Looking for Broadband Internet? Here Are Some Tips.

Looking for broadband Internet? Here are some tips to ensure that you can easily get the plan best suited to your individual needs.

Location: Most broadband Internet solutions are reliant upon fairly complex infrastructure to be in place. As such, their availability is very much dependent on location. Generally, urban areas will have better infrastructure than rural areas, and high-end broadband Internet systems like fiber to the home will be largely limited to these urban areas. However, there are exceptions, so check on the options available even if you aren't expecting much. It's entirely possible that your sleepy small town could have access to a blazing-fast fiber network or if that is not the case, you will most likely want to invest in satellite internet. What is available in your area all depends on who's put the money into developing the area in which you live.

Price: Different broadband solutions can be more or less expensive to lay out and maintain. These costs will be passed onto you- in the vast majority of cases a shiny new fiber-optic network will cost far more to use than a DSL line will, which uses the same physical infrastructure as the telephone grid. DSL is almost always the cheapest option if it's available, so if you're on a budget it's probably your best choice. On the other hand, mobile broadband or satellite internet are sometimes more expensive. If you don't have a specific need for the mobile or satellite's benefits (primarily, the ability to use mobile broadband in portable hardware and the massive availability advantage satellite Internet has over all other forms on Internet access, to the point where it's viable even in the depths of the Amazon rainforest) you're generally better served by DSL, cable, or fiber-optic. Cable is relatively cheap and offers substantially better speeds than DSL; it's a popular option where available because of this speed. On the other hand, while fiber-optic connections are very expensive they also have breathtaking download and upload speeds; as such, a fiber-optic connection is worth taking advantage of if you have a stable, fairly high income.

Provider quality: Different Internet service providers will have differing consumer impressions, even where they offer the same type of technology. For instance, Comcast offers a cable Internet service, which is generally well worth going for. However, Comcast is also notorious for its shoddy customer service and obscene pricing, to the point where "Comcastic" has entered common parlance as a term meaning "very, very bad"; what this means is that, if other options are available, you may want to consider a service which you wouldn't normally. With Comcast's fairly small download caps, if you're making heavy use of your connection you may get better speeds overall with a DSL line featuring a lower advertised speed. It's an unfortunate fact of the broadband market in the United States that there generally isn't an overabundance of options for the same broadband service in an area; generally, if a sub-par ISP like Comcast is present, they'll be your only cable (or DSL, etc.) ISP.

How Broadband Internet Can Improve Your Life

The global brain. The Human Races sixth sense. The breeding ground of creativity and innovation.

All of these words have been used to describe the internet, and deservedly so.

The internet has provided us with a means of communication and organization the likes of which we have never seen before. It was not created by any one person (not even Al Gore), but yet it will surely go down in history as a turning point in our civilization. A time when humanity evolved forward in creating something new. Something organic, spontaneous, and unique.

In the time since the internet's "creation", (although it is more accurate to call it an evolution), it has proved the age-old adage that the greatest things in life cannot be consciously conceived, that is, they cannot be planned. The billions of people working autonomously, but also synergisticly and synchronistically, have come together to make the internet what it is today.

7 billion different viewpoints. 7 billion different skill sets. 7 billion different things to offer the world. The internet has provided a funnel, or a lens in which we can magnify and organize this phenomenon into easily digestible pieces, such as websites, blogs, articles, social media, pictures, books, videos, and more.

There is so much information out there that even if you started today and worked your whole life trying to digest all of the information that is available on the internet you still wouldn't have even touched a fraction.

We've come a long way since the days of the original apple computers and windows operating systems. We've also come a long way since the days of the dial up connection and that obnoxious phone sound that just had to be played every time you tried to connect to the internet. Most kids will have no idea what I'm talking about, but us dinosaurs of the 90's are all too familiar with that sound.

30 second or more load times. Freezing windows. Dropped connections. Hit the monkey banner click adds...Oh the 90's.

I once visited two different institutions in the same week, both of them having computers with an internet connection.

One was my great uncles retirement home with a public computer room for residents. I stopped in to check out the computers and quickly found out they had 56/k speeds. It was a shocking jolt back to the past, the owners clearly not having caught up with the times. The speed of the internet connection made it barely possible to get to a web page, let alone download anything. "Using computers is hard enough for the elderly" I thought, "They shouldn't have to go through this."

The other place I visited was my sisters University. The University provided Broadband Internet, free to all of its students, at a T3 connection...I was blown away.

Not only did pages load instantaneously; like you were flipping channels on a television, but full-length movies and albums downloaded in mere minutes. Downloading 100 books on any subject would take you no longer than a trip to the bathroom. A colossal improvement compared to a few hundred years ago when one good book was a rare treasure.

The number of ways Broadband internet can improve your life is staggering. It is no longer a question of if you have the resources to become incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, or well read in a particular subject; but rather how focused you are on absorbing everything the wonderful world of the internet has to offer.

The internet is a treasure of our modern age, a 21st century library of Alexandria. Make sure you're getting the most out of it in every way possible.

Don't let this opportunity go to waste.

DIRECTV Industry’s Most Advanced HD DVR

DIRECTV Grants Endless Wishes with the Industry’s Most Advanced HD DVR

The New DIRECTV Genie™ Records Five Shows at Once, Eliminates Need for Receivers in Every Room, Automatically Recommends Shows Matching Viewers’ Tastes

and So Much More

DIRECTV is granting TV viewers their ultimate wish – the industry’s most advanced and intuitive HD DVR, the new DIRECTV Genie™ – enabling a whole new suite of magical TV viewing capabilities.

