The problem with only fiber and no satellite is rural areas (and some
not-so-rural). Until the 'phone companies completely "rewire" *all* lines with
fiber, there will be many areas with no high-speed connections except by
satellite; latency, prop. delay, tapping issues aside (we won't even talk about
problems where they effectively "crash and burn" - a bit hard to send someone
with
a bucket truck to take a look!). And, I agree completely that
"secure/untappable"
is an oxymoron.
The issue of "rewiring" is both financial, technical, and regulatory.
Financial
in that there is a huge investment that must first must be written down be it
'phone lines or cable TV. Technical; there are still many pieces of hardware
that
have not yet been designed or are expensive/primitive - e.g., check out the
price
of an optical modem. What is needed are small "taps" that can be placed on the
optical waveguide line to provide bidirectional communications; these could be
all
optical or a small "modem" powered by the coax from the house - at some point
(for
the forseeable future) one must eventually convet the optical information to
electrical. It is still tough to make high-effeciency lasers (at the correct
wavelengths) and how channelization may occur is not yet completely clear.
Regulatory: there is a serious fight among the 'phone companies, cable
companies,
and satellite providers for the market - all will lobby (kind choice of word
here)
the policy makers (all countries) to the hilt. Of course, the present turndown
in
telecom doesn't help a bit and delays are certain. As one involved in the
photonics business (R&D level) I (and mny of my peers) still find it
unbelievable
that people being paid huge $$$$$$$$ could not see when the balloon was going to
burst.
73, Tom - WA2BPE
Jon Ogden wrote:
> on 8/31/01 2:34 PM, WA2BPE at wa2bpe@exotrope.net wrote:
>
> > The real answers to broadband are satellite and fiber optics to the home (or
> > at least to the curb).
>
> Well, satellites have horrible latency issues and propagation delays. Makes
> for game problems, steaming video conferencing, etc. At least 250
> milliseconds of delay. And since your internet feed is being broadcast from
> geosynchronous orbit, half the entire world could pick up your internet data
> if they wanted too.
>
> So I don't find satellite to be any less "private" than power line or cable
> modems. And anyhow, since all our communication goes over an internet
> backbone, nothing is really "private."
>
> I do agree - fiber to the home is the best solution.
>
> My problem with the power line issue is that of the radiation and
> interference for sure.
>
> 73,
>
> Jon
> NA9D
>
> -------------------------------------
> Jon Ogden
> NA9D (ex: KE9NA)
>
> Member: ARRL, AMSAT, DXCC, NRA
>
> http://www.qsl.net/ke9na
>
> "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
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