A common misconception about two-way is that it's better than one-way because it's faster. Actually, there really isn't too much difference between the two. Both 1-way and two-way provide the same up and download speeds.

Starband, says (this is a direct quote from their website) "When sending e-mails with large attachments or uploading large files to the Internet, you may experience speeds closer to that of dial-up service." (Starband Website 10/29/02 http://www.starband.com/faq/benefits.htm)

Earthlink says (also applies to DirecWay) that their data uploads via satellite are "similar to a dial-up modem" (Earthlink Website 10/29/02 https://register.earthlink.net/cgi-bin/wsia.dll/broadband/satellite/faq.html select FAQ link)

In practical terms, when you actually use the service, the surfing speed two-way can be much slower. Satellites were not originally designed for a two-way communication. The original intent for a satellite is one-way broadcasting, notuploading or accespting a transmitted signal. Two-way communication forces the satellite to do something against its fundamental design. Because of this, there are delays in the accepting and forwarding of information (or web page requests). The result is that two-way ends up being a lot slower.

Using satellite to transmit both ways (the process of sending and receiving a signal) can take from up to 700 to 1300 milliseconds( as reported by Hughes). After 700 milliseconds standard IP web protocol considers page requests lost, resulting in a "behind-the-scenes" timeout. The request is automatically resubmitted, sometimes several times. While this process is invisible to you, you'll experience it as waiting time. Not unlike the waiting that you experience with a 56Kbps dial-up. The transmission time for one-way satellite (telephone line plus satellite) is approximately 400 milliseconds. Well below the 700 milliseconds required by web protocol. So page requests make it to their destination immediately, and then the satellite broadcasts them immediately to you. The result is a FASTER surfing experience on 1-way.

We have copied the following unsolicited testimonials from two-way satellite customers from the website Broadbandreports.com http://www.dslreports.com/comments/1678

name: "capcas" from Sumner, WA: "Latency is worse on the two way than the dial-up/sat. down...."

name: "bschuler" from Franktown, CO: "I am a DirecPC Sateliite Return System (SRS) subscriber and am very dissatisfied with this service. My upload speeds have been about 1/4 that of a DIALUP! Yes, about 12Kbps. My download speeds seem to jump between super fast 400 + Kbps down to almost nill for minutes at a time!"

name: "Book" from Thornville, OH: "What REALLY is the download speed of Directpc: It is worthless. I have had the two way for 4 months now. I am a computer network engineer. The speeds from my many tests has been as follows - 50% of the time - ZERO, 25% of the time 16kbs and 25% of the time something higher. I have seen as high as 2.2mbs. The main problem is that it only happens for a spit second and then stalls for 30-60 seconds before doing anything. The reason for the wide range of reports is that many people do not know how to properly diagnose the line speeds. Plus they see speeds of 600kbs and assume that is the speed without knowing the overall speed. After many hours of testing the average speed is 33kbs receive and 2.6kbs transmit."

(A good article on this topic can be found at: http://thebroadbandeconomy.com/ar/broadband_return_not_return/index.htm)

We are committed to providing quality service. When and if there is a solid two-way solution we will offer it.

Some individuals believe having to use a telephone line makes the one-way service more expensive. Actually, when you compare the services side by side you'll notice that there is a significant price difference between two-way and one-way. Furthermore, the two-way satellite prices are actually subsidized by Echostar/Starband and Hughes (for DirecWay the Earthlink provider). With this current pricing structure these companies are losing money quickly. Eventually, the monthly prices will have to be raised to generate enough income to cover their costs. That is, if they are still around. Have you read the news?

July 31, 2000 the Wall Street Journal reported that DirecWay (the Earthlink Satellite provider) will require a cash infusion of 120 million in 2002. Analysts have urged Hughes to curtail spending on the broadband unit.

June 3, 2002 - Starband filed for bankruptcy (Chapter 11).

Do you really want to pay $600 to $700 to companies that might not be around to support you? We are backed by SES-Americom, a financially stable company that maintains the satellite industry's highest transponder availability (99.95%). We have a profitable business model. Alacrity Internet is committed to providing quality high-speed satellite internet services to our valued customers.

Copyright © 1996-2003 Oasis Computers. All rights reserved.
Revised: April 02, 2003.