Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Satellite Internet Service Provider

If you are a corporation in search of disaster recovery networking solutions, a first responder who may need connectivity from anywhere at any time, or you simply need broadband internet connectivity from remote locations you have probably considered that satellite may be your only reliable option. In the midst of a disaster many businesses and first responders may find themselves without communications of any kind due to the loss of terrestrial infrastructures, or the lack of it ever existing in the first place.

The problem is that most business professionals and emergency service workers do not have a complete understanding of the satellite business and the idiosyncrasies of communications via satellite, and why should they? Satellite communications is not their profession. In the quest for a satellite internet service provider there are certain questions you should be prepared to ask before you get locked into a contract for services that won’t satisfy your needs:

1) Do you have Non pre-emptible satellite space segment?

Satellite operators such as SES Americom, Intelsat among others lease space segment to satellite service providers. There are different levels of protection available in varying price ranges. Many service providers will opt to contract for pre-emptible space segment because it’s much less expensive and they can make larger profit margins which they may or may not pass on to their end users. Pre-emptible space segment gives the satellite operator the ability to deny access to the satellite for the service provider in the event of an on board equipment failure, or to make room for a service provider who is willing to pay the Non pre-emptible premium.

During large scale disasters such as the hurricanes in the Gulf States in 2005 many pre-emptible segments of satellite space were cleared to make room for government requests for satellite service leaving other service providers with no access. If you are considering contracting for service for disaster recovery applications it is highly recommended that you find service providers that guarantee that they have contracted for Non pre-emptible space segment. The service provider should be able to provide you with evidence of their service agreement with the operators if you ask. You may pay a little more each month for your non pre-emptible service, but at least it will be available when you most need it.

2) What is your “Over Subscription” or “Contention Ratio”?

Most satellite service providers who are providing Internet services are operating systems that use TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) based systems. A TDMA system is normally controlled by a central hub location which will command the remote units in the field to transmit their data when the hub is ready to receive it. This allows for many remote units to share the same slice of bandwidth improving the overall efficiency of the system. The transmissions from the remote units are sequenced at a very high rate, many times per second, which makes the service appear to be continuous.

However, the more units that are added to the system, the slower the service will be. A true enterprise level operator will never allow their contention ratio to exceed 20:1 or essentially 20 terminals per segment of bandwidth. Many operators that offer lower grade services will over subscribe their systems as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Some operators may not be willing disclose this information to their end users. If a service provider will not tell you their contention ratio, you might consider looking elsewhere as their ratios are likely to be high. This will directly affect the quality of the service you receive. Enterprise level operators with contention ratios of 20:1 or less will charge more for their services since they have fewer users for their contracted space segment. But, you get what you pay for.

3) What is your system Latency, and does your hardware or software include TCP/IP acceleration?

Any IP transport platform will have a certain amount of latency that is inherent to the structure of the system. Latency is normally measured by how long it takes for a TCP/IP “Ping” to be sent to a server on the other side of the transport link and be returned back over the link to the point of origin. Satellite systems, due to the physics involved will have much higher latency figures that any terrestrial link. Data is transmitted to the satellite at the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. The satellite is located 22,223 miles above the equator.

For a ping to make its round trip it must travel up to the satellite, back to earth to the server, up to the satellite again and back to the origination point. This is a round trip is approximately 88,892 miles. When calculated with the speed of light, in a perfect world the round trip will take about 448 milliseconds. When you add in coding delays and processing delays you can increase that figure by 100 to 250 milliseconds. On an efficient system, a round trip ping should take between 550 and 700 milliseconds (225 ms one way in each direction).

Many lower grade systems on the market today will actually return ping times of 1200 milliseconds or greater which is too slow to allow for functionality of certain software applications. Some system operators have added TCP/IP acceleration products to their equipment. This can either be a hardware or software solution. Acceleration of TCP/IP does not speed up the actual transmission as it is already being transmitted at the highest speed possible, the speed of light. The acceleration is achieved by modifying the TCP protocol in ways that allow for more efficient transmission over high latency networks such as satellite. Acceleration can significantly improve the speed of loading web pages, so it is a highly desirable product to have. Most of the products are not capable of accelerating encapsulated data such as VPN’s, but the system should still pass that data, however more slowly. Be sure to ask whether or not the system has an acceleration product included.

