PANetworks

The question of whether satellite internet is a competitive option in today’s world is a very real one. The State Government of South Carolina has provided its resounding “yes,” however, by accepting the Hughes Net bid for statewide broadband satellite. The bid covers satellite internet, provided by Hughes Net, to all the government offices throughout the state. The contract was officially awarded by the states DSIT, or Division of State Information Technology, on June 30, 2010.

South Carolina, a rural region, has much less access to DSL and Cable Broadband connections, the standard being used in most other states. Due to the high cost of establishing DSL or Cable connections in non-urban areas, the exact price of which can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, South Carolina looked seriously into less common alternatives. This included multiple satellite web providers.

While the contract did not specify the precise way that the internet would be provided or the exact quantity of data that would be allotted, it specified that the internet would fall into the “Lot 4″ connection category – a broadband speed satellite connection. The contract will last until mid 2017. Beyond being the primary provider for all the Government offices in South Carolina, services and availability are being extended to small business and home offices. As a result, the contract is expanding possibilities for businesses and the self-employed in South Carolina.

This contract is the first satellite internet contract to be rewarded in the United States, and represents a major benchmark in satellite internet. While satellite internet has become an increasingly popular option for private users, especially in rural areas, the Hughes net contract shows a greater official acceptance of this alternative. Users of this new internet option in South Carolina are likely to see significantly faster speeds than with previous dial-up connections, as well as greater reliability. This contract also shows a commitment from South Carolina’s government to lowering their overall spending.

Even with super-fast internet connection, the best possible hardware, and no major bugs, it’s possible that you’re not getting the most out of your home’s wireless internet. Here are a few quick tips on getting better signal strength and faster connection with your home’s wireless router.

1. Position, position, position.

Your wireless router should be placed in the most central location possible. The router will “bubble out” from where it is positioned, so if it’s placed close to the edge of the home, much of the signal strength will be wasted. If you absolutely can’t move it, there are different antenna types that can be used so your wireless stream isn’t being wasted.

2. Make your hardware as shiny as possible.

If you don’t already have a top-of-the-line router, you can always look into something that has a little more strength. When you’re buying your modem and router, you will get more bang for your buck by investing in multiple items from the same vendor, since doing so has shown a strong tendency to increase the hardware efficiency. Beyond your router, your computer’s network adapter might get a fair deal stronger with replacement. If you can’t, or just don’t want to, replace your hardware, make sure that your firmware and device drivers are all up to date. You can also invest in extras like wireless repeaters in order to bolster signal strength in all portions of your house.

3. Get rid of interference.

There are many things that can get in the way of your router’s transmission. Metal objects, or metal materials as a part of your decor, can disrupt your wireless broadcast. Other wireless devices, such as cordless phones, can also get in the way. Getting rid of these items, moving them to different areas, or moving your router away from them, can all help improve your signal strength.

4. Secure your network.

If your internet connection isn’t password protected, it’s entirely likely that other people are leeching off of it, and that’s one surefire way to hurt your signal strength. Simply adding a password to your wireless router will get rid of these unwelcome guests.

The vast majority of wireless networks are now secured – a significant change from five years ago. However, some people still haven’t taken the ten minutes required to secure their network. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience to not have this security, there are many reasons why this security is important. Here are five of the most significant.

One: Your Bandwidth Use is Increased

It should be obvious that your total bandwidth use will go up with more users. As there is only a certain amount of total bandwidth that you’re alloted, it’s important to keep your bandwidth under control to maximize your speeds.

Two: Your Router Will Be Mad at You

There are multiple points at which your internet speed are limited. Beyond the bandwidth issues mentioned above, you should keep in mind that even the best wireless routers have limitations. If more people are accessing the router, it’s more likely to overload, slow down, require hard resets, and be generally problematic.

Three: Your Files May Be Vulnerable

A savvy hacker will be able to access other devices and computers on the network if you haven’t engaged in appropriate security. This means, among other things, that private documents, pictures, and files will be vulnerable.

Four: You Can Get Locked Out

If you don’t set a password for your network, anyone else can. It isn’t required that they plug into your router in order to access it as an administrator. If you haven’t gone through a setup, set an administrator username and password, and so forth, then anyone who taps into your network can go into your control panel and lock you out of your own web.

Five: You May Be Supporting Crime

If other people are accessing your wireless network, you have no control over what they’re doing. Every foul thing that can happen on the internet, ranging from harmless music pirating to child pornography to illegal gambling rings can be happening using your internet. In addition to being terrible in and of itself, there are legal liability issues that you will have to face if these activities are traced to your IP address.