The answer depends on the terrain where you want to receive the signal. It requires a clear view of the Southern Sky for legacy satellite internet carriers. Starlink, a newer satellite provider rolling out in different regions of the U.S., requires a 100-degree cone of unobstructed sky view.

The internet can be misunderstood as a radio wave because sometimes the internet can in fact be transmitted that way. People who get online through a microwave service get their internet on radio waves. But the internet is in fact a group of technologies that involve can include radio signals, optical signals, servers, ground stations, data processors and data storage systems. The internet is really data, its movement, its processing and its storage. In the case of satellite internet, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) captures an internet signal and routes it through a satellite that then is beamed back to earth. A small dish at your premises receives the signal and transmits data to your modem via a cable line that comes with the installation. You can set up a Wi-Fi network in your home to get all your connected devices online. Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit information between your device and a router via frequencies. Two radio-wave frequencies can be used, correlating to the volume of data being sent: 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz.

You don’t require a land line to get satellite internet.

Satellite internet ISPs launch a large satellite or a system of smaller satellites into space. The large satellites orbit the earth in a geostationary path, meaning, they move in tandem with the Earth’s rotation. The internet signal is passed through the satellite and sent back to earth. A small receiver dish captures he signal, sends it to your modem where it’s translated into readable code your devices can process.

Satellite internet service in the mountains will only work if the small dish at your location can be positioned with a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky because that’s where the satellites that are in geostationary orbit will always appear. In cases where there are mountains or man-made structures int the way, satellite internet signals get blocked. They’re not strictly radio waves and can pass through some things but not through rock, which is a conductor, and can absorb a signal.

Satellite intent feasibility in the mountains is on a case by case basis so head outside with a compass and see if you’ve got a clear view of the southern sky. It’s sometimes simply not feasible if you’re not only in the mountains but also situated in a heavily wooded area as well. But in case you can get that clear view, satellite internet is a good option. It’s not the cheapest option across all methods of getting an internet signal but it may be the only option open to you until such time as something better comes along.

Mountain areas tend to be sparsely populated. Technologies like cable internet and fiber internet are expensive to install and there are places where cell towers are too far and few between.

The installation for satellite internet equipment includes the dish, a cable running you’re your home, and a modem/router. With professional installation you will be up and running online when your install is complete.

Contact us today to learn about Viasat satellite internet.