Considering the speed of light and the normal distances to stationary 
satellites, the latency due to signal distance is likely in the range of 
1/3 of a second. The distance latency for signal travel via other means 
varies but likely averages 1/6 of a second. I don't think the 1/6 +/- of 
a second difference would be noticeable to a human without accurate 
instrumentation.

Instead, the satellites are simply acting as repeaters. I am not a 
satellite person, but it seems rational that, depending upon the number 
of signals being received by a satellite at any second, the 
retransmission is probably using a variable queue and that is what is 
noticeable as compared to other broadband methods of accessing the Internet.

Just some extraneous thought on this discussion.

Tom Mayer


Larry Fisk wrote: (excerpts)
>
> It rivals DSL, other than webpages loading slightly slower
> due to the distance to and from the satellite (latency)
>
> Gaming and Voip are not really compatible with Sat. internet , because 
> of the latency,
> But for large downloads Sat. excels.
>

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