VOIP Over Satellite Internet: A White Paper from Galaxy Broadband Communications

Voice over IP (VoIP) Over Satellite

A White Paper by Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc. April 2007

Voice over IP or VoIP is fast becoming accepted as a communications platform. The purpose of this paper is to describe the particular challenges with VoIP over satellite, including the inherent latency of satellite connections and their effect on VoIP quality. At Galaxy Broadband we have been involved with VoIP over satellite for many years and understand the unique advantages and disadvantages users of this technology are faced with. We have experimented with various hardware and software configurations and service providers over the years with both success and failure. This paper will provide background of the issues and present our recommendations.

Who Should Consider Using VoIP Over Satellite If you are contemplating purchasing a satellite Internet system just so you can eliminate your telephone company and save $35.00 a month, we suggest you reconsider. Voice over Satellite Internet should be considered as a viable option only if you do not have a reliable wired telephone line. Those in remote areas where cell phone, radiophones, or satellite phones are the only options to communicate with the outside world can benefit from this technology and should seriously evaluate the benefits, including cost savings.

VoIP as a Technology VoIP begins when a regular telephone is connected to a local device called an ATA or VoIP router. This device converts actual sound waves into data packets by way of a process referred to as a codec. Not all codecs are equal, and it?s very important that the user use the right one, especially when using a satellite connection. These packets travel in the same way as data packets to a destination (VoIP Service Provider) where they are converted back from data packets to sound waves for the calling number to hear.

An amusing story we like to tell about VoIP over satellite Internet is about a geologist working at a drilling location in Northern Alberta. Prior to installing his new system, the geologist had to drive several miles to a hilltop to make a cell phone call which was usually hit or miss whether it connected at all. Given his daily billing rate this was an expensive proposition, let alone the inconvenience factor. His newly installed satellite Internet configured for VoIP offered calling from the comfort of his camp but if the connection halted or missed in any way, even a single syllable missing, he would immediately complain and cuss about the technology! Why would he react this way when 99% of his calls were good enough to carry on a conversation? You won?t see him or anyone else tossing a cell phone out the window during frequent ?burps? so why the lack of tolerance in VoIP? The answer lies in a peculiar perception about VoIP created by a combination of expectations in new technology and popular culture.

VoIP over Satellite Internet works, but it?s not perfect. In fact, VoIP is not a perfected technology in itself, let alone the additional complications due to the satellite link. The voice quality can be quite good, often better than a cell phone call, but it is definitely not toll quality to most modern terrestrial telephone networks.

Satellite Latency and its Affect on VoIP Latency is the term that describes the time it takes to get a packet to its destination. It is usually expressed in milliseconds, or ms. Since the satellites are located 23,000 miles above the equator, and satellite signals travel at the speed of light, this journey takes approximately 540 ms. You then add on the latency of the various Internet hops and servers plus the VoIP provider?s network to end with a total latency in the range of 650 ms to 700ms or more depending on the state of the Internet itself. Another contributing factor could be the quality of your satellite signal which may cause packets to be resent. This latency is heard as a delay between the sender and the receiving ear. Users of VoIP over satellite need to learn how to communicate with this inherent latency much like the older press-to-talk radio phones. Further, the delay requires the users to be patient and refrain from interrupting the caller.

VoIP on the Ground Even using terrestrial low latency connections, VoIP is still facing challenges due to the multiple hops and connections of the Internet itself. The technology is good, and likely getting better, but still not perfect.

Shared Networks over Satellite Satellite Service Providers offer service plans in two major categories. The lowest price group are referred to as best effort networks designed for general Internet access for a typical home, farm, or small business with web surfing and email the primary uses. The second category are commercial grade connectivity plans with Quality of Service. Quality of Service or QoS is an industry term for networks that offer end users specific optimization and performance assurances and tend to be closely managed.

Both of theses network types are shared networks meaning the available bandwidth is shared among all users. Virtually all Internet access providers including cable and DSL share their bandwidth with multiple users, but since satellite space is much more expensive than local wires, the satellite services tend to have more users to share the cost. The price is a good indication of the number of users sharing the available bandwidth. Given a similar speed offering, the lower the price the more users share the available space. Overloaded networks will result in fluctuating performance.

?Best Effort Plans? Networks As the term implies, packets sent and received arrive at their respective destinations at the earliest possible time depending upon the traffic. No users or particular applications receive priority. All home or small office Service Plans offered by virtually all internet access service providers on satellite or terrestrial are ?best effort?. The price per month is a good indicator as to the number of users allowed on the network as the more on, the lower the cost to all. This results in fluctuating speeds depending upon the time of day. Peak times like evenings or after school gets out tend to have more users on the network as compared to early in the morning. If a VoIP user is conducting a conversation during congested periods, the voice packets will slow or drop resulting in missed syllables.

So, given the need for more users to share in the overall cost of the network itself and the additional latency of the connection itself, VoIP over best effort satellite networks will encounter performance problems.

