RE: No Escape

["Albertson, Chris" <CAlbertson@primeadvantage.com>]

Satellite links are not symmetric.  They use a high speed
downlink but out outbound data uses a modem as there is no
microwave transmitter in the dish antenna.  So even with
DirectPC you still need a phone line.  The bandwidth you
get is _highly_ asymmetric.

The bottom line is that service in non-urban areas will
be expensive and late.  You need density to make coverage
pay.

Does anyone remember the Internet before there were commercial
for-profit ISPs?  It used to be the only way to get connected
was to know someone who was already connected and piggy back
off them.  Most sites would piggy back off multiple other sites
and in turn give connects to several others.  This is how the 
Internet worked until the 1990's.  Maybe we should get
back to this idea.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug Welch [mailto:welch@physics.mcmaster.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 8:30 AM
> To: jbush@pucp.edu.pe
> Cc: TASS Mail List
> Subject: Re: No Escape
> 
> 
> 
> The other major player - the first, if I remember correctly -
> is DirecPC by Hughes. Information can be found at www.direcpc.com.
> At least they only claim "nationwide"!
> 
> Cheers,
> Doug
> 
>