4) Does your system support VoIP, VPN, and Streaming Video transmissions?

If you have certain applications that you intend to operate, be sure to inquire whether or not these applications are supported on the system. VoIP (Voice over IP) for telephone connectivity is becoming a very common need in satellite communications. All types of users from emergency services to business continuity are asking for telephone connectivity. The biggest concern most prospective users of VoIP over satellite have is that the latency will be too high for effective voice communications. This has largely been proven to not be true. In fact, most cellular telephone systems will experience as much or more delay in their systems than VoIP over satellite. Most satellite providers will support these systems, but if the system latency is more that about 800 milliseconds, you may experience difficulty carrying on a conversation. Some service providers will also sell VoIP equipment. If you choose to purchase from them, or on your own you will want to make sure the equipment includes good voice compression.

Most off the shelf VoIP systems that are not designed for use with satellite will occupy between 40 Kbps and 90 Kbps of bandwidth to complete each call. If you purchase 128K of satellite uplink bandwidth you may consume all of your bandwidth with one or two phone calls leaving none for internet access for your computers. There are compression VoIP systems available that have been designed for use over satellite that will use as little as 8 Kbps per phone call and the call is toll quality. There are even compression systems that will allow for a 1544 Kbps T1/PRI connection over less than 256 Kbps of satellite bandwidth. You will also want to inquire about connectivity to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). When the signal lands at the hub it will need to connect your VoIP traffic to a telephone line. Some service providers will provide this service for a fee; some will not provide it at all, so be sure to ask. If you need to operate a VPN over the system, keep in mind that it will likely not be accelerated over the satellite.

Acceleration of VPNs can be achieved with external hardware; however it is normally up to the customer to provide that equipment. There are some systems, mostly consumer grade, that will not support VPN’s at all or there are additional charges so be sure to ask. The same goes for Video transmissions from a streaming device, or a web cam. Video streams are highly bandwidth intensive applications and most service providers will require dedicated bandwidth for these applications. The pricing for dedicated bandwidth will be substantially higher than the shared ratio pricing as it consumes 100% of the bandwidth 100% of the time. If you are planning to stream video to multiple receive sites it is recommended that you stream the video over the satellite to a server, and allow other users to get the stream from the server. This way there is only one active stream over the satellite where the bandwidth is expensive.

5) Do you offer CIR or CRA services?

CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed Rate Assignment) are different acronyms with the same meaning. It is dedicated satellite bandwidth that is usually required by the service provider if you intend to operate high bandwidth applications such as video streaming over the satellite. Most enterprise level service providers offer CIR/CRA packages, most consumer level operators do not. The pricing for these services will be significantly higher than shared ratio services, so be prepared. Some providers also require CIR/CRA services for VoIP. Be sure to inquire if this is something you need as some operators may not volunteer this information until it’s too late.

6) How many public IP addresses do I get?

Many consumer level services do not assign public static IP addresses for you to use. This is primarily why they don’t support services such as VoIP and VPN. Enterprise level providers usually provide at least one address, some will provide more. Most providers will give you a fixed number of addresses with your service and charge you if you want additional static IPs. The recommended way to avoid the additional charges is by using your own router on the system and natting your own addresses. Some systems will not support natting so be sure to inquire if this is what you need.

7) Do you have a FAP?

A FAP or Fair Access Policy is a set of rules that you agree to abide by when contracting for their services. They also will include certain restrictions on your service. Read this policy very carefully as the providers like to include wording that can seriously restrict your usage. Some service providers will “meter” your throughput on the system. If you reach a certain level of usage, usually recorded in Kbps, or Mbps they may restrict your bandwidth to a low level, or cut off your service entirely until the next billing cycle. It is very difficult to measure your own usage since most people have no Idea how many Kbps are sent or received when loading a web page. The FAP is also where the provider will spell out the rules of usage concerning applications such as streaming video and VoIP. Going over that document with a fine toothed comb will be in your best interest.

8) What will be my actual measured speeds?