The DIRECTV Genie delivers an innovative set of features that include the ability to record five shows in HD at one time; up to three times more HD recording capacity than cable HD DVRs; a full HD DVR experience on every TV in the home without seeing a box in each and every room; and a new opt-in feature that will automatically recommend shows based on the viewer’s taste.

DIRECTV Genie™ is now the entertainment hub for the entire home and shares content seamlessly with additional TVs that are connected to small DIRECTV clients or other connected devices (such as RVU-enabled TVs, gaming consoles and Blu-ray players) from a single HD DVR.

“We simply asked consumers what they wished for in the perfect satellite television experience and then set out to develop as many of those features as possible in our new flagship HD DVR. Given all that Genie can do, we expect our customers to be extremely impressed with this next generation experience,” said Romulo Pontual, executive vice president and CTO of DIRECTV. “Gone are the days of
scheduling conflicts, channel surfing, messy wires and boxes, missed shows and family fights over the remote. DIRECTV Genie’s massive hard drive, five tuners and its sophisticated, intuitive search and discovery functionality creates a simple and magical television experience without the need for receivers in every room.”

Benefits and features of the DIRECTV Genie™ include:

Five Tuners
Record five programs at the same time with one Genie HD DVR

Full HD DVR Functionality — in every connected room
Pause and rewind live TV in every room
Record and delete shows in every room
Watch the same recorded show on multiple TV’s simultaneously (up to four at a time)
View and record DIRECTV On Demand programs in every room

Genie™ Recommends
DIRECTV customers can opt-in and have their DIRECTV Genie recommend and store new shows that match their TV preferences

RVU Technology
One receiver serves the entire home, so DVR service can be enjoyed on every TV, without the need for a DVR at each TV
Connect up to eight RVU-enabled TVs to a single Genie

Advanced Search
Search and schedule recordings up to two weeks in advance

Picture-in-picture

Double Play
Watch, pause, rewind, fast-forward on two channels at the same time

Start Over
Start programs at the beginning if you tune in late

Past Episodes
Catch up on past episodes, as far back as five weeks

DIRECTV TV Apps
Access DIRECTV TV Apps on the Genie including Pandora, ScoreGuide, Facebook, Twitter and other general apps such as news, sports and weather

One terabyte of storage
Store up to 200 hours of HD programming
With 800 hours of SD storage, you can record more than 1,500 shows

Beginning today, new qualified customers can get a free upgrade to Genie, as well as connect up to four rooms. In addition, new customers who order the CHOICE™ Package and above will get 2012 NFL SUNDAY TICKET included at no extra charge and three free months of premium channels. For more information on DIRECTV Genie™, please visit DIRECTV.com/Genie.

Broadband Internet - What You Should Know

 
High speed internet is also known as broadband. Broadband is when data transmitted from the internet to the computer are processed at a high speed and due to this it is used widely. Due to it's fast speeds it saves time and money.

Cable - It is usually provided through cable tv and the internet speeds vary with how many people at a specific time are using the internet. The more people using the internet in a specific area the slower it is and this usually happens during the evenings when most people are at home and are browsing the internet.

DSL - also known as Digital Subscriber Line, DSL high speed internet is delivered through a telephone network therefore the need for one to have a telephone connection in order to have access to it. DSL download speeds (retrieving data) are much faster than the upload speeds (adding data) and with DSL the closer your location is to the telephone company, the faster the speeds are.

Wireless - another form of broadband, wireless is as fast as DSL or cable but it is costly and it has to be accessible in a particular area for one to have access to it. It enables the computer to have internet once it is switched on therefore there will be no need for one to log into an account or dial up a connection. Fiber optic is the fastest high speed internet around and one needs to have the cable run near their home so that they can be connected to it. It is costly to acquire but worth the money due to its very fast speeds.

Satellite internet is another form of broadband that is available in the market and it serves many people who live far from urban centers as it can be accessed from anywhere, without the infrastructure required by the other traditional types of broadband.

Broadband Internet enables one to multitask while browsing the net like watching a movie, listening to music or playing video games due to its high speeds. One can also have a conversation through the phone while the internet is still active without losing the connection. File downloads are faster therefore saving one time to do other constructive things and it saves money as updates are done faster therefore achieving the final outcome in good time. Moving from website to website is much faster therefore one will not be afraid of losing data due to slow connection. With broadband one can leave the internet on and still download items while they go on with other tasks around the home or office as they are constantly connected to the internet.

Broadband internet is fast and the speed depends on the area one is and how many users are using the internet. One drawback of broadband is that due to it constantly being "on", it makes networks more vulnerable to cyber attacks and security breaches.

Broadband internet has revolutionized internet connectivity and access to information.

How Broadband Internet Has Changed The World

Broadband Internet access has been with us for just over ten years, during which it has impacted on our lives in ways we could never have imagined. Back in 1993, it was impossible to imagine that our communication world could be revolutionized so much that it would actually impact the way everyone communicates, does business and socializes.

Back then, no one could imagine that in 20 years almost everybody on earth would have instant access to a sea of knowledge, including videos, audio and text. And that the extent of that sea of knowledge would be more than any library could hold. In 1993, no one could have comprehended the unbelievable nature of the broadband internet revolution.

