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How do I choose the 2-Way Service that will best suit me?
Does the satellite service charge vary each month?
Can I connect more than one user to the service?
Can I use this equipment with my Apple Mac or Linux computer?
Can I send emails and keep my existing email addresses?
What connection speeds should I expect?
What are the contention ratios of the satellite service?
Are there limits to how much data I can transfer?
Are there any limitations I should be aware of?
What does satellite latency mean?
Can I receive satellite TV and make phone calls over the service?
Does the satellite service get affected by weather?
Do I require planning permission or other permits?
Do I need landlord's permission?
What happens if/when I move?
Must I purchase the equipment?
How long will it take to get installed and operational?
Is there anything that could prevent the 2-Way System being installed?
How do I know if the satellite can be "seen" from my site?
What does a "Standard" installation consist of?
What are non-standard installation charges?
How do I choose the 2-Way Service that will best suit me?
AVC Broadband offers two product types, The Satlynx 3020 and the Satlynx 9000. Both
systems will allow multiple computers to be connected. The 9000 is ideally suited
to the home or small business user. The 9000 is also capable of supporting VPN’s
(virtual private network) connectivity, although from our experience this is best
suited when access over the VPN is limited to basic functions such as recovering
email.
The 3020 is the ideal product for users who want require VPN access and to run large
applications through the VPN. The system benefits from TCP over satellite protocol
so operates in a near identical fashion to terrestrial broadband when connecting
over a VPN. The system is intelligent enough to dedicate bandwidth specifically
for VPN functions ensuring optimum performance.
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Does the satellite service charge vary each month?
No. You pay a fixed service charge per month in accordance with the service package
chosen.
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Can I connect more than one user to the service?
Yes. The 2-Way satellite Indoor Unit (IDU) provides an Ethernet 10baseT connection
port and AVC broadband will allocate you up to 5 IP address as standard. You may
directly connect a single computer to the satellite IDU (via a "cross over"
UTP cable) or more than one computer via a router.
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Can I use this equipment with my Apple Mac or Linux computer?
Yes, no problem
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Can I send emails and keep my existing email addresses?
Yes. AVC Broadband provides you with the web access capability so you will be able
to configure any existing email software (Outlook, Outlook Express etc) in the normal
way. Additionally, you will of course be able to access web mail services such as
Hotmail or Gmail without complications.
For a small additional monthly charge AVC Broadband can provide you with our own
dedicated hosting service, this will enable you choose an email address of your
own, ending with @avcbbmail.com
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What connection speeds should I expect?
In line with all other providers the speeds quoted are “upto” speeds
as the service is based on a shared user environment. This means that the speed
is can be affected by the number of simultaneous users. Sophisticated technology
ensures that all users gain fair access to the network and experience the expected
speeds. Our shared user services are subject to a Fair Usage Policy (FUP).
AVC Broadband are able to offer dedicated services which do not operate as part
of the shared user environment. Costs vary based on the speed of service required
and are quoted on a bespoke basis.
It is worth noting that performance can be significantly effected by viruses, spyware
and other rogue programs which “infect” machines and can result in unwanted
data being transmitted/received over the connecting network (all of which can take
place without the user knowing). Always install and keep up to date firewall and
anti-virus software that is readily available from many reputable suppliers.
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What are the contention ratios of the satellite service?
People are used to hearing and reading about "contention ratios" on ADSL
broadband and, not unreasonably, wish to make the same comparisons when it comes
to a broadband satellite service. The concept and management of network bandwidth
on a 2-way satellite service is, however, very different. If people wish to make
such theoretical comparisons with ADSL broadband contention ratios then it is probably
reasonable to assume ratios of 50:1 (for the 512/126kbps 2-way service) and 20:1(for
the 1M/256K 2-way service).
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Are there limits to how much data I can transfer?
Your chosen service package has an associated monthly data usage limit. If you exceed
your data usage allocation for the month you will NOT be cut off. Speed restrictions
will be applied so that fair network access can be maintained for all users. All
customers can see their current data usage levels via the link on the AVC Broadband
homepage. If you require additional data usage allowances this can be purchased.
See the Fair Usage Policy
for details.
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Are there any limitations I should be aware of?
As long as your computer technology can support a proxy then it should be able to
connect to the 2-Way system e.g. PCs and Macintosh and Linux are fine. There are
very few limitations to using satellite communications, if you have specific applications
you wish to run but are unsure of their suitability on a satellite platform please
contact us and we can provide specific assurances.
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What does satellite latency mean?
