Online Gaming and Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet is one of the new technologies for accessing the Internet. The technology uses a transponder, dish and a modem for uploading and downloading data from a computer to the service providers server. HughesNet is a leading provider of satellite Internet services. Satellite Internet connectivity is good for data transfer, but it is not the ideal choice for online gaming and other real time applications. Let us find out why.

Latency is a factor that causes roadblocks in Satellite Internet connectivity being used for online gaming. Internet researchers are convinced that at present service levels online gaming is not ideal over satellite Internet. The time it takes for an electromagnetic signal to cover a two way distance is approximately 0.48 seconds at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. By all practical means this is above acceptable limits and the primary reason why online gaming is not suggested if you have a satellite Internet connectivity. The transponders are normally at a height of 22,300 miles above the equator. Apart from latency there are other factors such as degradation of the signals during heavy precipitation and solar interference in Mid March and late September. Another factor that would hinder online gaming via Satellite Internet is bandwidth availability.

Online gaming is real-time and requires high bandwidth between the server and the players computer. Satellite Internet may not provide such high bandwidth requirements for home use. Online games are developed using peer-to-peer architecture and the bandwidth requirements are directly related to the scalability of the game. If the number of players increases the bandwidth requirements for the game will be more. Real time games have to maintain consistency of state. It is important that all players have the same view of the car in a racing game. This requires high speed, less latency and almost negligible jitters. The bandwidth requirement for an online gaming application is calculated as NLu/Tu; where N is the number of updates that is sent and received in each update period and Lu is the size of the updates. The update period parameter is Tu. Researchers who work on the bandwidth requirement of a game use this formula. As an end user we should know the requirements before we start on a game.

Satellite Internet companies such as HughesNet offer speeds of 700 Kbps, 1 Mbps, and 1.5 Mbps for home connections as well as 1.5 Mbps and 2 Mbps for business connections. Online gaming is not ideal over Satellite Internet because factors such as loss of packets and jitters may cause the player to lose or abandon a game. It will be a frustrating experience for the player and hence it is advisable that for gaming purposes either DSL or broadband connectivity be used. Satellite Internet providers are continuously working on their technology to upgrade their infrastructure so that they can offer higher levels of services to subscribers. Things are moving at a brisk pace but until the speed and other factors improve online gaming fans should use DSL, broadband or cable Internet.

HughesNet offers high speed Satellite Internet to rural areas where DSL and Cable modem do not reach.

More Info:
http://www.getdsltoo.com

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