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We took an Internet space walk, comparing EarthLink's and StarBand's satellite Internet access. See which high-speed option shoots the moon!
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EarthLink Satellite |
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CNET review
(8/30/01)
By John Eckhouse
Tired of waiting for files to download or Web sites to pop up in your browser? Maybe it's time to junk that poky dial-up account.
Now, you can join the space age and link to the Internet via satellite. With a two-way satellite dish, you can, under optimal conditions, zip data to your computer as fast as if you had a T1 line, for a fraction of the cost.
Both EarthLink and StarBand offer access by bouncing signals from your computer to the Net via satellites stationed thousands of miles above the Earth. Each satellite dish can also, for an extra monthly charge, deliver hundreds of TV channels. Is satellite the DSL alternative you're looking for? The straight answer: maybe. Limited access, high installation prices, and higher monthly charges than DSL or cable plague satellite Internet service. On the other hand, you might find satellite service's stellar download speeds worth the hassle.
Satellite stats
A by-the-numbers look at StarBand and EarthLink satellite Internet access.
John Eckhouse is a San Francisco-based journalist and CNET Software contributor who has been writing about technology for more than 20 years. Got a question for him? We'll pass it on.