QoS Networks Think of a Best Effort plan (above) as a freeway with congested traffic where traffic stops and starts according to the number of cars trying to drive on the road at the same time. If the freeway had a priority lane (an HOV or high occupancy lane is an example in some cities) or an open lane that only some cars were entitled to travel on, these cars would travel faster without congestion because the lane is open. This is the benefit of a QoS Service Plan on a managed network. Time sensitive traffic can be prioritized to reach its destination sooner and without starts and stops. However, this comes with an added cost.

For end users needing VoIP over satellite Internet to work consistently well a QoS managed network that specifically prioritizes voice packets is required.

Minimum Connection Speed The codec used by the VoIP provider is the key determining factor on connection speed for VoIP to work consistently well. Most big name VoIP providers that sell primarily to terrestrial cable and DSL customers are designed to work without the latency of satellite. These services don?t work well on satellite and tend to use codec that need a higher minimum bandwidth. Satellite service providers use codecs that require 30 kbps or less to function well. It is important that the end user works with their satellite service provider to insure the VoIP router or ATA device is configured with the correct codec for satellite.

The Importance of a Properly Installed Antenna on Performance Most people today are familiar with satellite TV which is a one-way service, meaning a satellite TV dish picks up radio signals from 23,000 miles out in space. Satellite Internet not only picks up signals, but it also sends radio signals back to the satellite 23,000 miles out in space! This two-way communication requires a very precise antenna properly mounted so it can hit a receiving dish 20 feet wide on the satellite. Any ?misses? result in lost transmissions so they must be sent again, slowing the speeds. If the user is transmitting a voice packet, these misses result in a lost syllable or two. Data packets lost are rarely discernable but VoIP packets lost can be heard. Using weather proven antennas, well engineered mounting systems, and a professional installation will result in a dish that can consistently send an accurate signal to hit the satellite every time.

911 Calling 911 Service for VoIP providers requires special attention since in many cases, there is no land based telephone line attached to a physical address that emergency responders can go to. It is important to consider the ramifications of this before deciding on VoIP, and with the added mobility of satellite, it becomes more of an issue. Most VoIP service providers have specific 911 Service solutions that may include a call center equipped with a database of last known location but the end user is responsible to keep this updated.

Summary Voice over IP over Satellite Internet works but the degree that the end user is generally satisfied with the service will depend entirely upon the quality of the satellite service and the connection itself. QoS networks will work best and offer consistent quality. Low end consumer service plans will not, as a rule, perform adequately. That said, the expectations of Voice over IP over Satellite need to be thoroughly discussed with professionals in advance of the buying decision to avoid disappointment as described in the story of the Alberta geologist.

Rick Hodgkinson President & CEO of Galaxy Broadband Communications was one of Canada?s satellite pioneers. He was one of the very first to introduce satellite communications technologies for voice, data, and entertainment to the oil & gas industry beginning in Northern Alberta in 1981 and has evolved to the national stage with the formation of Galaxy Satellite in 1992 and later with Galaxy Broadband, both leading companies in the Canadian satellite industry. Galaxy has grown to be one of the key providers of Broadband Satellite Communications to both consumers and businesses in Canada. http://www.galaxybroadband.ca

All About Satellite Internet Services

How do you access the Internet other than dial-up if you live too far from a phone company office for DSL and there is no cable TV on your street? The answer is satellite Internet service. Satellite system is the new alternatives to connects you to the Internet via latest space data communication technology. Such Internet connection does not use telephone lines or cable systems; instead, it uses satellite dish for both upload and download data communications.

Theoretically, satellite Internet services are available worldwide. With satellite Internet services, you should be able to enjoy high speed Internet connections no matter you are in the vessels in the middle of south pacific or the jungle of Amazons.

At the time of writing, satellite Internet speeds range from 700kbps to 1.5mbps for an affordable package. Both upload and download speed for satellite Internet service is much slower when it's comparing to cable or DSL connection. However, when compare to normal dial up modem, satellite Internet connections are more or less 10 times faster!

Generally, satellite Internet can be divided into three categories: One-way Multicast, One-way with Terrestrial Return, and Two-way satellite access. The main differences of these services are the equipments setup and the core connection method.

In general, One-way multicast satellite Internet systems are used for IP multicast-based data, audio and video distribution; while for One-way terrestrial return satellite Internet systems, connection are done with traditional dial-up access to the Internet, with outbound data traveling through a telephone modem, but downloads are sent via satellite at a speed near that of broadband Internet access. As for two-way satellite Internet service, date is sent from remote sites via satellite to a hub, which then sends the data to the Internet. The satellite dish at each location must be precisely positioned to avoid interference with other satellites. The oscillators in some radar detectors can cause interference with these systems.

As technology advanced, stable satellite Internet connections are now available in a very low price to the public. As in United States, Hughes Net is one of the top companies that offer Internet services via satellite. They offer four service packages that each offers their own unique set of features and connection speed parameters.

