by Kenneth Black

Created on: October 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 16, 2008

Moving to a rural area often comes from a sense to get away. However, those who do so often find they get away from more than they bargained for - a high-speed Internet service. Foruntately, there is now a way to get broadband service from an unconventional source - a satellite dish. While the service may not be for everyone, it offers some rural residents an option where they had precious few previously.

While Internet service is available all over the world, the quality and speed of the service often goes down proportionally the further one gets from metropolitan areas. Broadband Internet, for example, in towns of less than 2,500 is nearly non-existent. Indeed, many may find they have only one option. Dialup is often the only thing available. In rare cases, at least in western nations, there may even be situations where dialup is not available at a local, toll-free number.

This can present a problem, especially for those who are looking to telecommute, download large files, or want to watch videos while online. For many satellite Internet service is the way to go. However, there are both pros and cons to the satellite service.

PROS:

It may be the only high-speed Internet service available in some areas. Therefore, for those who want a high speed, this may be the only choice. This offers a significant advantage for many in rural areas.

The price is coming down. It used to be that satellite Internet service cost more than $100 per month, with even higher startup costs. That has been reduced significantly in recent years.

Combined billing. For those who already have satellite television service, it may be possible to have both the television and Internet service on one convenient bill.

CONS:

While the price is coming down, it may still be significantly higher than most other broadband options. Further, there are not as many packages available for satellite Internet service.

Another disadvantage is the line of sight. In some cases, there may not be a good line of sight to the satellite, making Internet service impossible. If in a rural area, this is likely only going to be a problem in mountainous or heavily forested areas.

The service for satellite Internet service can be more erratic. During times of severe weather, the service may not function as it should at all. While these times may be rare, they may be the time a user really needs to access information. Thus, an information block can be very dangerous.

In the end, deciding whether satellite service is the best option for you likely will depend on your circumstance. For those living in rural areas, there may not be another option. For those in more metropolitan areas, other services may offer much more than satellite Internet service does. The best advice is to compare services and choose the one that you feel is best for you.

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