Frequently Asked Questions
Is satellite high-speed
internet access faster than DSL?
Not necessarily. Different providers will commit
different speeds and service packages. See the
comparison chart here.
broadband is used mostly in places where DSL
and cable isn’t available, thereby giving people who live in rural areas a true
broadband solution.
I have been hearing all
about wireless Internet service such as Wi-Max and others. Why should I
use
instead?
Wireless Internet service is not exactly what
advertisers present it to be. Currently wireless technology is not cost or
performance efficient for wide service areas. The general wireless service
you hear about is provided for "hot spots" such as hotels, restaurants, coffee
shops and copy centers. A hot spot is a small area of coverage where the
user pays a fee to connect to the wireless system. Just as Sleekcom has
tested
extensively we are have been and are in the process
of testing wide area wireless systems. Although some of these test have
been fairly successful wireless technology is still not to the point where it is
feasible to deploy over a large area. Currently the only wireless systems
we recommend are for your home or office network or connecting buildings in
close proximity.
What is the difference
between my dial-up and satellite broadband?
A tremendous time savings to you! Your dial up
brings back information from websites into your computer at anywhere from 5 to
56K, while
will bring the same information into your computer
at 320-512Kbps. The theoretical maximum speed over your telephone line back into
your computer is 42Kbps. This is a time saving of 5 to 20X.
Why would I want to upgrade
my dial-up Internet service?
The faster speed means less waiting time, increasing
work efficiency making telecommuting or working from home a practical reality.
To decrease the time it takes to download materials from the Internet. To
significantly shorten your time spent waiting for downloads and to more
effectively manage your time spent on the Internet. It is simple, easy and
reliable.
Shouldn’t I just wait for
CABLE/DSL to come to the area?
You could, but you may be waiting a few years. Since
the late 90’s cable systems have been slow to upgrade their systems. Did you
know that it costs over $100,000 a mile to run fiber optics? There are miles and
miles of cable in your town today. If you do not have access today, it may take
at least 3 to 5 years for it to come to this area.
What are the advantages of
satellite system over a “Two-way” satellite
system?
satellite system is less expensive and more reliable
than current “two way” systems. Severe weather conditions can affect any
satellite based system. In fact, the end-user of a “two way” satellite system
can experience a complete loss of connection.
uses both the satellite link and a redundant
terrestrial telephone link to the internet. This means that the end-user
connection may temporarily slow down in the case of very severe weather
conditions but will not fail. Upload times on
are three to six times faster then on a “two way”
satellite system.
Why should I go with
while other satellite services are offering
similar services?
is a faster, more reliable, economical service with
better customer care. It’s faster and more reliable because
doesn’t experience the same time-out delays caused
by “two-way” approach of uploading requests to the satellite. Satellites are
really designed to broadcast not receive information.
takes advantage of satellite’s strengths by using it
for downloading of information only. The uploading of information is handled
over the telephone line. As you know, when you’re using a dialup service, you
are rarely waiting to upload your page requests or emails. All the waiting time
is based on downloading the information over your telephone line. The use of
satellite to download eliminates the problem.
What if the telephone lines
in my area are bad? Won’t that affect the
service?
If your telephone infrastructure is bad, you’re
probably used to slow dial-up connection rates. The good news is, this won’t
effect your high-speed surfing experience! 80% of Internet activity involves
downloading information (in the form of web pages, photos and music). High-speed
surfing only becomes a reality when information from the web can immediately
download (or arrive) on your machine. Telephone lines cannot support the
immediate delivery of large amounts of information. There’s just too much
information to fit through that small pipe, so the information ‘trickles’
through it. It’s all made worse if your telephone infrastructure is bad.
However, our
only uses your telephone line to upload small
amounts of information (for example web page requests). This small amount of
information moves quickly and easily through your telephone line directly to the
website you’re visiting. The website then blasts the page to your computer,
photos and all, via the satellite. Downloads up to 512Kbps resulting in true web
surfing experience.
Is the
dish the same as the one used for TV?
No. The dish is slightly larger. Most
satellite TV services now use an 18" disk. The
dish is a 36" dish. The good news is we
anticipate the capability to deliver content such as TV service over
within the next few months. The advantage is
you will be able to purchase channels on an individual basis instead of being
forced to subscribe to packages that include channels you never watch.
If I move can I take the
equipment with me?
Yes, but only if you have purchased the equipment.
Sleekcom can provide
service almost anywhere in the United States.
Just let us know you are moving and we can transfer your service and arrange to
have your equipment re-installed at your new location. Installation
charges will apply for re-installation of equipment.
Can I use my existing
telephone line?
Yes, you can use it just as you are using your
telephone line today. If your dial-up modem is V.92 modem on hold (MOH),
caller ID (CID) capable and you have caller ID and call waiting service on your
telephone line you will never miss a call. If you are using a service such
as Call Wave you can continue to use that service. If your modem is not
capable of MOH and CID our installer can install one that is at the time of
installation for an additional charge or $39.95.
What can I download?
Everything the web has to offer!
Music - Yes, Lightening Quick! Download MP3’s in a little as 9 seconds
Photographs - Yes, Lightening Quick!
Video Clips - Yes, Lightening Quick!
Movies - Yes, Lightening Quick!
Can I share my connection to
the Internet with other computers on my home network?
Yes. If you install the connection on a computer
that is running Windows XP, you can do this by enabling “Network Sharing”. If
you do not have a machine that is running Windows XP, you can purchase a program
called “WinProxy” will allow you to share your connection.
Does
work with Macs?
Only Macs connected to a home network.
What are the minimum system
requirements?
Pentium II 333 MHz (or better)
64 MB RAM
An available PCI slot or USB port
CD-ROM drive
28.8 Kbps modem