The service providers will sell you a specific rate plan that will have an uplink or return data rate, and a downlink or forward data rate. This will usually be expressed in a manner such as “128/512” or sometimes “512/128”. The larger number will always be the forward channel which is your downlink as a user. Most providers will not tell you that the speeds include IP overhead. Every internet system whether its satellite or terrestrial uses IP protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth to process the IP traffic. Because of the overhead you can expect that your actual measured payload speeds will be around 20% lower than what you are paying for. Actual speeds can be measured by running a speed test from a PC over the satellite link.

If the service provider has their own speed test server at the hub location this will give you a more accurate test of the satellite link than an Internet based speed server. The internet based servers have too many variables to obtain accurate results since the data is being transferred over connections that are not under your control, or theirs. Most systems will be similar in their IP overhead usage, but be aware of this when you purchase your service. If you don’t think the speeds will be high enough when you factor in the 20% overhead you may want to consider a higher service level plan.

9) What Pricing plans do you offer?

In your search for a service provider you will likely encounter a multitude of pricing plans. Each provider will create pricing structures that meet their business model, and that will give them an edge over their competition. Because of this you may find it difficult to compare price. All providers will offer full time 24x7x365 service plans. Some will also offer plans based on usage, and some will sell daily or hourly plans. There are even providers that will sell service for a fixed number of days each month. These plans can be attractive as you will not likely use a system designed for disaster recovery every day of the month, so why should you pay for full time service? If you are comparing price between providers it is easiest to look at their full time rates to determine the cost. However, keep in mind that operators base their pricing on their cost for the satellite space segment. If they are charging less it may be because they don’t have non pre-emptible space or because they operate with high contention ratios, or both.

10) Do you offer other services such as terrestrial connectivity and collocation?

Be sure to inquire about value added services such as collocation space and terrestrial connectivity. Unless you are only buying internet access and have no need for VoIP, streaming, or data backup, you will likely need these services. Some service providers will provide connectivity to the telephone network, and some will not. If you need dial tone you will probably want to contract for that as well. For disaster recovery solutions it is highly recommended that you originate your dial tone from a safe location that is far away from the affected area.

In many disaster scenarios the terrestrial connectivity including cellular phones will not be available. It is important that this is taken into account when designing a backup network. Some of the satellite providers will also offer services to back up corporate or government server data at the satellite hub location. This is highly beneficial to the customer as it provides both off site storage of valuable data, and easy access to that data via the satellite when it is most needed. A satellite hub with a collocation facility can be a powerful tool, and should be highly considered when contracting for satellite services.

This article was written by Bob Exum who is a 23 year veteran in the communications and satellite industries. For comments or questions Bob can be reached at Clear Channel Satellite in Englewood, CO. 303-925-1708 bobexum@clearchannel.com

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Prevent Split Ends

We are all familiar with split ends also known as Trichoptlosis and it happens when the hairs protective cuticle is removed. Split ends are the result of chemical products such as hair color, relaxers etc. It can also be cause by styling products such as blow dryer, heat iron etc.

It is important to know that once a person has Trichoptlosis there is no way to restore hair back to its original structure. So, it would be necessary to trim the split ends. However, what you do after the trimming may determine if your hair will grow healthy or look dull. Here are some tips that can help prevent split ends:

• Sleep with a satin pillow case. They can easily be found in a department store or beauty supply shop for a couple of dollars.

• If you have chemical treated hair use special conditioners and shampoos for processed hair.

• Do not brush hair while wet.

• Take a multi vitamin supplement to ensure your hair is getting all the necessary nutrients it needs (consult a physician).

• Use a live in conditioner

• Buy hair products that help prevent split ends ‘heat protector”.

• Limit the use of the blow dryer, hot irons etc.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Avoid or limit sun exposure.

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Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com "For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics" click here http://www.kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm to find Kenia's little piece of heaven her inspirational column

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Stuffed Animals from China

Have you been to the local toy store or Wal-Mart recently? Can you believe the number of stuffed animals coming in from China? It is unbelievable rows and rows of stuffed animals that are all Chinese imported goods. Do you realize that many of these toys do not meet the standards for the United States of America safety codes for children's toys?

