Hughes Network Systems' DIRECWAY satellite system brings both high-speed Internet access and DirecTV television programming into the home.
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The phrase "two-way satellite Internet connectivity" has a pleasant, futuristic ring to it. An alternative to phone company digital subscriber lines (DSL) and cable Internet connections, two-way satellite systems bring a broadband Internet connection with high-speed uploading and downloading services to households that, for reasons of geography, couldn't otherwise obtain high speed Internet service.
Installing a two-way satellite connection requires hardware, software, and a little professional help. Here's how satellite-based Internet connections work: When you surf to a Web page or send or receive an email, a permanently fixed and Southern-facing satellite dish mounted on or around your home beams a signal to an orbiting satellite. That signal is bounced off the satellite and back down to a central operating center. The operating center then finds the requested data from the Internet and sends the information back to the orbiting satellite and in turn to the house's satellite receiver (not unlike traditional Internet services, just without the wires). A coaxial cable runs from the fixed dish into a modem-like hardware device that deciphers the signal. The deciphered signal is transmitted to a home computer which, when loaded with the proper software, can perform all standard Internet- and Web-related tasks at a speed comparable to DSL lines.
Home Networks
 
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Satellite Internet Service - Internet Home Alliance's Tim Woods takes a close look at how a Hughes Network Systems' DIRECWAY satellite brings both high-speed Internet access and DirecTV service to a home with a structured wiring network from Home Director.  Watch Video!
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For the homes with multiple computers and other Internet-enabled devices the connection from the satellite to the home computer can be extended throughout the house, allowing one connection to serve an entire family. The home's main computer acts as a gateway, receiving the initial Internet connection and distributing it through a router. Routers direct data "traffic." Each additional computer is connected to the router, which links each computer and other Web-enabled systems (such as security devices like Internet-ready security cameras and entire home monitoring systems) within the home to the main satellite Internet connection, bringing one connection to all points of the connected home.
It is not necessary to rewire a home to take advantage of a single satellite Internet connection. The main computer can carry the connection to other computers within the home using wireless technology or even the home's existing phone lines, however each option requires additional equipment. Although existing satellite systems will not support Macintosh as a home's central computer, the Internet connection can be brought to a home's Macs using basic networking methods.
Do-It-Yourselfers Beware
A two-way satellite device is considered by the FCC to be a transmitting device, and therefore must be installed by a certified professional. When installing the fixed dish there is little room for error—it must be precisely aimed at a satellite orbiting over 20,000 miles above the Earth's surface. To maximize the signal to the satellite and guarantee the strongest and most consistent service, the measurements must be accurate, and only installers with professional equipment can insure quality service.
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