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Broadband is a fast Internet connection. Broadband can involve a range of different technologies that connect to the Internet. It is much faster than dial-up, doesn't tie up your phone line, and is always connected.

The only difference between satellite broadband and terrestrial broadband such as DSL is how it is delivered. DSL uses the existing phone line network to provide connectivity. Satellite broadband is not reliant on any fixed lines or infrastructure and uses a satellite dish for both download and upload connectivity.

BayCity Communications do not provide services plans directly to end-users. As a wholesale provider of satellite broadband we provide wholesale bandwidth to a range of service providers. These companies resell this bandwidth to end-users in the form of retail service plans. A list of our retail service providers can be found at: www.bccnz.com/services/residential

Anywhere in New Zealand is capable of receiving satellite broadband, all that is required is a clear view of the western sky. This means that some specific locations may not be able to receive satellite broadband due to the natural landscape, trees or buildings surrounding them. Often this can be resolved by moving the satellite dish to a different location on the property. In a rare cases such as within mountain valleys reception may not be possible.

IPSTAR-1 is the physical satellite that provides the satellite broadband connectivity. It was launched in 2005 by Shin Satellites and is one of the largest communications satellites in existence. Global connectivity with the IPSTAR-1 satellite is maintained by IPSTAR.

It depends on which terrestrial service you use and how much you use it. In some circumstances, terrestrial services may prove to be more expensive. For example, rural users who are still on a dial up service maybe charged a monthly connection fee as well as a per minute connection charge that depending on usage will add up to more than a satellite package. With satellite broadband, you get an always-on broadband connection making it ideal for those who cannot get a high speed terrestrial broadband connection such as DSL.

Yes, a number of our resellers can provide a Quality Digital Voice solution that will allow you to make and receive telephone calls independently of your existing landline. In addition Internet based services such as Skype can be used although with services such as Skype we cannot guarantee the quality.

The term latency refers to the travelling time, measured in milliseconds, for data received or sent via your satellite dish. With satellite broadband the data needs to travel to the satellite and back, creating a slightly longer latency than DSL or cable broadband. This is not normally noticeable when using broadband for applications such as browsing the internet, catching up on emails, or streaming video.

Depending on the type of website you are accessing, a web page may appear to be downloading a little slowly for a second. Once the page is presented on your screen, navigating through the information will then be faster as all of the information on the page will already be on your computer, rather than being downloaded as you read it.

Latency does not affect everyday Internet use such as accessing websites and working with emails. However, some applications are particularly sensitive to latency, such as rapid online gaming or some types of VPN applications. If you are thinking about using your satellite connection for these types of applications, please talk to your service provider.

Rain fade occurs at times of heavy precipitation (rain, snow or hail) and may interfere with the satellite signal traveling through the atmosphere. This is an unusual occurrence with the IPSTAR satellite and will only occur in extreme conditions. As soon as the heavy precipitation eases full service will automatically be restored.

No, Sky TV dishes are only designed to receive a signal. A special dish is needed to have the additional transmission capability needed for broadband communications.

An IPSTAR satellite broadband dish is 84cm in diameter, slightly larger than a standard Sky Television dish.

No, satellite broadband involves the installation and operation of a complex set of equipment. To optimise performance and minimise interference with other independent services, professional installation is required.

The IPSTAR modem lets you connect your computer to the Internet whether you are running a Windows or Macintosh operating system. In order to ensure you get the most out of your Internet experience, we suggest the following these minimum system requirements:

Operating system: PC: Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac: OS9.0- OS10.5.

Processor: PC: Pentium II or greater, Mac: 400 MHz G3 or greater.

Yes, you can connect multiple computers and laptops. Please understand that all computers on this network will be sharing a single connection. Simultaneous use of high-bandwidth applications by multiple users may result in degradation of speed for all users.

All you need to connect your computer to the IPSTAR satellite broadband modem is either a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card or a PCMCIA adapter with an Ethernet connector.

You do not need a phone line or dial-up data modem to use satellite broadband connection, as it is a two way satellite service.

First level customer and technical support for fault identification and resolution will be provided by your local reseller. Further escalations as required will be managed by your reseller through to BayCity Communications.