VSAT satellite dishes can connect your business locations regardless of distance.
VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a small fixed dish ranging from 1 to 1.8 meters in diameter and provides a link to a satellite-based communication network. It represents a cost-effective solution for those who want a virtual private network to connect a large number of geographically dispersed sites, especially when local terrestrial infrastructure is unreliable.
Business with more than 5 locations anywhere in the world can be connected using VSAT satellite dishes. Relaying communications via dedicated transmission links, enabling inventory tracking, interoffice e-mail, point-of purchase transactions, real time server queries and many other functions.
Satellite-based network solutions bypass terrestrial last mile gridlock, providing each of your widespread offices – no matter where they’re located, with always-on, high-speed access to all of the bandwidth-intensive content on your corporate intranet. Once you’ve created a virtual private network you can leverage that infrastructure with a wide variety of services. VSAT offers many advantages.
- Faster Installation – Satellite services are usually activated more quickly than terrestrial fiber. An antenna, modem and satellite circuit can take just a few weeks as opposed to the months often needed for fiber installation. Additional capacity can be obtained just as quickly.
- Better Network Performance – Satellite connections enhance performance by linking directly to an Internet backbone, bypassing congested terrestrial lines and numerous router hops. Dedicated space segment, local loop circuits and ports into a major Internet backbone mean ISPs do not share infrastructure, another cause of slow or degraded connections over fiber.
- Lower Network Costs – Satellites allow simultaneous information delivery to wide geographic areas without regard to terrestrial infrastructure or geographic barriers. This results in a pricing structure that is distance insensitive, keeping costs down for international communications.
Icon Group makes VSAT dish installation quick and easy
VSAT dishes are considerably smaller than TVRO dishes and are generally mounted on the roof, or if unavailable, mounted to the side of the building. Some reinforcement may be necessary to keep the dish from vibrating in high winds, which can degrade the signal. An external power supply is required.
- Dish Selection– Today’s VSAT dishes provide a variety of services. Most service providers will instruct you on which satellite system to purchase. Icon Group can help you choose your services and provide you with the right equipment.
- Site Survey and Selection – Selecting a good site is vital to the performance of a VSAT satellite dish. The site needs a good line-of-site with the satellite that you are planning to use and it needs to be free from terrestrial interference.
- Mounting the dish – Check the local zoning laws to see if there are any regulations regarding land use. Are there any limits on dish visibility from the street? Are you in a historic district or on landmark property?
VSAT dish installation generally goes on the roof. A roof mount is convenient because it doesn’t use any space and is generally out-of-the-way. If the roof cannot support the dish a wall bracket can be installed to attach the dish to the side of the building.
- Calibrate the Dish – Once the dish is installed in needs to be focused properly. Calibration will insure strong reception.
Cabling and equipment hookup – You need to run coax cable from the satellite dish outside to the receiver inside. Icon Group has the experience you need when it comes to installing overhead aerial or underground cable. Aerial cabling consists of outdoor rated cable designed to withstand harsh environmental extremes such as temperature changes, and is attached to new or existing telephone poles using galvanized pole attachment hardware. Underground cable is also rated for extreme outdoor conditions and may be buried directly or in some type of metal or polyethylene conduit. Paths for routing underground cable may be bored using directional boring equipment or the cable may be laid into trenches dug using a trench digger. Special attention to small details in these kinds of installations makes the cable less susceptible to being cut by future trade contractors or utility repair technician.
Once inside, Icon Group can drop the cable to any existing facilities. We can then hook up the receiver and incorporate it into your existing video, voice and data networks.