WiFi Vs. Satellite Internet
Although Wi-Fi and Satellite Internet are both technologies that help you access the Internet, their functions are quite distinct. Understanding the difference is important when researching your Internet access options.
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Network Scope
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Wi-Fi is a standard for local networks, which usually extend no further than a few hundred feet from their central antennae. By contrast, satellite Internet networks are quite literally global, extending over huge portions of the earth's surface by virtue of their antennae in the sky.
Access
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer satellite Internet access to users who can't easily be reached by normal physical connections like DSL or Cable. Wi-Fi networks are set up by home users or businesses to locally distribute an Internet connection provided by an ISP.
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Hardware
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Satellite Internet requires a special dish antenna and a modem. Wi-Fi requires a router that will connect to an existing Internet connection and then create a Wi-Fi network. Each computer on a Wi-Fi network must have either built-in or peripheral Wi-Fi capability.
Cost
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Satellite Internet currently costs between $50 and $120 dollars per month. The cost of Wi-Fi varies greatly depending on the Internet connection it uses as a source. Many public Wi-Fi connections are free; the cost of private Wi-Fi networks depends on the cost of the Internet connection and the router.
The Future
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Although Wi-Fi networks are "local" and have limited range, newer standards are improving the potential range dramatically. Some Wi-Fi networks have enough range to be a viable Internet access option (like a cellular network). The increasing range of Wi-Fi networks may make satellite Internet technology obsolete for all but the most remote areas of the planet.
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References
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