Many of the toys you see are copies of toys, which were originally made in United States of America. Unfortunately many of these knockoff toys are not of the same quality as the United States built toys and this is causing a huge problem with safety. Parts often fall off and cause problems.

The stuffed animals from China are only one other types of toy, which is a problem. And just think it is not even Christmas time yet. During the Fourth of July we saw many Chinese made American flags. Isn't that ironic, as our money flows leave the country, never to return and help investors make money on the Chinese bank, which recently had an IPO, we see that Americans are actually flying Chinese flags with American colors.

So this leaves one to ask exactly who owns the United States of America anyway? And the answer to that question is not too pretty considering that much of the debt on the money that the United States of America’s government borrows is owned by foreign nations. Stuffed animals from China; well that is only a sign. Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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A Toy Music Box Is A Toy For Life

Music box collectors and enthusiasts often have a wide variety of music boxes in their collections. Some collectors may prefer music boxes that play wonderful music, while others might opt for those that provide an ornate home to jewelry and family heirlooms. But what we often forget when discussing music boxes is that nearly all of us have been touched by their song at one time or another. There are many children’s toys that have an almost universal appeal and presence; teddy bears, a baby doll, toy cars, and yes, a toy music box too.

Every day millions of babies are lulled to sleep by the soothing sounds of a music box. And every day many of those same babies wake up to play with a toy music box. Whether it is a Jack-In-The-Box whose song is a precursor to him springing from his box, or a stuffed toy that is wound up and plays a lullaby, music boxes become part of our lives at the earliest of ages.

Older children have strong ties to music boxes as well. Many girls enjoy a toy music box in the form of a music jewelry box that opens to reveal more than just jewelry. Maybe the most popular toy music box for girls is the ballerina music box which opens to display the performance of a ballerina, or maybe an ice skater, who twirls gracefully across a stage of mirrored glass. Boys, on the other hand, might be more familiar with a toy music box that displays circling airplanes, trains, or cars instead of a dancing or skating performer. Of course, there are countless versions of the toy music box that we all remember, regardless of our gender. Toy clocks, radios, televisions, records players, and CD players, all of them have taken the form of a music box and have provided hours of fun to countless children.

As adults many of us still have an interest in toy music boxes. Whether it is a musical snow globe, a souvenir from a vacation, or even the music boxes that we enjoyed in our youth, for many a toy music box is something that stays with us for a lifetime.

For easy to understand, in depth information about toy music box visit our ezGuide 2 Music Box.

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Ductless Air Conditioning Systems

Until recently, any house without ductwork ("ductless") could not have central air conditioning. If you had forced hot water heating or electric heat, for example, your only options were to use noisy, highly inefficient, and expensive window air conditioners in each and every room you wanted to cool. This was as expensive as it was unsightly.

Now, the invention of ductless air conditioning systems provides everyone, regardless of how old your house is or how it is currently heated, the opportunity to get a central air conditioning. These systems are quiet, simple to use, energy efficient, and quick and easy to install. They can even be "zoned" to cool only parts of your house at a time.

The system consists of just three parts:
1. Quiet indoor air-distribution units
2. Hidden refrigeration lines that link this/these units to...
3. ...an outdoor compressor/condenser.

The only visible parts to the ductless system inside the house are small 1-3 inch in diameter holes where the distribution units are mounted. Ductless systems are actually much less visible that almost any other kind of heating or cooling system.

You do not have to change any existing ductwork, or anything about how you currently heat your house to get a ductless air conditioning system.

Advantages of ductless air conditioning systems:
1. Central air increases the resale value of your house, and in some areas is close to required to get any buyer interest
2. They are very small; in fact they are practically invisible.
3. Ductless air conditioning systems are easy to install, and the technology has made it so that the systems can be installed with little or no disruption to existing walls and facades.
4. These systems have flexible types of installation - you can choose floor, ceiling, and/or wall-mounted units depending on what will be least visible and disruptive to your existing decor
5. They can be "zoned" to individually cool specific rooms or groups of rooms, further reducing the cost and wastefulness, especially as compared to window units.

Even in some homes that are heated with forced air, the ductless air conditioning system may be optimal because it will save the energy that is currently lost as air travels through the ductwork (think of cooled air passing through a duct in a super-hot attic, or hot air through a cold basement).

