Personal computer communications via VSAT networks

The very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite network, a transport medium that is becoming important for long-distance personal computer (PC) communications, is described and analyzed. The mature and readily available VSAT technology offers many benefits and advantages over conventional terrestrial networks, including lower operating costs, ease of installation and maintenance, support for multiservices, bringing locations where the cost of leased lines is exorbitant into the communications loop, and integrating a large number of VSATs into a single network to provide a cost-effective expansion from small to large systems. The following aspects of VSAT networks are discussed: network configurations, networking and multiaccess, error-control protocols, and end-to-end performance analysis