approved" way of working but it works best for me.

The network guys tell me that the VPNs are even more "chatty" then Citrix server but they are contemplating going to a VPN. Had to remind them that satellite systems don't do VPNs (Starband highly recommends not attempting it) and that half of the people at work who use remote access use satellite based systems. They think I'm a "wet blanket" and I think they are crazy!

RMulkey · May 31, 2002

Hi Rob,

The DirecWay tran/ceiver is for internet only (no DirecTV support) requires 2 coax connections and no other wires/cabling. They make a model that uses the same dish for both DirecWay and DirecTV but we already had a DirecTV dish for standard TV. The transmitter/reciver plugs in to any USB port. The internet connection can be shared across all members of the home nextwork. DW allows (even encourages) up to 8 active connections for home service at once.

You also asked about home wiring. We just finished building the house ~3 months ago. We used a structored wiring system from OnQ (was a subsidary of AMP corp) with active video distribution, 100Mbps Eithernet and 6 active phone lines routed to 15 locations in the house. They offer a full line of home automation products at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.onqtech.com/>http://www.onqtech.com/</A>.

I will post some pictures later tonight.

Hope this helps.
-Roger

RMulkey · May 31, 2002

David,
You can choose 2 deals from DirecTV. One you pay all the up front costs and then $59/month or $100 installation and 100/month for a year. The actual $$ spent over the first year turns out to be exactly the same but you spread out the payment over the first year.

Go to the direcWay Site <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.direcway.com/>http://www.direcway.com/</A> for more details.

DVerbarg · May 31, 2002

Starband is also offering a similiar deal just a little higher: $200 equipment and $100/month for a year or $500 equipment and $70 a month. Its nice to see their pricing is beginning to change. For awhile both DirectWay and Starband had the same prices and there did not seem to be much competition.