Today, people do virtually everything online. We work, shop, socialize and plan details of our lives, all via the internet. Through online banking, virtual offices and video conferencing, high speed internet has revolutionized how we do business, while chat rooms, online gaming, social networking, VoIP, fast movie downloads and video on demand are quickly fazing out telephones and TVs.

The points above may be obvious; however there are some less familiar ways that the internet, and more recently, broadband and satellite internet have impacted our society.

1. Online Crime & Hackers: Regrettably, the faster internet speeds facilitated by broadband internet connection have unintentionally helped in fueling a rise in online fraud and identity theft. More personal information is being shared online, and with easier access, by online criminals. An estimated $221 billion dollars annually is lost by businesses to online identity theft. This means that without adequate protection, the internet is proving to be a very dangerous place to be. Additionally the faster internet speeds provided through broadband connections has increased the vulnerability of internet users to cyber attacks, making online security a major concern worldwide.

2. Change in Politics & News: Broadband internet has exposed politicians to more public scrutiny of their political values and ideologies than ever before. Every politician must be able to interact with his/her electorate through blogs and social media. Political blogs from around the world has considerable influence on policy; breaking news breaks first, online and worldwide blogs by civilians are gaining large audiences and creating influence and information sharing platforms that could never have been imagined, prior to broadband interent.

3. Socializing, chatting and making new friends online: 2007 saw a new era in communication and socialization, facebook took the whole world by a storm. Two years later it was twitter and in 2010 Chat Roulette was launched. Chat Roulette gave online users an opportunity to connect and chat with strangers through webcam. It made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as parents questioned its safety as it made their children vulnerable to strangers. Others positively noted and praised the universal appeal of that site and others like it. Broadband, high speed internet access has made it possible to connect and stay in touch like never before.

4. Relationships: New relationships are born every day through the internet, either through facebook, craigslist or via the hundreds of other online listing sites. Blind dates are rampant, people are meeting the love of their lives, and unfortunately, many people also lose their lovers through these sites.

5. Solving Crimes: People's internet activities often leave traces of evidence behind. These trails are usually followed by detectives who are able to use them to solve many types of crime.
Without a doubt, as our lives become more interconnected, the power of faster broadband internet has changed our lives and our lifestyles more than we could have ever imagined.

Broadband Internet - An Overview

The term "broadband" refers to a wide variety of Internet connectivity technologies which utilize a wide frequency band to allow computer networking at speeds well beyond those of dial-up.

Broadband Internet connections frequently "piggyback" on existing infrastructure like television coaxial cable, power lines, or even telephone cables for the last mile; the backbone of the system is more often than not fiber-optic, but most systems are copper from at a minimum the node to the user's home. In almost all cases, these long-distance standards will terminate with the broadband modem, which connects to the ISP's network and can be connected to be a user's equipment using commodity Ethernet cables. In some parts of the world, Ethernet to the home is viable; this is capable of great speeds, but as Ethernet cables are ill-designed for long-range use it's not possible outside of exceptionally dense urban centers.

In recent years, mobile broadband has become popular as well. Mobile broadband standards like the 3GPP Long Term Evolution standard marketed as 4G LTE in the United States use cellular telecommunications towers to transmit data to and from an end-user's equipment. These mobile broadband standards provide high speeds, but are substantially more expensive than most comparable home broadband systems; as such, they're largely limited to use in portable devices like smartphones, tablets, and small laptop computers.
In home broadband, the most common technologies to see are DSL, cable, fiber-optic, and satellite internet connections. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Digital subscriber line, typically referred to by the initialism DSL, uses the wired phone network to transmit data; however, unlike dial-up, DSL uses a wider band distinct from that used for voice communication, as opposed to modulating the digital signal from the connected machine to the very narrow band the telephony network uses for voice communications. As a result, DSL can manage significantly greater speeds (typically around 8Mbps) from the same network of physical cables.

Cable broadband, high speed internet connections are a step up from DSL, with significantly higher speeds due to using the higher-bandwidth cable television infrastructure to deliver the signal. While a cable connection is pricier than a DSL connection, they're still very attainable for most people, and the existing infrastructure which is used is still fairly prevalent; as a result, cable Internet connections are very common due to hitting a good balance between speed, availability, and pricing.

Fiber-optics hold a place in most broadband networks; however, what's sold as "fiber-optic broadband Internet" is fiber-to-the-home. By utilizing optical fiber, narrow glass tubes the size of human hairs, it's possible to transmit a digital signal via on-off pulses of light. Since light moves substantially faster than electricity, this results in a faster connection- more bandwidth and lower latency. However, fiber-optics are expensive to make, lay, and maintain; this makes fiber-to-the-home somewhat uncommon except in wealthy urban areas.

Lastly, there's satellite Internet access. By using a dish to connect to a satellite in low Earth orbit, it's possible to get broadband speeds anywhere on the globe, even in places without other broadband technologies available. However, high costs and high latency (the latter due to the enormous distance crossed from dish to satellite and consequent speed-of-light delays) have limited adoption of this technology.

High Speed Internet Service Providers

Satellite technology is making forays into the broadband world for one obvious reason: it has the ability to reach the remote and rural areas that other kinds of technology - like DSL and cable - cannot. With satellite technology, you forget completely about cable or phone lines - it doesn't matter whether these in existence or not! Telecommunications providers are quickly beginning to realize the potential of satellite technology. Besides this, the US government has invested and continues to invest large sums of money into this sector. Indeed, the potential that satellite high speed internet provision carries with it, only means that the frontiers of telecommunications have not yet been reached! This also means that satellite high speed internet provider comparisons will become absolutely vital as competition in the sector emerges.

