Remotely Connecting by Satellite To the Hospital
Hospital's and the Medical Professionals associated with them across America have discovered during the last few years that a great deal of efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing the World Wide Web to connect Doctors, Surgeons, Medical Transcribers and remote or mobile Clinics together. A specialist can instantly review an X-Ray or medical chart half way around the world or from a very remote area. Although most of this connectivity is accomplished utilizing high speed terrestrial internet connections like a T1, Cable or DSL connections, there are many areas in the U.S. where this type of internet connection isn't available.
Satellite internet connectivity has advanced enough during the last year or so to allow a specialist to view highly detailed graphical information (x-rays or scans from MRI equipment) in a HIPPA compliant internet environment that can be deemed "high speed". The equipment needed to accomplish this is more expensive than a DSL or Cable connection and there are somewhat more complicated security measures needed; however, more and more medical group's are seeing the benefits from this type of connection and adding satellite internet "ground stations" at the remote homes of resident doctors, medical professionals like transcribers and smaller clinics they serve.
The early efforts to provide satellite internet to this field were frankly miserable failures??either not HIPPA compliant or speeds so slow you could have gotten a courier to bring it faster! DirecWay and Starband solutions just don't have enough upload speed to handle this type of activity. When you add nearly 2 seconds of latency inherent in this type of satellite connection, you have a bunch of frustrated folks!
The equipment which will be the standard for several years to come includes an outdoor dish (1.2 meter is now standard), coax cabling no greater than 200' to an indoor unit which handles routing, modem functions and provides the required security. The upload transmitters are much more powerful now??up to 4 watts (compared to 1 watt or less in earlier solutions). They are capable of instantly "ramping up" the wattage during inclement weather to all but eliminate rain fade and can provide sustained speeds in the T1 or better range if required.
What does all of this magic cost? The costs have dropped precipitously during the last year as a result of two main factors: underutilized transponders on many Ku band satellites covering North America and good ole competition between the hardware manufacturers. In 2002 a .74 meter dish setup with a ½ watt transmitter ran over $2,800 for equipment and upwards of $150 per month?..and did a miserable job! In 2005, the same basic cost will bring a 1.2 meter dish and speeds of nearly 1200 kbps download and a sustained 128 kbps or better upload??including a Quality of Service (QOS) guarantee of speed from the internet service provider! Higher speeds are available for additional cost (as high as 2040+kbps downloads and 1028+kbps uploads).
These speeds combined with much lower latency (these internet providers use IP technology throughout the trip through space - not Digital Video Broadcast translated into IP) provide a reliable, secure and fast experience. For the professional or clinic unable to obtain terrestrial high speed internet, it is a great solution.
About the Author:
Randy Scott has been involved in the bi-directional satellite internet industry from it's beginning as a Sr. Sales Engineer, consultant and business owner. Randy is the founder of VSAT U.S., a consulting and sales agent, representing the most prestigious satellite internet providers in the U.S. For more information about mobile VSAT products or current VSAT satellite internet offerings, visit http://www.vsatus.com or email randy@vsatus.com
Latest News
Broadband Internet breathes new life into rural Ariz. Arizona Republic, AZ - "I use the Internet daily for e-mail and marketing," Lira said. But today Lira is enjoying broadband Internet access as she provides virtual administrative ... |
Study: Cable gains broadband subscribers in 3Q Newsday, NY - The top cable companies added more than 873000 new broadband Internet subscribers in the quarter, according to the study by the Leichtman Research Group, ... |
 Voice of America | Broadband Advocates Stress Value of High-Speed Internet Voice of America - By Art Chimes Some 55 percent of Americans have high-speed or broadband Internet service at home, according to a Pew study conducted earlier this year. ... |
 ITProPortal | More than 400 Million Now Have Access To Broadband Internet ITProPortal, UK - Nearly 17 million UK households have accessed to Internet according to the Office of National Statistics with an expected 18.4 million broadband lines used ... |
KeyOn Communications Agrees to Merge with Internet Americato ... MarketWatch - Based in Houston, Internet America offers businesses and individuals a wide array of Internet services including broadband Internet delivered wirelessly and ... Internet America to merge with KeyOn Communications Internet America to merge with KeyOn Communications |
 ChattahBox | IBM and International Broadband Electric Communications, Inc. Work ... MarketWatch - While focusing initially on bringing broadband Internet services to rural America, this new service will also enhance the ability of electric utilities to ... Big Blue Taps Power Grid to Bring Broadband to the Boonies Expand broadband access IBM Corp Wants to Use Power Lines to Supply Internet Access (IBM) |
Broadband Internet Crunch is Beginning to Occur PR Newswire (press release), NY - ... Alliance is a broad-based coalition of business and non-profit organizations that aims to ensure that every American has access to broadband Internet. ... Internet Innovation Alliance to Host National Broadband Strategy ... More Groups Call for National Broadband Strategy Internet needs $137 billion to avoid 'brownouts' |
 ITProPortal | Obama Brings Cyber Sensibility Top Tech News, CA - If Obama gets his way, all Americans will have broadband Internet access, whether they live in big cities or remote villages. Online life will be safer, ... Video: Obama's Radio Address, Now an Online Video, Too Obama's wi-fi White House speaks to the YouTube age Obama YouTubes and Techies Swoon (BoomTown Will Only Do So When ... |
 AFP | Nigerian satellite breaks down in orbit affecting broadband ... The Guardian - Nigeria, Nigeria - On Monday night, Nigeria's Satellite Communication, NigComSat, which was launched to provide phone, broadband Internet and broadcasting services to rural ... Damaged Nigerian satellite can't be recovered: officials |
 Washington Post | FCC Green-Lights White Space Access CRN, NY - Carriers could provide, for example, rural broadband Internet access without incurring the huge costs of buying spectrum for a limited number of subscribers ... FCC Approves Use of "White Spaces" for Wireless Broadband Analysis: Of elections and 'white spaces' One More Broadband Wireless Network Option Emerging |
Resources
-
Boost your Internet Connection Speed- PC Modem Tweaks
Boost your PC Internet connection speed and double your modem speed to near DSL, Broadband connection speeds. Free downloads.
-
more search isp Internet service at a1-search-more-of-the-web.com
high speed Internet access dsl security bandwidth t1 Broadband availability