Satellite high-speed internet?

Question

I just received high-speed internet through Dish network with at a speed of 1mbps. I was wanting to know what kind of effects satellite internet would have on online multiplayer games.

Answer 1

The satellite internet systems currently available run about a half second delay because of the distances involved. To an average web surfer this means about one half a second MINIMUM, between the time you click a link and the time you start to see a change take place. On a practical level it's probably closer to 3/4 of a second response time (750ms). Unfortunately, if you're heavy into internet multiplayer gaming, you should go elsewhere because a 750ms plus response time is unplayable. Why?

Imagine you are driving a racecar. Now imagine it's about three-quarters of a second delay (750ms) between the time you try to steer left, and the time the racecar starts to respond (750ms). You see the problem. It's like driving on ice and is simply not useable for many internet games that require fast reflexes. Some flight games may be useable, because they don't need as fast a response. However, popular first person shooters like Quake III and Tribes 2 and Counter-Strike are almost unplayable. In other words, FRAG CITY my friend.

Answer 2

You are well-named, Kronos, for, as a few respondents have noticed, its all about timing. Specifically, "latency," meaning the time it takes for your key-press or button push to actually get where it's going. And, as shown by the race car example, by the time your action "get's there," everyone else has moved along.

Here is a real-world example of the speed of light actually not being "fast enough." From your PC, through the wire, up to the dish, up to the satellite -23,000 miles "out there," through processors in the bird, back down to some antennae farm on earth, through the wires, finally to the server somewhere -and then all the way back again! Not only that, but satellite upload/download speeds are notoriously variable and badly impacted by traffic conditions. You'll notice the fine print tells you so.

The solution to this for those of us who have no choice other than dial-up may be a combination of phone line and dish. Let key-presses be by phone line, let responses be by the satellite and/or combination of bird and phone line. I'll just BET someone is working on this!

Answer 3

The thing about satellite is that weather effects it. Anything that interferes with your dish receiving the signal could temporarily disable your service. You can count on this happening, either occasionally or more than you'd like. Also lag time may or may not effect your games depending on how fast a response you need. There are limits.

Answer 4

Download speeds are about 200kbps, max. I have Wild Blue and it runs at about 182kbps. The "fair access policy" will only affect you if you're planning on downloading videos 24/7. An average day's worth of websurfing is not enough for the ISP to put the FAP restrictions in effect.

Answer 5

The upload /download response time (called "Lag") makes Satellite un-usable for online gaming.

You hit the "Fire" button and it takes way too long to go from earth to the Satellite, then back to earth for the online game to react.

Answer 6

SkyWay http://www.skywayusa.com provides one way satellite internet. Upload via phone, download through Satellite. Starband and HughesNet used to provide it but have went to the 2-Way systems now.

Answer 7

The biggest effect would be speed. Most of us dont have that kind of speed. I have had about 70% of that, with about 700kbs. That rocks.