What Type Of Equipment Is Required?

All the equipment required for a satellite Internet connection is available through the service provider, or a licensed contractor of that provider. This includes a satellite modem, the satellite dish, a network interface controller card, and possibly coaxial cables. The satellite modem transforms the data sent to it into radio signals that travel to the customer's satellite dish, and then either to a relay or to an orbiting satellite. The modem also translates information received from the satellite network from radio waves to data packets that the computer can understand.

The satellite dish usually sits on a customer's roof and transmits radio signals carrying data to and from the customer's computer. A dish is also called a parabolic antenna due to its shape, and the center of the dish is called the “feedhorn”. The shape of the dish directs all signals to the feedhorn where it is either sent out or received.

The NIC card, or Network Interface Controller, is used with any broadband connection. Most new computer motherboards have NICs built into them, and all preconfigured computers have at least the card. The NIC is hardware designed to facilitate communication over a network with other computers.

Coaxial Cables are familiar to everyone as the thick cable used with cable television services. This type of cable is used to connect the satellite modem with the satellite dish, and is usually installed by the same technician that installs the system itself.

	Popular Satellite Internet Articles		Some Frequently Asked Questions
	Satellite Internet Comparison		Is Satellite Better Than DSL / Cable?
	Choosing A Satellite Internet Provider		How Fast Is Satellite Internet?
	Satellite Internet Security Issues		Can I Run A Network On Satellite?
	Broadband Cable vs Satellite Internet		What Type Of Equipment Is Required?
	What Is VSAT Broadband Internet?		Can I Use My TV Dish For Satellite?

For more articles about Satellite Internet Service, plus a form that allows you to check for all major high speed ISPs in your area, return to our main satellite Internet page.