The major satellite internet providers in the US include Hughes Net, WildBlue and Skyway. This makes it only logical to base any satellite high speed internet provider comparisons on the three telecommunications companies. It is best to begin satellite high speed internet provider comparisons with the plans (packages) that these providers offer to their customers. While Skyway offers four plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) both Hughes Net and Wild Blue each offer three. Hughes Net's plans include: Basic, Power 150 and Power 200. On the other hand, WildBlue offers the following plans: Value, Select and Pro.
Although the plans offered by Hughes Net are relatively expensive, the downloading speed is reasonably faster. If you happen to use the internet only occasionally and are a light surfer, the best possible plan would probably be Hughes Net's Basic plan. Its monthly charge is $59.99. However, besides having a good downloading speed of 1.0 Mbps, for the first three months of use, it will only cost you $39.99 following mail - in rebate. The light surfing plan offered by Skyway - Bronze - costs $39.95 with a downloading speed of 384 Kbps. On the other hand, Wild Blue's plan - under the light surfing category costs $49.95, with downloading speeds of up to 512 Kbps.

If you are to base your satellite high speed internet provider comparisons solely on affordability, then you probably should be a Skyway customer. All their four plans are cost - sensitive. Besides the Bronze plan's cost that's already been mentioned, the other three plans are priced as follows: Silver - 512 Kbps at $49.95 per month; Gold - 768 Kbps at 59.95 per month; and Platinum - 1.5 Mbps at $89.95 per month. These three plans are best suited for paying bills and shopping online, paying bills and moderate surfing and streaming, surfing and downloading on a daily basis, respectively. The disadvantage of this satellite service provider is that its service is only one - way. This means that to upload, you will need to use dial - up.
Satellite high speed internet provider comparisons cannot be complete without an analysis of the coverage area. Both Hughes Net and Wild Blue cover the whole of the US, with the exception being that the latter is yet to start servicing the states of Alaska and Hawaii. Similarly, Skyway has not yet started offering its services in Alaska and Hawaii, but covers the other 48 states.

Do I Really Need Broadband Internet?

Tired of your slow and outdated dial-up connection? Want to enjoy a better online experience? If you're considering a new ISP service, then surely, you have been presented with broadband internet as a strong option. The question that's probably in your mind right now is: "do I really need broadband internet?"

The short answer: yes, you really need a broadband internet connection.

In this day and age, a broadband connection has become the standard for internet services all over the world. With more than 500 million people worldwide connected online via broadband services, the internet is rapidly changing to accommodate users that are connected via this type of service.

If you really want a comprehensive answer to the question "do I really need broadband internet?," here are 10 reasons that should make you strongly consider this ISP platform:

1. Up to 400 times faster than dial-up. This is the number one advantage of a broadband internet connection over dial-up services. Faster speed opens up a world of benefits for the user, and it saves him more time as he won't have to stay idle while a page loads up or while a download finished.

2. Seamless Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection. More and more people are using VoIP as a viable and more affordable alternative to traditional telephone services, especially when it comes to long distance calls. With a broadband internet subscription, VoIP becomes as seamless as a regular phone conversation. Negligible latency and zero lag means that you will hear the other person in real time, without delay, and he will hear you the moment you'll open your mouth to speak.

3. Smoother video streaming. The internet is currently in the age of videos, as 70% of users prefer to watch the information they want to digest instead of reading the same. Also, with services like Netflix, the internet is quickly being transformed as an alternative platform to traditional media devices such as televisions, DVD players, and Blu-Ray machines. With a broadband connection, you'll get to enjoy video streaming services - even at very high resolutions - without any issues.

4. Quick downloads of big files. Do you want to download a file that is more than 500 MB in size? With a broadband connection, you'll be able to download the said file within an hour. Compare this to a dial-up service, where downloading a 500 MB file will take months, assuming of course that the network won't time out by then.

5. Videoconferencing to the next level. Tired of choppy, low resolution displays during your remote meetings? With a broadband connection, you'll be able to view the other party as if they're just there in front of you. Transmission and reception time is quick, and viewing visuals as well as hearing the corresponding audio will be instantaneous.

6. Better online gaming experience. Whether you're playing an FPS or an MMORPG, you'll get to enjoy a superb gaming experience with very low latency.

7. Faster web browsing. This is a given, even for websites that are heavy with graphics, and websites that are presented via Flash animation. Loading time is almost instant.

8. It's always on. Once you turn on your PC, you'll be connected to the internet automatically. No need to log any account details.

9. Fixed rates. Unlike a dial-up service where you are usually charged per hour of usage, you will only be charged a fixed rate for a broadband subscription. It doesn't matter if you use it for an hour or for 24 hours per day, you will end up paying the same amount. This makes broadband internet the perfect option for heavy internet users.

10. Higher bandwidth. Even with simultaneous users connected to the same network, speed will remain stable. Slowdowns, if there will be any, will be very minimal. This is an excellent benefit for businesses that require an internet connection for their staff.

If you're still asking the question "do I really need broadband internet?," then you're focusing on the wrong issue. The question you should be asking is this: "when should I get a broadband subscription?"

DIRECTV scores 91 out of 100 with the Carbon Disclosure Project.

DIRECTV scores 91 out of 100 with the Carbon Disclosure Project.

