Could Satellite Technology make tV Programming Truly Global?
Cell phone technology marches relentlessly forward. Satellite phones boldly go where cell phones can’t. In those places where cell phones dare not wander — that’s where satellite phones prove their mettle. Cell phones require cellular towers, which connect with varying (and often disappearing) signal strength. They let you make phone calls from almost anywhere because their primary infrastructure is literally out of this world. Instead, they beam their data directly to and from satellites orbiting Earth. What were once luggage-sized bricks that made only voice calls are now slender smartphones with capabilities limited only by your imagination. Satellite phones don’t rely on a terrestrial cell phone network.
So if you’re indoors, you may need to step outside to make a call. With a geosynchronous constellation, particularly, line of sight can be a problem, especially if you’re in a dense forest or mountainous area with limited line of sight. With a LEO constellation, though, you’re bound to have repeated opportunities to connect as numerous satellites zip by overhead, although your window of opportunity may be limited to a few minutes at a time.
LEOs are known for having superior call quality, lower delays (of only around 50 milliseconds one way) and greater dependability. Instead, these phones might be just a bit bigger than a typical smartphone, lost the key card for my condos elevator. The host is now telling me I need to go to the local police station, report it stolen, file a report and then buy a new one from the front desk. Bangkok (More Support) meaning they’re pocket portable. But LEOs have a major selling point in that they don’t require a large antenna on your phone. However, their data transmission speeds (at around only 9,600 bits per second) are much slower than geosynchronous systems. Whether you’re using a geosynchronous or LEO system, for the best service, your phone needs a line-of-sight view to the satellite. They also need less battery power, so they don’t suck as much juice as a geosynchronous-capable terminal. Suffice it to say you won’t be watching YouTube if you’re on an LEO network.
Or, instead of jumping in by buying a phone, you can also consider a rental. Without them, many of the areas of the world would be unreachable by phone. Sky-high prices aside, sat phones fill a very noticeable gap in our age of omnipresent communications. You’ll be able to rent a basic terminal or handset for just a few dollars a day. Satellite phone technology is currently red hot in some regions of the world — most notably, areas of conflict and disaster where regular cell communication isn’t possible. And when you really need to make that call, there’s no price too high to pay. So, for shorter trips or when you’re just trying out the service, rentals are a money-saving option.
So what if you’re in an area of poor reception and someone on the other side of the planet desperately needs to contact you? If you’re in a scary, war-riddled country, though, you want to take every precaution and stay alert to danger. Keep reading and you’ll see why in some places using a sat phone can be harmful to your health. In that case, as your signal waxes and wanes, you’ll receive a pager alert indicating that someone wants you to call. By their very nature, satellite phones adhere to a different set of rules, not just technologically, but politically, too. Then you can move to a location with better reception in order to make the connection.
