[LINK] The shift to satellite

[David Boxall]

An interesting set of questions. Much of Western Tasmania was reportedly 
due to get FttP NBN. Sadly, it seems many premises have been shifted to 
satellite. Not only does that increase the load on the limited satellite 
resources, but it seems likely to fail more frequently.

<https://www.facebook.com/groups/BIRRR/permalink/477085182500174/>
> I live in Western Tasmania, an area currently slated to receive 
> satellite. On Tuesday I will be among a number of speakers addressing 
> a public meeting to debate the NBN situation for the West Coast.
>
> I am looking for information that would help to clarify the impact of 
> selecting this option for this region, & hope a few people here can 
> help me out.
>
> This region gets an average of 3 metres (yes metres) of rain each 
> year. I believe that at an hourly rate of 10mm rain fade can result in 
> a 32db reduction in signal strength. 10mm per hour is a light shower 
> for us, & the proposed solution to mitigate rain fade is to boost the 
> signal strength from the dish to the satellite. How will that handle 
> 25-100mm of rain per hour?
>
> Secondly, we are also in an area that can get snow at any time of 
> year, even during summer. Even the low lying towns can get snow, but 
> are more likely to have heavy hail activity when it is snowing higher 
> up. At my home, in the highest town in the region, we frequently have 
> a few inches of snow settling on the ground a number of times 
> throughout the year. How will the satellite signal cope with snow & 
> ice in the atmosphere, and how will six inches of snow on my dish 
> effect signal strength & quality?
>
> Thirdly, what impact would solar radiation have on the signal strength 
> & quality? During times of solar flares & earth bound CME (Coronal 
> Mass Ejection) activity, we often have the beauty of the Aurora 
> Australis lighting up our night sky. I assume this will have a major 
> detrimental effect on satellite signals?

-- 
David Boxall                    |  For when the One Great Scorer comes
                                 |  To mark against your name,
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  He writes-not that you won or lost-
                                 |  But how you played the game.
--Grantland Rice