Keeping up with what's going on with last mile broadband topics, our short history (10 years now) and posting success stories and photos from our partners.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
RE: Telephony Magazine article on our Solution (June 2009)
Vice President of Partner Solutions
Broadband in a Box
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Louisville Kentucky 40223
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Monday, May 11, 2009
The Failure of 3G Hurts Apple and Its Competition
The inadequacy of 3G networks to carry data and video for large numbers of handsets simultaneously is hurting the performance of the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. The problem only starts there. The weakness of 3G networks has also likely undermined the consumer's opinion of new products from RIM (RIMM), the Samsung Instinct, and a host of new products from market leader Nokia (NOK).
Related
None of the consumer electronics companies banking on 3G to drive handset sales to pre-recession levels are going to be able to count on their carrier partners for services that will show off the best features of phones that can download and manipulate files, access the internet, and play video. (See pictures of the iPhone.)
The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone is so feature rich that "the resulting growth in downloading and Web browsing will strain AT&T's network." AT&T is not alone. Sprint (S) and Verizon Wireless (VZ)(VOD) are up against the same problems.
The promise of 4G wireless networks, which should operate at speeds five to ten times faster than 3G, may be years away. Sprint is testing WiMax ultra-fast broadband in several cities, but there is no guarantee that the technology will work in nationwide rollout. AT&T and Verizon are preparing technologies which are supposed to offer similar results. (See the top ten gadgets of 2008.)
The handset and cell industries face a particularly vexing problem. The current 3G networks are not powerful enough to allow consumers with advanced handsets to take advantage of all of their features, especially networks strained by huge transfers of data to and from handsets. It is a problem that cannot be solved soon enough to keep customers from being disappointed because the phones they have purchased will not work well on the services they have subscribed to.
— Douglas A. McIntyre
Saturday, May 2, 2009
GPRS/EDGE hybrid Satellite modem UPDATE: 5/2/2009
We recently tested our new GPRS/EDGE hybrid Satellite modem and saw consistent 80Kbps uploads (AT&T) and 170Kbps uploads (T-Mobile) with consistent 1.1+ Mbps downloads (AMC-15/EchoStar Fixed Satellite Corp.)One test conducted = requesting a 100Mb file
Satellite received: 106976 kB
GPRS/EDGE received: 46 kB
GPRS/EDGE sent: 153 kB
The AT&T signal had t only 2 bars. The T-Mobile was at 5 (do you hear me now?). The SW-20 GPRS/EDGE modem comes with an external antenna and it helped out.
We have been testing for a week and should have more results shortly. Our manufacturing/engineering partners will be in from Europe on Tuesday, so we're all excited to get things kicked off very soon i.e. FCC certification, evaluation units in, etc.
Imagine a low latency, mobile & easy to install system which can be used anywhere that you have GPRS cellular data available.
I just received some .75 Prodelins from SatEng, and they are beautiful.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Concept of the geostationary communications satellite
From Wikipedia
Clarke's most important scientific contribution may be his idea that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays. He described this concept in a paper titled Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?, published in Wireless World in October 1945.[68] The geostationary orbit is now sometimes known as the Clarke Orbit or the Clarke Belt in his honour.
However, it is not clear that this article was actually the inspiration for the modern telecommunications satellite. John R. Pierce, of Bell Labs, arrived at the idea independently in 1954 and he was actually involved in the Echo satellite and Telstar projects. Moreover, Pierce stated that the idea was "in the air" at the time and certain to be developed regardless of Clarke's publication. In an interview given shortly before his death, Clarke was asked whether he thought communications satellites would become important; he replied
"I'm often asked why I didn't try to patent the idea of communications satellites. My answer is always, ‘A patent is really a license to be sued.' "[69]
Though different from Clarke's idea of telecom relay, the idea of communicating with satellites in geostationary orbit itself had been described earlier. For example, the concept of geostationary satellites was described in Hermann Oberth's 1923 book Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen[70] (The Rocket into Interplanetary Space) and then the idea of radio communication with those satellites in Herman Potočnik's (written under the pseudonym Hermann Noordung) 1928 book Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums — der Raketen-Motor (The Problem of Space Travel — The Rocket Motor) sections: Providing for Long Distance Communications and Safety[71] and (possibly referring to the idea of relaying messages via satellite, but not that 3 would be optimal) Observing and Researching the Earth's Surface[72] published in Berlin. Clarke acknowledged the earlier concept in his book Profiles of the Future.[73]
Friday, April 3, 2009
WildBlue Completes Agreement to Lease Ka-band Capacity From EchoStar
WildBlue anticipates additional capacity will become available in the second half of 2009, delivering the same speeds and quality of service enjoyed by current WildBlue customers. New customers who are provisioned on the new capacity from EchoStar will have the same WildBlue package options available to them and use the same equipment as current WildBlue customers.
"This agreement with EchoStar allows us to keep pace with the increasing demand for WildBlue broadband service in rural America today," said
According to WildBlue, the additional capacity will allow its dealer network to continue selling high-speed broadband access in many areas of the continental U.S. where customer demand has been highest. WildBlue is currently working on adding additional capacity to its network to meet the demands in future years.
To find out more about WildBlue's fast, reliable Internet service call 1-866-WILDBLUE (1-866-945-3258) or visit www.wildblue.com.
About WildBlue
WildBlue Communications, Inc. was established to provide broadband access to consumers and small offices in rural areas and small cities. Service is available in the contiguous
About EchoStar Satellite Services
EchoStar Satellite Services is a business unit of EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) and provides a highly reliable network that is available for backhaul, aggregation and distribution of video, audio and data content domestically and internationally. EchoStar also offers the ViP-TV platform providing IPTV solutions for telco and cable operators. EchoStar represents a significant source of Ku-band and Ka-band satellite capacity and spacecraft operation services with access to a fleet of eight satellites, sophisticated ground-based teleport facilities, and an expansive terrestrial backhaul network crisscrossing the U.S. along with 24-hour Traffic, Technical Operations and Satellite Access Centers staffed by highly trained engineers and technicians. For more information on EchoStar Satellite Services or for occasional or full time satellite bandwidth, contact 866-359-8804 or email efss@echostar.com.
Press Contacts:
WildBlue:
EchoStar:
SOURCE WildBlue Communications, Inc.
Avail Media scoops up IP-Prime customers
Related Stories
Last week, EchoStar made overtures to the IP-Prime wholesale IPTV customers of SES Americom, and now Avail Media is touting its own success winning over telcos that up until now have been using IP-Prime. Avail Media, another IPTV wholesaler, announced that it has so far converted nine IP-Prime customers, including BEK Communications Cooperative of North Dakota.
SES Americom is ending the IP-Prime service later this year, a move it announced late last year. Avail Media and EchoStar are among some of the companies that have been vying to replace SES Americom in the hearts of IP-Prime telcos.
For more:
- Here's the Avail Media press release
Related articles
EchoStar last week announced a program targeting IP-Prime customers
SES Americom announced the demise of IP-Prime last December
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About Me
- Broadband in a Box
- I have been involved in satellite communications since 1991. This is my 8th year on this project. I have been marketing, installing and supporting satellite delivered broadband solutions since 1996 and if you can't tell, am pretty passionate about helping folks in last mile America (and beyond) receive broadband @ their homes, businesses and some day, their RV's and mobile sites such as campgrounds and their vacation spots. Please call or write if you have any questions....Thomas 800-761-9149