November 8, 2012

DIRECTV is the first satellite TV company to participate in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), for which we received a disclosure score of 91 out of 100—the highest score in 2012 of any first-time S&P 500 or Global 500 respondent. We also received a “B” for our performance score. To make this happen we built a sustainability team dedicated to tracking our emissions. We completed an annual carbon footprint review for the year 2011, which now represents our company footprint and serves as a benchmark for our future sustainability efforts. Then we hired an independent third party, Deloitte and Touche, to review and confirm our findings, which we then reported to the CDP. You can see our official audit statement from Deloitte and Touche here.

What is the Carbon Disclosure Project and how do companies participate in it?

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping companies measure, disclose, and manage their carbon footprint. By leveraging the markets and some of the world’s largest investors, governments, and shareholders, CDP creates serious incentives for companies to make their operations more sustainable.

To help companies and their investors see where each company stands on the sustainability scale, CDP has created a two-part scoring system. The first score is called the “disclosure score”—where ratings are between 1 and 100—and relates to the depth to which companies respond to CDP’s questions. Companies that provide a detailed portrait of their emissions and sufficiently answer CDP’s questions receive higher scores. The second score, called “a performance score,” reflects the efforts that a company has taken that year to act on the information they found from the disclosure score. This year DIRECTV scored a “B” in its performance score and we are looking to further increase this score in the year to come. Especially now that we have a much clearer picture of our carbon footprint and where our emissions come from.

As many say, knowledge is power. Now that we have the data to better understand our carbon emissions—from the fuel used by our vans to emissions from our employees’ business travel—we have the knowledge to work to make our business more sustainable.

How Broadband Internet Works

These days the term broadband can be used to explain almost any internet connection that's both long term and quick. This kind of internet connection could be provided by means of ADSL, cellular, cable, or even satellite. Obviously, you might be wondering how exactly broadband functions. Here we will take a closer look at broadband, exactly how it functions, and the various kinds of broadband cable connections.

When the web was first available, users could connect to the internet utilizing a modem which converted the actual signals through computers so that they could travel on phone lines. It additionally converted signals in the phone line so that they could connect to the pc. This very first internet choice was referred to as "dial up" and it was an extremely slow method to access points online. Additionally, it had the issue of tying up the phone line also.

Basically broadband changed the solitary band which was used along with dial up and instead it offers numerous separate rings. Separate rings are readily available for voice, downloading, uploading, and much more. By including these individual bands, it enables you to go considerably faster when you're online. A wider band emerges instead of 1, single, thin band. This is the way it obtained the title, "broadband.

Now that you understand a little more about exactly how broadband functions, it's important that you note what various kinds of broadband can be found. Here is a glance at several types of broadband that are offered today.

ADSL Broadband
Among the available kinds of broadband is called ADSL. To use this kind of broadband unique hardware is required, including micro filters, a router and a modem. This kind of broadband can be obtained via copper mineral wires utilizing local telephone exchanges. Usually unique software is going to be needed from your internet company to enable you to get set up together with your connection.

Cable television Broadband
Another kind of broadband is called cable broadband. This is a very popular choice these days, since users can use their own cable wiring for connecting to the web through their own cable service. This is performed with fiber-optic cables which allow speeds which are much faster.

Satellite Broadband
While satellite internet continues to evolve and be created, it can be obtained today, by means of a satellite dish, just like you might with satellite tv. Many individuals who live within rural areas discover that this is actually the only high speed internet option open to them. Remember that bad weather may cause problems with this kind of services.

Cellular Broadband
One of the newest broadband forms currently available is called mobile broadband. Special information cards or even USB devices are used to allow access to the web. However, you'll need a mobile telephone signal to obtain this type of service. This is gaining in popularity today because people are looking for ways to easily get online, while on the go.

Broadband internet definitely offers far better speeds compared to the old dial up connections. Regardless of your needs, you are certain to find a type of broadband service that provides you with the web connection you require.

Is Broadband Internet Really That Great?

Today the world is being influenced a great deal through technological advancements that utilize the world wide web. Broadband internet technologies are one of those rare inventions that has come along and completely revolutionized the way people communicate and interact with each other. By today's standards, it is almost inconceivable to think of a world without internet technologies and it is tough to think that's exactly where we were only a mere 15 years ago. From school kids to businessmen to housewives, everyone has a need for a broadband internet connection as part of their every day routine.

The internet is used to obtain information on various topics, for various reasons and it is growing in its diversity and complexity, on a daily basis. It is used to search for information, do research, make payments, entertainment, social networking, online gaming and more.

The introduction of higher connection speeds such as broadband high speed internet, has drastically changed the Web browsing experience. Prior to broadband, the internet was most widely accessed through painfully slow dial-up connections.

In an effort to win over new customers and please existing customers, internet service providers offer and wide selection of packages, discounts and promotional offers for home based and mobile broadband connections. Customers are able to choose the right choice of broadband offerings that best fits their needs.
With the significant speed increases broadband offers over dial up, it makes it possible for anyone to accomplish their tasks quickly and efficiently. It no longer requires days in the library or hours with dial up to find the information that is needed. Downloads are much faster as well. One can download files up to 50 times faster than they would be able to on a slower connection.

The introductions of high speed broadband connections have opened up new possibilities for all types of people. Accessing information and remaining up to date about quickly changing financial developments, organization fluctuations, client preferences and marketing decisions have turning into easy tasks with the use of broadband connections. Every piece of information can be captured to make a number of previously difficult decisions.

