VOip via satelitte and time lag...same at both ends?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 10, 2008 Posts: 1

If I get a a broadband connection by Satelitte, would the time lag in voIP be also noticed equally by the other pc I am speaking to? Assuming the other person has a normal broadband connection, say download 1024 kb/s and upload 128 kb/s at both pc's? Thank you.

Posts: 173 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 173

Just as an FYI, I think I've read that Vonage is NOT recommended with satellite internet service.

Posts: 4674 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4674

Agreed. The time lags should be equally noticeable at both ends, but, more importantly, getting satisfactory service of any sort using satellite would likely be a real problem.

Posts: 64 · Full Forum Member Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 64

In addition to the issue with the time lag to a geosynchronous satellite, the main problem is how the satellite handles the upload data stream.

Your upstream data is cached in the satellite and periodically burst transmitted all at once to the downlink station. No problem if you're uploading a Power Point file, but a big problem if your're talking.

That is, if you have 2 seconds' worth of voice data burst transmitted in 5 ms, it will be unintelligible at the other end (most would be timed out packet discards).

There are satellite internet services suitable for voice, but they are aimed at the corporate/government market and prohibitably expensive for the everage Joe.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 9

Yup bottom line is voip on satellite is not advisable for common end user at the moment.

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 10, 2005 Posts: 19

FYI, if you plan on using Vonage over a satellite do not tell them. They will not setup your account for you. I bought a device in the store yesterday and attempted to set it up online. The MAC address was not accepted so I had to call in. They said that they do not accept a satellite connect for their service. They would not work with me at all.

I find this hard to understand as I have 12+ accounts that operate perfectly over the satellite.