More and more you will see window units disappearing from homes like yours...look into the opportunity to use ductless central air conditioning yourself!

For more general information about ductless central air conditioning systems, please go to http://www.ductless.net For information about specific ductless systems for your home, please go to http://www.ductlesssystems.com

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Chimney Sweep - Why A Clean Chimney Can Be A Life And Death Matter

Having a fireplace can be one of life's simple pleasures. Who doesn't like sitting next to the open fire with friends and family? Along with having a fireplace comes the matter of keeping the chimney clean with a chimney sweep. But what is it and why is it so important?

Did you know that the leading cause of house fires that have fireplaces in them is a chimney fire? Far too many people die needlessly every year because of a fire that started in a dirty chimney. This is why it's vital to have a chimney sweep every year or at least every 2 years.

What is a chimney sweep?

Chimney sweeping is basically taking a brush and sweeping the sides of your chimney from the top all the way down to the bottom.

A chimney sweep will break off materials that have built up on the sides of your chimney. When wood burns, it gives off various by products during the burning process. These by products create the black soot you see on the inside of your chimney. This layer of soot is extremely flammable and has to be cleaned out.

Can I do it myself?

Yes, it is possible for you to clean your chimney yourself, but there are risks involved.

Safety is the most important consideration. You will be climbing ladders, going on steep roofs and trying to work through tall chimneys. This job isn't for everyone, that's for sure.

Add to this the fact you will get plenty dirty and will need to buy the equipment and you can see that hiring a professional chimney sweep may be your best bet.

A chimney cleaning company has the right equipment and knows fireplaces inside out. Plus, it is not overly expensive to have done.

Regardless of whichever route you take; be sure to have your fireplace cleaned on a regular basis. A chimney sweep may just save you from a potential disaster.

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By the way, you can learn more about a Chimney Sweep as well as much more information on all types of fireplaces at http://www.FireplacesA-z.com

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Celebrity Private Jets

It used to be so high class, so glamorous to be able to fly first class. However, flying first class is no longer as big deal as it used to be in recent years. In fact, it does not imply as much prestige. This is due to the fact that the first class passengers still have to walk through the metal detector and are still subjected to checks by immigration much like everyone else. Sometimes, you may even need to leave behind your expensive accessories like earrings or cuff links just because they may pose a security threat. This can be quite frustrating. However, when you own a celebrity private jet, you are one of the very few lucky ones.

Celebrity Star Treatment

When you can afford a celebrity private jet, you can expect pampering and luxury every step of the way. Right from the point you leave your house to the airport, the celebrity treatment has already started. You get the star treatment of being ferried to and fro the airport in your very own limousine. In fact, every tiny little bit of detail will be planned and arranged for you by your own concierge. For example, you can even request for special gourmet food to be served to you, perhaps low fat, no carbs or even high protein. The concierge will arrange every detail of your vacation from logistic, transportation, accommodation, trip itinerary and more and all to your whim. What you need to do is probably to approve the arrangement with a "yes", sit back and enjoy your entire trip. This are the perks that the ordinary folks will never experience even if they travel first class.

Safety First

Another big selling point of taking private celebrity jets is the safety factor. With terrorists getting more and more bold, it is no wonder that air travel is no longer safe. Who knows when and who will launch a terrorist attack? However if you are traveling by celebrity private jet, such a risk is greatly minimised as everyone on board is someone you know. Furthermore your jet is also in top working order with qualified, competent and experienced pilots at its helm.

Upkeep Made Simple

You might think that it is probably very tough to own and to maintain a jet. This is a common misconception as the upkeep of your celebrity private jet is pretty easy and straightforward. How? The best way to go about it, is to assign someone or a professional company to help you take care of the maintenance. This frees you of the hassle of having to personally take care of the jet. The best part is your jet is still well taken care of without any worries.

Celebrity private jet is without a doubt the coolest way to travel. It is the ultimate pampering in the sky and the most stress free way to fly. So thinking of a vacation that you will never forget? This is it!

Did you find the information useful for planning your next vacation? Learn a lot more about private jets, visit Private Jet 101 for more informative articles and tips on private jets...

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