For the few companies that still lag behind in accessing the high speed advantages supplied by broadband internet connections are sure to miss out on worthwhile growth chances. Analysis and growth actions as significant as industrial transactions can be carried out with ease at the click on of a mouse. Corporations and people employing these services can save a large amount of time and cash that they otherwise would have to pay for if they complete their tasks without an Internet broadband connection. Men and women functioning from home are also switching more than to broadband high speed internet over dial-up to make the most of the benefits available with this type of service.

There are many types of broadband and high speed satellite internet plans and it is best to first assess your own net surfing needs prior to deciding on a high speed internet package. If you want every aspect of your internet experience to be completed at a tremendously fast pace and you want to be rewarded with reliability and top quality information, then a high speed, broadband or satellite internet service may be your best option.

Discover the Advantages of Satellite Internet

Residing in the suburbs has lots of benefits; there may be the tranquility, the slow paced life and the benefits for kids living outside the city. Then for a lot of that haven't done their own research, there's the drawback of sluggish dial upward Internet. The person who is happy residing in the and surrounding suburbs and utilizing their computer may be the person which knows which satellite Internet can provide them all of the speed they have to do something online, surf the net, download software program fast, as well as download photos fast. That's what each and every computer person wants; nobody likes the slow link speed which takes permanently to load WebPages and photos.

The additional benefit that's a part associated with satellite Internet is the truth that it is definitely connected, this indicates turning on the pc does not really mean seated there for just about any period of time for it for connecting to the company. It is actually ready once the user turns on the pc, by time it is performed loading the actual desktop the actual service has already been active as well as waiting, just like DSL as well as cable Online sites.

The difference is within the support, while DSL as well as cable isn't provided in order to every area, satellite Online sites is various and runs on the satellite in order to send as well as receive it's data, as opposed to the wires as well as cables which are necessary along with other providers. There can also be the distinction when the quantity of downtime is actually compared, because coping with a satellite differs than cables or cables that may be damaged through wind, rainfall, construction as well as for additional reasons. Instead it's a clean obvious connection which has the least quantity of downtime in comparison with other internet providers.

Life is actually busy so when it's time to check out something on the internet, read e-mail or talk to friends the actual speed can there be to perform things quick, unlike call up service which has a much reduced connection speed than the usual broadband link. For many people, there isn't even a selection, they would like the pace of broadband wherever they live and that's where satellite television service shines that beats all others, because it doesn't need the actual wires or even cables with regard to DSL or even cable Online sites. This is actually all possible due to the satellite dish that's small as well as unobtrusive that's mounted away from home, the satellite television modem and also the large satellite television dish that's above the actual southern sky that's the gateway with regard to speedily surfing the net.

Speed within downloading or even uploading is actually what each and every computer person is after within an Internet provider so when living inside a rural area the option is trim to not one, unless the option is satellite television broadband service that's used. Additionally, it means absolutely no dropped cable connections that consider forever for connecting again, just like a dial upward service that may then operate even reduced when it will get attached to the Internet, and by that point most pc users possess just quit.

Finding the Perfect Web Designer 101

Finding the perfect web designer for your website can be tricky, which is why large businesses usually just create in-house teams that will do all the web development work. They want consistent results, and don't want to waste too much time on bad hiring choices, particularly ones that result in wasted time and money.
But what if you're just a small business owner or just want a simple personal website? How do you find the perfect web designer who will deliver a well designed, functioning website within the deadline and within the budget? Below are some tips on finding the perfect web professional:

First, create a basic scope of what you want to achieve and try to cover everything. Going into a project with nothing but "I don't really know what I need, I will just approve it when it's good" is not a good idea, since it will result in delays as you go back and forth with the designer, and worse, you may end up with a website that is sub par in quality.

Create a rough of everything you want and need - from the timeframe you want the project to be finished, your budget, and the features that you want from the site (for example, is it going to be in php, or will it be a single page site, or it require the installation of a CMS, etc). This will make it easier when discussing things with a potential contractor, as it will give him an instant idea on whether he can give you what you want within the rates that you ask for.

Now that you have a clear idea of what you want, you need to find the web designer. There are a number of ways of finding people to hire. First is through recommendation. This is the safest way, since you're bound to get tried and tested web professionals. If you have friends or colleagues who have websites that look okay to you, you can ask them to refer you to their previous developer.

If recommendation is not applicable for some reason (e.g. your network of contacts is small, or the referred designer was too expensive), you can use the freelancing marketplaces, such as elance.com and odesk.com. These sites were made with people like you in mind, as it allows you to find and hire freelancers on your own, as well as provides you with an escrow service of sorts that prevent freelancers from getting paid if their output is not up to your agreed quality.

If this is your first time, or you're not familiar with the industry. You need to do some research. Check out job listings or ask friends about the industry rates. Even if you already have a budget set in mind, you may end up paying more than what's necessary if you don't know the going rates. Saving money is always good.
When you finally find a web designer, you still have work to do. How can you be sure that the guy (or group of guys if you went with a design firm) will be able to provide what you need?

Look at their portfolio and ask for a proposal. It will give you an idea of what the designer is capable of, and what direction they plan to go with your project. They don't need to come up with a mock-up at all, especially if they have a decent portfolio. A written report with a flowchart of tasks is sometimes enough to make you confident with hiring someone or not.

Last but not the least, when you and the web designer have started on the internet project, you need set specific goals and deadlines, while leaving some room to adjust for setbacks (the adage "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" works in here). Do not sit back and wait for the final delivery. Try to create specific points in the project where you will check the output, so that you can stop problems before it becomes to far along to change. A good web designer will relish the chance to work closely with the client, while a not-so-good designer will be kept in check under a client's watchful eye. A bad designer will quit under the pressure, and you'll be able to find a replacement sooner.

