At 10:44 AM 10/4/00 -0500, Marco Huerta wrote:
>Hi:
>
>What is the better connection for a Cybercafe between 6 or 10
>computers. In my country there isn't xDSL technology.
>Avaiable are:
>Dial-Up
>ISDN
>Satellite (DirecPC)
>Microwave
>And DS0, T1....
>In my city Cablemodem and xDSL are not aviable yet.
>
>
>But for almost all technology the cost are high, and i need
>a decent
>access but without working for TELCO.
>
>Any ideas:
>
>MARCO H.
Hi Marco,
While you told us the number of computers, you did not
tells us what you are going to have those computers doing...
Gaming over the internet?
Gaming over a LAN?
Video chat/conferencing?
etc., etc.
Some brief comments:
>Dial-Up
Low cost - low bandwidth. If you don't network (LAN)
your computers together, each machine will need its own
modem, and its own dial-up access. You'll need to take
steps to ensure that customers do not find out what your
login names and passwords are for the dial-up accounts, or
else you may find your dial-up access being usurped by
others. Millions of people play internet games via modem
connections, so it can be considered 'adequate'... but most
of those millions wish they had higher bandwidth
connections. (To get lower latency)
>ISDN
Typically slightly more expensive than "dial-up" -
better bandwidth. Depending on what services you plan to
offer, you could either have each machine have its own ISDN
adapter and access account, or you could have your machines
share 1, 2 or 3 ISDN access accounts over the LAN. There
are ISDN routers available to act as your LAN's interface to
the internet.
>Satellite (DirecPC)
Typically more expensive yet - often even better
bandwidth... however, be careful. There is more than one
way to do satellite. The original DirecPC arrangement was
one way from the satellite to you, with a modem (dial-up)
uplink back to the internet. Two way satellite links have
traditionally been VERY expensive. It appears that is about
to change. I believe I have seen at least 2 offerings
coming out (now, or soon) that use a slightly larger dish
pointed at the same satellite used for the associated
Satellite TV service to accomplish 2 way satellite
connections. I _think_ one was associated with
DirecPC/DirecTV and the other was associated with The Dish
Network. There are other 2 way satellite offerings, but I
believe they are priced a good bit higher. In any case,
they all have one problem if you are going to be doing
internet gaming, or video conferencing.... Latency. The
time it takes radio waves to travel from the earth, to the
satellite, then back to the earth is a noticeable time
lag. If high bandwidth connections finally become available
via low earth orbit satellites, it should reduce that
latency considerably, but right now, AFAIK, any service
currently available at a remotely affordable price is using
geosynchronous orbit satellites (approx. 22,500 miles out,
IIRC).
>Microwave
Wireless links of this sort can achieve very high
bandwidth connections. It could involve a significant
initial outlay (radios, antennas and towers) depending on
how your wireless ISP is willing to do things. The beauty
of such an arrangement is that you eliminate the recurring
monthly charges for a T-1 (or whatever) trunk line. [Your
initial costs for the radio gear, etc. is typically recouped
within 2 to 3 years due to the savings of not paying the
telco for a trunk] Microwave requires line of sight
(LOS). If you don't have LOS, you either need to go higher
on the antenna towers to achieve it, or use multiple hops (=
more radios, antennas & towers). Depending of your area,
you may be able to use unlicensed band equipment, or
not. Severe weather can interfere with connections too.
>And DS0, T1....
High bandwidth - High costs (typically). Great for
gaming, etc.
Good luck,
Earl
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