Satellite Broadband & ADSL2+

Confused about broadband? If so, it isn't surprising, as the range of options is ever increasing, and it can be difficult to sort out the most appropriate choice for your home or business. Satellite broadband is the most recent offering, but while ADSL2+ has been around for a few years, it is still relatively new to many people. So whata are the differences between ADSL2+ and satellite broadband that could help you make a choice?

Satellite broadband vs. ADSL2+

Essentially there's a world of difference between satellite broadband and ADSL2+ in terms of the technical mechanics of how it arrives at your computer. Some understanding of this will help you make a choice.

• Satellite broadband literally is a broadband signal (much like the wireless radio signal used for wireless broadband) that is relayed from the sender on Earth, through a satellite orbiting Earth over 35,000 kms away, back to the receiver's computer. It is most commonly used in areas that are remote from urban centres, where cabling is not an option. Satellite is influenced by certain terrestrial features such as tree cover and the weather, and is subject to a longer 'lag time' between sending and receiving than land based systems due to the long distance the signal has to travel

• ADSL2+, like dial-up, uses existing cabling, usually phone lines, to transmit the signal electrically from the sending computer to the receiving one. For this reason it is slower, but more reliable, particularly if you are close to the phone exchange, than satellite. However, ADSL2+ is up to twenty times faster than dial-up, making it the fastest land-based internet connection. Broadband is faster than dial-up because signals are sent simultaneously two ways, rather than one way then the other, and allows you to use your phone and internet simultaneously

Which one of these two options is better for you depends entirely on your needs, and on where you live. ADSL2+ is certainly fast and reliable enough for most urban dwellers, but as you move further into rural areas it may make sense to investigate the option of satellite broadband. It is also fast, and covers most areas of the Earth.

Contact your provider to see whether satellite broadband is available in your area. Currently, you may find that cost outweighs benefits of satellite broadband, and that ADSL2+ is an excellent option.

ADSL2+ and Satellite broadband differences

In essence, the differences between satellite broadband and ADSL2+ reflect how they are transmitted to your computer. Satellite literally is transmitted through space, and this is reflected in longer lag time and susceptibility to adverse weather conditions on Earth. For remote areas, satellite broadband is a must, but for most urban dwellers, ADSL2+ is an excellent way to receive the benefits of broadband connection.