DIRECTV and Brainstorm Media to Partner

DIRECTV and Brainstorm Media partner to Present Socially Relevant and Critically Acclaimed Documentaries on TV and in Theaters this Fall

September 6, 2012

“Something to Talk About” to Feature Broadcast Premieres of Award-Winning Documentaries, including “Battle for Brooklyn,” and “Big Boys Gone Bananas!*,”

Exclusively on DIRECTV’s Audience Network and in Theatres

EL SEGUNDO, California, Sept. 06, 2012 – DIRECTV’s Audience Network, known for its daring entertainment programming, will take viewers a step further into the realm of the deeply provocative with the premiere of Something to Talk About, a series of socially and culturally relevant documentaries presented in association with Brainstorm Media, beginning in October exclusively on DIRECTV. In certain cities, the films will be screened in theaters starting in late September and, in select locations, will include live discussions following the screenings.

The twelve-part series will kick-off with the broadcast premiere of BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN, on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT which will be followed by BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. From award-winning and acclaimed writers and directors, each documentary will include a special, hosted introduction and will conclude with a filmmaker interview that provides an update on the current state of the documentary issue. The films will also be available on DIRECTV on Demand, DIRECTV Everywhere, on home video and via electronic sell-thru.

“At Audience Network, we have had success in providing our customers with critically acclaimed, award-winning dramas and comedies,” said Patty Ishimoto, VP Entertainment, G.M. of Audience Network & n3D. “With Something to Talk About, we are going even further with diverse and thought-provoking documentaries that will generate a spark among our viewers and engage them in a dialogue about the relevant, impactful events and topics these films address.”

Meyer Shwarzstein, president of Brainstorm Media stated, “Our team has been perfecting this idea for the past few years and we are thrilled that DIRECTV has come on board. With their commitment to documentaries, their sophisticated audience and their willingness to support the filmmakers and movies, we couldn’t be happier.”

BATTLE for BROOKLYN is an intensely intimate look at the very public and passionate fight waged by owners and residents facing condemnation of their property to make way for the controversial Atlantic Yards project, a massive plan to build sixteen skyscrapers and a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets in the heart of Brooklyn. Shot over seven years and compiled from almost 500 hours of footage, BATTLE for BROOKLYN is an epic tale of how far people will go to fight for what they believe in. The film is a character-driven verite that also addresses the broader social, economic, and political ramifications of condemnation and urban planning through interactions with individuals from all sides of the issue. The film is set to open theatrically on September 25th just before the arena, Barclay’s Center, opens on September 28th. The film, which highlights speeches by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, architect Frank Gehry, Jay Z, Bruce Ratner, Steve Buscemi and others, is a primer on grassroots activism that will inspire people to look deeper into the stories that affect their lives.

In 2009, Swedish documentary filmmaker Fredrik Gertten’s film BANANAS*! – recounting the lawsuit that twelve Nicaraguan plantation workers successfully brought against the fruit giant Dole Food Company – was selected for competition by the Los Angeles Film Festival. Just before the world premiere of the film, Gertten received word that the festival had decided to remove BANANAS!* from competition. The resultant legal and public relations battle with Dole Food Company is the focus of BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*, a classic David vs Goliath story – but it is more about freedom of speech and what happens to a documentary filmmaker when he goes up against a large corporation such as Dole Foods and how far Dole will go to shift the focus off of them and onto the filmmaker. Media spin, PR scare tactics, dirty tricks, lawsuits, and corporate bullying come into play to try and destroy the filmmaker. But, it is the people who ultimately prevail, thus creating a cautionary tale and a real life-lesson learning experience.

For more information on the live screenings, please consult http://somethingtotalkabout.us/.

Advantages Of Satellite Internet Services

Most people use satellite Internet services today but are not even aware of the major benefits of this great technology. Satellite internet is a kind of service whereby internet signals are beamed directly from a satellite. This is not applicable in the regular internet connections that uses cable television lines or even phones. The satellite internet services are availed through a satellite receiver dish that is installed on the roof top and collects internet signals from a satellite. The internet signals are then collected by the use of cables into the home or the place of use and connected to a computer. This service comes with so many benefits to those who use them to date.

Listed below are some of the advantages of satellite internet services that you need to know so that next the next time you are looking for the best means of getting Internet services in to your home, you are able to make informed decisions.

All-the time Internet connection
The main advantage of the satellite internet services is that with it, your computer will always remain connected to the internet. After the installation of the services, your computer will always be connected every time you boot the computer. It it even much more easy since you do not have to log in and the connection is not even affected by the change of users or rebooting the computer.

Availability
Compared to the cable or DSL internet connections, satellite based internet is always available and not affected by geographical features like terrains, mountains among others. The reception can be from anywhere including even in seas where it can be used in ships without any hitches.

Multiple users
The satellite internet can be simultaneously shared by different users. In fact, it does not matter the number of users, an unlimited number of other gadgets are able to use the satellite signal without causing any problems to the reception. This will ensure convenience since you are able to carry out several tasks simultaneously from just the single connection.

Easy to use
The process of installing or setting up an internet connection via satellite is simple. All that is required is the setting up of an account for the user by a technician and the installation of a signal receiver dish that is also referred to as the satellite dish. Apart from the satellite dish, no any pother equipment is required and you are already connected to the internet.