The price of each package will depend on how fast the connection speed is, how many email accounts are included, and if you want a dial up connection added to your service package. You can save money by selecting the service package that meets your basic requirements for internet access.

To learn more about satellite TV Internet services, visit http://www.satellitetvissue.com. Article by Teddy

Satellite Internet - How it works

Dish Satellite Internet Connection Access

Background
Satellite Internet using a dish has been around since the mid 90's. DirecPC allowed anyone, anywhere to access the Internet. A dial up account was used to send data to the Internet and a satellite dish was used to send high speed broadband data back to the user.

Locate a Local Dish Satellite Internet Retailer

A few years later, Starband and Direcway (formally DirecPC) released two-way dish internet systems, which no longer required a dial up connection. These systems used a USB connection with a PC. These systems provided decent download speeds, but upload speeds were no much faster then dial up. Networking these system was also a problem. The user had to use Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing or other custom software for networking the satellite Internet connection.

After a few years, both DirecWay and Starband released standalone Satellite Internet Modems with built in networking ability. The used built-in DHCP, and when combined with a hub, the user could network several computers to the Satellite Internet Dish.

In 2005, Direcway started changing their name to HughesNet, and Starband is focusing more on their Spaceway Commercial Products.

Both HughesNet and Spaceway use existing Ku-band (11-14 GHz) communication satellites to provide Internet service to their customers. In 2005, WildBlue entered the scene with the latest in Satellite Broadband Technology, Ka-band (19-30 GHz). Ka-band provides more precise spot beam control and allows the use of smaller dishes.

How does a Satellite Internet Connection Work? A satellite internet modem connects your computer to a Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC is your gateway to the W WW. When your browser request a web page, the request is up to a satellite 22,3000 miles above the equator. The satellite retransmit the request down to the NOC. The NOC uses high speed internet connections to contact the web server. The server sends the requested data to the NOC, where the NOC sends the data to the satellite and down to your satellite modem.

A satellite signal traveling 22,300 miles up and down and then back up and back down takes about 480 milliseconds. This is called signal latency.

When you add up the satellite signal latency to the normal signal latency between the NOC and the WWW, you will have an average overall latency (in internet terms this called ping times) of at least 600ms and common ping times up to 1000ms (1 second). This compares to 100ms to 250ms for other, non-satellite, broadband methods. As long as a user understand that satellite internet will appear to have slower page loads then other broadband options of the same download speeds, most users accept this as normal. Latency does not have an appreciable affect on file transfers.

Todd Humphrey operates a Satellite TV and Satellite Internet consumer help web site, DBSInstall . DBSinstall provides consumers the resources they need to solve common Dish Network, DirecTV, DirecWay, HughesNet, WildBlue and FTA Satellite problems. When professional help is required, consumers can search though our national database for local Satellite Retailer or Installer near them.

Satellite TV Providers offer High-Speed Internet Connection

Both DirecTV and Dish TV recently announced they will bundle their Satellite TV service with high-speed Internet service via satellite through WildBlue Communications.

Cable television has been leading the way, bundling not only cable TV, but phone and high-speed Internet services. People are looking for two things when it comes to television and Internet connection – price and service. Cable has been aggressively responding, and Satellite TV is starting to get the message.

WildBlue launched its high-speed Internet connection service a year ago and has 60,000 subscribers. Their monthly service ranges from $49.95 to $79.95, with download speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second. Their one draw back is the $299 equipment charge.

Pricing is yet to be determined for Dish Network and DirecTV packages bundled with WildBlue services, but they will have to offer a smaller equipment charge, or no charge at all in order to be competitive.

Satellite TV companies have offered DSL Internet connection for some time. They attempted to market to people without cable access in rural and remote areas. But both DirecTV and Dish Network have had miserable sales due to uncompetitive prices. DirecTV charged $580 for installation alone. The only people who bought the services were those that had no other alternative for high-speed connection, but now local phone services are able to reach these customers with radio towers.

Bundled Services is the Future

Customers don’t want to deal with a myriad of companies. They demand more simplicity. They want to deal with a single company that is willing to discount multiple services.

Comcast, the largest cable provider in Colorado, offers packages starting at $112 for cable TV, Internet service at 6 megabits per second and phone service. According to Cindy Parsons, spokeswoman for Comcast Colorado:

"We are accustomed to competition and expect there will be a wide variety of promotions from our competitors."

Qwest Communications recently dropped the price of its bundled services. New customers can pay about $87 per month for local and long distance calling, 1.5-megabits Internet speeds and satellite TV service.

The two satellite TV powerhouses will have to offer similar bundled prices if they are going to remain competitive. And equally important is their Internet connection service will need to be reliable.

This new deal with WildBlue Communications will help Dish Network and DirecTV better compete with cable and telephone companies such as Comcast and Qwest. Consumers should benefit with alternative solutions and lower prices.

Fred Waters is author of the Satellite TV Guide, where you can find the best deals on Satellite TV