The satellite is positioned approximately 22,000Km from the earth your data "travels"
up-to and down-from the satellite, effectively creating a very small delay (largely
unnoticeable) this is known as latency. The AVC broadband by satellite service,
however, uses what is termed an Internet Protocol Accelerator (IPA) to overcome
the effects of this timing delay. The IPA effectively removes surplus protocol data
and effectively retrieves the web page in fewer larger 'pieces' i.e. as opposed
to a typical dial-up connection for example where the web pages are assembled and
displayed "piece by piece". This IPA technique is also ideal for handling
large file or email downloads.
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Can I receive satellite TV and make phone calls over the service?
The satellite footprint over the UK, used by AVC Broadband for our service, is provided
from the Hellasat satellite at 39ºE. Sky broadcast they satellite TV pictures
from the Astra satellite at 28.2ºE, therefore we do not offer an inclusive
package that includes TV and Broadband. It is possible to use the AVC service for
VoIP.
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Does the satellite service get affected by weather?
The service is designed to cope with most weather conditions and wind speeds up
to 100mph. During periods of extremely heavy rain or snow the radio signals could
become attenuated (reduced) and you may experience a slight "slowing"
of the service for such a period. There are, however, sophisticated and automatic
measures to effectively increase the power of your system to compensate for any
attenuation.
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Do I require planning permission or other permits?
Households in the UK do not need permission to site a dish that is less than 1 metre.
The vast majority of dishes AVC use to provide our service are less than 1 Metre
in size. In the event that you require a large dish to receive our service we will
speicifically advise you. Typically this only effects our customers in the northern
regions of Scotland.
Households are also allowed to site 2 dishes on their property, so you are able
to have a satellite television dish and an AVC Broadband satellite dish located
on the same building. The government have produce a leaflet providing detailed advice
this can be viewed
here
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Do I need landlord's permission?
If you do not directly own your building, you will require the permission of the
Landlord to install a satellite dish and this should be obtained in writing. AVC
broadband does not take any responsibility for obtaining such permissions from landlords
or for any consequences should such permission not being obtained by the customer.
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What happens if/when I move?
Simply contact AVC broadband and we will arrange for the de-installation of the
equipment and its re-installation at your new location. Obviously charges will apply
for these activities which will be advised when the details of the move are made
known to us. No additional charges would be made to restore you monthly satellite
service.
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Must I purchase the equipment?
The equipment is required to be purchased by customers.
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How long will it take to get installed and operational?
Under normal circumstances you should be installed & operating within 7 days
from providing payment details to AVC broadband.
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Is there anything that could prevent the 2-Way System being installed?
As you will be transmitting a radio signal your site must firstly be given approval
from Ofcom to be installed. AVC undertakes this process with Ofcom on your behalf
and the approval is normally given within minutes. In some instances where a customer's
site may be located close to an airport, MOD facility or other area considered by
Ofcom to be "sensitive", then the approval process can take a couple of
weeks. Extremely rarely is ever a customer site refused "clearance" by
Ofcom to be installed. But should such an instance arise, AVC broadband will refund
in full any money paid.
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How do I know if the satellite can be "seen" from my site?
From the desired and accessible point on your building, the dish would need to point
due South (in fact approx 30 degrees towards the East from exactly due South) and
tilt up (elevate) at approximately 20 degrees. Nothing can obstruct this effective"
window" to the Southern Sky (i.e. what is termed the satellite "Line of
Sight"). A simple compass would of course help you confirm this but equally
if you can see a satellite TV dish on a building, your dish would need to point
(i.e. see the sky) in a very similar direction.
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What does a "Standard" installation consist of?
A standard installation applies to sites on the UK mainland and comprises of the
outdoor & indoor satellite equipment, up to 50meters of connecting cable from
the dish, a right angled wall mount and earthen to a suitable point within 2 meters
of the indoor unit location.
Our engineers will fully install the system and demonstrate it prior to the completion
of the installation. However, due to the complexity and bespoke nature of some businesses
and home networks we will not as standard connect the system directly in to a network.
We will of course provide information and support to connect and configure the satellite
indoor unit with your network.
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What are non-standard installation charges?
AVC broadband does not seek to make more money by charging customers for additional
non-standard equipment and/or services. It is a fact, however, that by the physical
nature/orientation of certain sites the dish cannot always achieve a line of sight
using a right-angled wall mount and an alternative mount may be needed. Equally,
some customers have particular requirements where additional time, services or other
materials may be required e.g. false ceilings, high roof/access areas, etc. In all
instances the AVC broadband installation engineers will attend site equipped with
the aim to complete all installations on the single site visit. Any Non- Standard
elements presented by the particular site and/or customer requirements will be advised
and explained to that customer on the day of installation together with the associated
charges. Customers are required to call AVC broadband at that time and pay these
non-standard charges using a credit/debit card and before the installation works
commence at the site.
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