Service Outages
The satellite internet is not affected by other devices like the cable connections or even the DSL. With the satellite internet connection, you will still be able to use other devices at home and even right inside the room like phones or even T.V without causing any interference with the connection.
With the above mentioned, it is just important that you should take the advantages of satellite for your internet without even thinking twice. It is reliable, efficient and also not so expensive. Besides, with the best internet services like this one, price is not always an issue.

Is Satellite Internet A Solution For Remote And Isolated Areas?

The government surely thinks so. In February 2009, the United States Congress voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Also known as "the Stimulus Act", the bill was intended to create jobs and help with the fiscal boost during the economic crisis. A considerable portion of the funds made available by the bill targeted the development of the national technological infrastructure, including satellite internet subventions for rural areas. In fact, for some isolated areas, satellite internet is the only available solution for the ones that wish to gain access to such services. For this purpose, the government allocated $63 million to bring internet access to residences, businesses, and other rural zones.

The main purpose of this consistent investment is the global development of online businesses. Many home businesses can advertise their services and even sell their products over the internet. However, many such home businesses have no access to internet. The government voted "the Stimulus Act", to help such businesses gain access to internet without a major investment from the beneficiary.

The most accessible solution for internet access distribution in rural areas is satellite internet. There are multiple providers that can offer satellite internet solution. However, the government decided to include only some of them into their "Stimulus Act". The Government Satellite Internet Program from HughesNet & Wildblue / Exede already served multiple rural services, connecting isolated location to the internet. All eligible families can get the standard installation for free. The equipment comes also at no cost and the monthly fees have a reduced rate. The eligibility of a client is decided under strict governmental guidance.

Technically, the government is actually investing in the expansion of internet services to rural areas while covering all the costs involved.

The government seems to have chosen companies like Wildblue / Exede & HughesNet for some obvious reasons. Their rates are lower than its competitors. The speed of the satellite internet provided is around 50 times faster than a dial-up connection, reaching speeds of up to 1.0 Mpbs. In terms of availability, satellite internet can be used anywhere, regardless of location, altitude or how far away the nearest town is. The satellite dish can also be moved or relocated without losing access to the internet. Once the modem is linked to the dish and connected to the computer, internet access is instant. There are no passwords required or complicated software. The user can access internet as soon as the computer boots up.

Since the program was started, almost three years ago, multiple government schools gained access to internet to improved education in that particular area. Hospitals, libraries, academic institutions, businesses, public and private agencies and many others received governmental funding to gain access to internet. Most of the beneficiaries were located in states such as Arizona, California, Vermont, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Idaho, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Utah and many others.

Both Wildblue / Exede and HughesNet have played an important role in spreading government funded satellite internet. In over 13 years since they started distributing satellite solutions, more than 1.5 systems have been deployed in more than 100 countries. Their experience made them a perfect candidate for the governmental plan for internet distribution in rural areas.

How Broadband Satellite Internet Works

Introduction
People in rural and remote areas have had to rely on dial up Internet service for years. Even wireless broadband services are not available in these areas. With the coming of satellite broadband, rural and remote areas will have access to wireless broadband services even without fiber optics or landline connections.

Satellite Broadband is a technology that uses high speed to transmit data giving users a faster internet connection than dial-up connection. Satellite Broadband does not work through cable systems or telephone lines, but instead uses satellite dish for two-way communication that is to upload and download data. Download speed is 4 times the speed of upload making satellite broadband 500 times faster when compared to dial-up connection.

Satellite broadband services uses geo stationary satellites to transmit and receive data. Satellite broadband internet service is available to virtually everyone and everyone enjoys the same speed and ability to access the system.

Setup and working
A satellite Internet setup consists of a dish, a modem (for upload and download) and coaxial cables for connecting the components.

When a user sends data via web browser, a request is sent from the computer to the satellite via modem and dish antenna. Here modem is used to modulate the signal and dish antenna is used to convert data to RF signals. The satellite dish is usually a mini dish and uses microwave signals to receive and transmit informations. These dishes can be mounted on a wall or a roof or on the ground by a pole mount. The satellite receives this signal and sends it to ground station which then retrieves the website from the web server, across the Internet backbone. This is how data is available to the user.

Technology
Satellite Broadband uses multicasting and Internet Protocol (IP) technology for communications which a single satellite to communicate simultaneously. It also uses compression technology to reduce the size of the data and to lower the bandwidth required to transmit it. Two-way communication dishes make use of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and single channel per carrier (SCPC). Modern teleports support 'C' and 'Ku' frequency band frequencies.

Advantages

• Accessibility: For isolated and rural regions, satellite broadband connections are only available type of broadband Internet
• Mobility: Can use satellite broadband while traveling on a bus or ship without needing cables.
• Simplicity: Doesnt require complex networks.
• Bandwidth flexibility: Configurable satellite systems provide capacity on an as-needed or time- scheduled basis.
• Rapid deployment: Quick initiation of broadband satellite service is possible after the installation of the customer premise equipment.
• Reliability: Satellites are among the most reliable of all communication technologies.

Disadvantages

• High Latency: It is nothing but the delay between the time when data is requested and the requested data is received, which is evidently high due to huge distances that the data has to tour and does not have any affects on normal internet usage like VOIP, online gaming, and also streaming video.
• Troubles: Since distance is involved, any extra disturbances like cloud, rain, or some buildings obscuring line of vision will have an affect on broadband connection.