
If you’re looking for an enterprise disaster recovery solutions for network, an initial response that can be links from anywhere, at any time, or simply access the Internet from remote locations, you have probably found that their only option Satellite trust may require the broadband needs. In the midst of a disaster many businesses and first responders can not communicate for whatever reason, find the loss of ground infrastructure or lack of it existing in the first place.
The problem is that most entrepreneurs and workers in emergency services do not have a complete understanding of the satellite business and the characteristics of satellite communications, and why should they? Satellite communications is not their profession. In the search for satellite provider of Internet services, there are some questions you should be prepared to ask before signing a contract for services that are not locked to meet your needs:
1) You do not have the space before satellite emptible?
Satellite operators such as SES Americom, including the Intelsat space segment rental providers of satellite services. There are different levels of protection available in different price ranges. Many service providers choose to discuss the pros emptible space because it is much less expensive, higher profit margins and they can, they can do or not to move to its consumers. Pre-emptible space gives satellite operators the opportunity to access the satellite for service in case of refusal of an equipment failure on board, or to make way for a service that is ready, not before emptible premium. pay
When major disasters such as hurricanes in the Gulf in 2005, many were pre-cleared emptible space satellite to meet public requests for satellite service leave another service that has no access. If you get the contract for the service in question for applications for disaster recovery is highly recommended to ensure the service provider, which has not been assigned emptible space to be found. The service provider should be able to provide you with proof of service contract with operators if you ask. You can pay more to be a little more per month for its service emptible not before, but at least it is when you need it.
2) What is your “For Signature” or “Contention Ratio”?
Most providers of satellite services that provide Internet services are operating, with the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) based systems. A TDMA system is usually through a central hub, the location of remote units in the field to transmit its data when the hub is ready to receive them command is selected. This allows many remote units for the band hard, improve the overall efficiency of the system to share. Be sequenced, the relocation of the remote control to a very high, many times per second, that the service appear continuously.
However, it is inserted, the more units in the system, the service will be slower. A true enterprise level, managers will never admit that their applications exceed the 20:1 ratio substantially equal to 20 terminals in the broadband segment. Many providers, the services of a lower grade on their systems to subscribe to as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Some traders may not be willing to give that information to their end customers. If a service provider will tell you not to claim your money, you should consider looking elsewhere as their circumstances are likely to be high. This is a direct effect on the quality of service you receive. Enterprise level, the transmission ratio of 20:1 contention is more or less to provide services in accounting, because they have less to their users the space contracted. But you get what you pay for.
3) What is the latency of the system, not the hardware or software include TCP / IP acceleration?
Each IP platform will transport a certain amount of latency, is inherent in the structure of the system. Latency is usually measured by how long it takes a TCP / IP “ping” a server on the other side of the traffic sent on the way back and link to the starting point. Satellite systems, because of the physics involved are much higher latency than all landline numbers. The data for the satellite at a speed of light or 186,000 miles per second transmitted. The satellite is located 22,223 miles above the equator.
For a ping is the way the fact that up to the satellite, back to earth to the server to the satellite and back to the point of origin. This is a round trip is about 88,892 miles. In calculating the speed of light, in a perfect world the round trip takes about 448 milliseconds. If you add in coding delays and processing delays, you can increase these numbers to 100-250 milliseconds. In an efficient system of a ping return must have 550-700 milliseconds (225 ms one way) in each direction.
Many systems of lower quality on the market today actually re-ping times of 1200 milliseconds or more, is too slow to enable the functionality of certain software applications. Some operators have added the TCP / IP acceleration products to their gear. This can be either hardware or software solution. It accelerates accelerating TCP / IP, the current mission, as it is transmitted even at top speed, the speed of light. The acceleration is achieved by modifying the TCP protocol in a way that, for a more efficient transmission over high latency networks, such as allowing the satellites. Can significantly improve acceleration and speed of loading Web pages, making it a highly desirable product Tues Most products are not in a position to accelerate encapsulated data, such as VPN, but the system must still be that the data, but more slowly. Be sure to ask if the system has included an acceleration of the product.
4) Does your system support, VoIP, VPN and transmission of streaming video?
If you have certain applications that you intend to operate, you should know if these applications are supported on the system. VoIP (Voice over IP) phone call is always a very common need in the field of satellite communications. All types of users of emergency services, require business continuity for phone connectivity. The biggest concern is the majority of potential users of VoIP via satellite, the latency is too high for effective voice communications. This has proven to be true. In fact, most mobile telephone systems can be as much or more experience delays in VoIP systems as satellite. Most satellite providers will support these systems, but if the latency of the system to about 800 milliseconds, you can have a conversation difficult experience. Some vendors also will sell VoIP equipment When you buy from them, or on your own you want to ensure that the equipment includes a voice compression good.
Most VoIP systems off the shelf is not authorized for use with satellite between 40 Kbps and 90 kbit / s of bandwidth, which aims to prove that they are done on each call. If you buy a 128K broadband connection via satellite may all your band with one or two phone calls consumed leaving nothing for Internet access for your computer. There is no compression of VoIP systems are available for use via satellite, which was only 8 Kbps per call and the connection is designed, of high quality. There is still compression systems, which allows a connection of 1544 kbps T1/PRI less than 256 kbit / s of bandwidth from the satellite. They also want to know more about connectivity to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). When the signal reaches the hub, you must connect your VoIP traffic to a telephone line connected. Some of these service providers will be able to rate, others do not offer it at all, so you can ask.
