PathFinder Digital Satellite Broadband Connectivity

PathFinder Digital offers several commercial grade broadband Internet access by satellite space segment plans specific to CONUS operation.

The primary network access plan is based on a monthly subscription for a shared network plan. Optional plans are optimized for ad-hoc / mobile use of high speed satellite internet with the ability to upgrade on demand to a dedicated CIR bandwidth plan to accommodate streaming video or any other application requiring dedicated broadband bandwidth.

This service is optimized for use with a 1.2 meter antenna system. Certain applications / conditions will allow for the use of a .96 meter antennna system. Please consult a PathFinder Digital Engineer for more information.

1) UpStream and DownStream Channel Rates represent maximum burstable data rates.
(1) Contention Ratio of 14:1 UpStream Typical.
(2) CIR / CRA Dedicated Rates are required for VoIP applications.
(2) CIR / CRA Dedicated Rates are required for Streaming Video applications.
(*) VoIP calls processed by the PBX at PathFinder are billed at $0.10/minute for all inbound calls and all outbound calls within the domestic US.

Definitions:

Shared Network: A plan where a relative number of users simultaneously share a network channel.

CIR: Committed Information Rate

CRA: Committed Rate Assignment

CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed Rate Assignment) are terms referring to dedicated satellite bandwidth required by the service provider in order to operate high bandwidth applications such as video streaming over the satellite.

CIR / CRA Services:

Commercial level service providers offer CIR/CRA packages; most consumer level operators do not. The pricing for these services will be significantly higher than shared ratio services. Most VoIP services require CIR/CRA services to ensure robust telephony circuits. A single VoIP call can consume between 40kbps up to 90kbps.

Actual Measured Speeds:

Service providers offer rate plans that have an uplink (UpStream) or return data rate, and a downlink (DownStream) or forward data rate; and are referred to as “a service of 512 X 2000”. The larger number is the forward (DownStream) channel, which is your downlink as a user; and the larger number is the return (UpStream) channel, which is the uplink as a user. An important point to understand is that the speeds include IP overhead.

Every internet system whether its satellite or terrestrial uses IP protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth to process the IP traffic (called overhead); which is typically 20%. Actual measured payload speeds will be approximately 20% less than the published rates of the plan. Actual speeds can be measured by running a speed test from a PC over the satellite link.

Contention Ratio and/or Over Subscription:

The terms Contention Ratio and Over Subscription refer to the number of users that can simultaneously share a network channel within a service provider’s shared network plans.

A Shared Network Plan within a satellite service provider’s Internet services operates a system that utilizes TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access). The TDMA system is controlled by a central hub location, which addresses the remote units in the field at the appropriate time to transmit the data to the hub. TDMA allows for large number of remote units to share the same channel of bandwidth that improves the
overall efficiency of the system. The transmissions from the remote units are sequenced at a very high rate, many times per second, which makes the service appear to be continuous.

In a shared network plan, as more units are added to the system, the slower the service will be. A reputable commercial service provider will typically limit their contention ratio to never exceed 20:1 or 20 terminals per segment of bandwidth. Service providers that offer lower grade services will over subscribe or raise their contention ratios as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Consumer type services typically run in the 120:1 or higher range.