If you use a VPN over the system, remember that there are likely to accelerate over the satellite. Acceleration of VPNs can be achieved with external hardware, but is usually up to the customer, the equipment available. There are some systems, especially consumer grade VPN are not supported at all or are additional costs, you may ask. The same is true for the transmission of a video streaming device, or a web cam. Video streams are very bandwidth intensive applications and service providers will require more dedicated bandwidth for these applications. Prices for dedicated bandwidth is much greater than the amount paid in cash, since they represented 100% of the bandwidth of 100% of the time consumed. If you want to obtain a transfer of videos to multiple sites, we recommend that you use the video transmission via satellite to a server, and so that other users receive the stream from the server. Thus, there is only one stream active on the satellite, where broadband is expensive.
5) Do you offer CIR or CRA services?
Be) CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed abbreviations rate different allocation with the same meaning. It is dedicated to satellite broadband, which is usually required by the service, if you want to run applications of high-bandwidth applications such as streaming video over satellite. Most businesses level of service providers offer CIR / CRA packages that most consumers are not the operators. Prices for these services are significantly higher than the services of a common currency to be prepared. Some providers services also need CIR / CRA VoIP for sure whether this is something you need, as some operators may not volunteer this information until it is too late.
6) How many public IP addresses, can I do?
Many consumer level utilities do not assign static IP addresses to use for you. This is mainly because they do not support services such as VoIP and VPN. Company top-level providers are usually at least one address, some offer more. Most providers give you a fixed number of addresses with your service and invite you, if you want additional static IPs. The recommended way to avoid the extra cost, giving your own router in the system and natting own address. Some systems are not supported natting so be sure to ask if this is what you need.
7) You have a FAP?
The FAP or Fair Access Policy is a set of rules that you agree to maintain, even in hiring their services. In addition, certain restrictions on your service provider. Read your policy and the manufacturer, the phrase that their use may be limited to serious, too. Some service providers “get” your system performance. When you reach a certain level of commitment, usually recorded in Kbps, or they can cut your Mbps of bandwidth at a low level, or restrict the service entirely until the next billing period. It is very difficult to measure for your own use, as most people do not know how many Kbps are sent or received, if the store has a website. The FAP is also where the provider explains the rules on the use of applications such as VoIP and streaming video. Going through the document with a fine tooth comb will be of interest.
What will be my actual measured speeds?
The service provider sells you a certain rate plan, which will have a data rate of uplink or return, and a data rate of downlink or forward. This is usually a way to “be expressed 128 x 512″ or sometimes “512 x 128″. The largest number is always forward, is the downlink channel as your User. Most vendors will not tell you that the speed IP overhead included. Each Internet system, used by the satellite and terrestrial protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth for the IP-transport process. Because of the effort, you can expect your actual measured payload speeds of about 20% less than what you’ll pay. Actual speed may be measured by running a speed test from a PC via a satellite link.
If the service provider has its own server speed test at the center of this situation will further the satellite link at a speed of Internet-based server. The Internet-based servers have too many variables to get accurate results, since the data on the links that are not under your control or are transferred to them. Most systems are similar in their use of IP overhead, but they will draw the attention of your purchase. If you do not believe the speed is high enough when you factor in 20% overhead, you may want a higher service plan level test.
9) What plans do you offer prices?
In his search for a service provider you will likely find a variety of plans for prizes. Each vendor will be pricing structures that their business model to build and run, which will give them an advantage over the competition. For this reason, you may find it difficult to compare prices. All providers offer full-time 24x7x365 service plans. Often this includes plans include a per-use, and some will want to sell a day or hour. There are also vendors that provide services to a number of days to sell each month. These plans may be attractive, as you probably will not be a system designed for disaster recovery for each day of the month, so why should you pay for full-time service to use? If you compare prices between suppliers, it is easier to look forward to your full-time rates to determine the costs. However, keep in mind that operators base their prices on their costs for the satellite space segment. If it costs less, it can not because before emptible space or for reasons of high contention, or both.
10) Do you offer other services such as terrestrial connectivity and co?
If you ask about value-added services such as space collocation and terrestrial connectivity. If you’re not only buying access to the Internet and do not need VoIP, streaming data backup or you will likely need these services. Some vendors will provide access to the telephone network, and others not. When you dial you will probably want to contract about that too. Solutions for disaster recovery, it is highly recommended that you use the dial tone comes from a secure location, is far from the affected area.
In many disaster scenarios, the terrestrial connectivity, including wireless phones is not available. It is important that this be taken into account when designing a network backup. Some providers also offer satellite data services to government or corporate server in the hub site satellite. This is very beneficial for customers because the two on-site storage of important data, and easy access to such data via the satellite when it’s needed most. A satellite hub with the possibility of collocation can be an effective tool and should be highly considered in the recruitment of satellite services.
This article was written by Bob Exum is a veteran of 24 years in the communications sector and supply industry. For comments or questions may be Bob Clear Channel Satellite in Englewood, CO are reached 303-925-1708 bobexum Clear Channel. COM
p> Bob Exum in satellites, radio communications are a buisiness since 1984. Bob is currently employed by Clear Channel TV and can be reached 303-925-1708 or by e-mail to bobexum Clear Channel. COM. P>