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StarBand sm

It's always on and its available virtually everywhere.

Click Here- With your name, address, home phone number and daytime phone number, and we'll call you to schedule a StarBand installation (within our service area) or CALL 800-870-8876.

StarBand: Formerly known as Gilat-To-Home, StarBand strategic partners include: Gilat Satellite Networks, Microsoft Corporation and Echostar Communications (DISH Network). Gilat Satellite Networks is a world wide leader in the construction and operation of satellite based business data networks, definitely not a new comer to satellite based data networks.

What is it: Satellite Based Internet Access! StarBand uses a single satellite dish antenna for receiving AND for sending information - no telephone connection is needed. Plus, the StarBand antenna can optionally accommodate both the Internet and EchoStar's DISH Network^®; satellite TV programming, so StarBand's service can bring the Internet and hundreds of channels of television into your home, all through one dish antenna.

The StarBand System consists of a .75 meter 24"h x 36"w dish (with transmit & receive electronics); 75' maximum dual run RG6 coax; and the new Model 360 "data modem"; and a software package that would run on your compatible computer to communicate with the data modem.

Performance: From the StarBand web site: "StarBand consumers can expect download speeds up to 500 kbps and upload speeds up to 150 kbps. And, your speed can burst even higher depending on when you are online. However, you may experience slower speed during peak hours which are typically weekday evenings. StarBand's goal is to provide 150 kbps download speeds and upload speeds of 50 kbps during the busiest hours on the net."

Initial Equipment Cost: The initial system price is $499 (NEW Model 360 Modem) plus $199 for typical installation. StarBand requires that certified installers provide the installation.

Minimum Subscription Period Required: Minimum of 12 consecutive month service subscription. $549 early cancellation penalty.

Computer Requirements: 300 Mhz Pentium Class or Higher Processor, 32 Meg RAM, CD-ROM, WindowsME, Win98, Win98SE, or Win2000 environment, AVAILABLE USB port on your computer. Hard drive space: 30MB minimum install - 85MB for full install.

Where: The service area is the Continental US: Not Canada, Not Mexico, Not Hawaii, No foreign countries. Contact Dealers in Alaska regarding possible availability there.

Our service area for StarBand is currently limited to Northern California, Generally the counties of Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, Shasta, Sacramento, Tehama.

Not In Our Northern California Service Area?: If you are NOT in our service area you can go here to find a StarBand Dealer that does serve your area. Click Here

Who: Residential use only. Initially, StarBand system services and rates are specifically for use in single family residences. We expect StarBand to create rates for business applications soon.

Look Angle: In general the StarBand service is available from either GE4 at 101 degrees west longitude or Telestar 7 at 129 degrees west longitude. In general, California subscribers would be using Telestar 7, unless site requirements only allowed the use of GE4. If you're concerned about possible look angle obstructions you can check out both locations.

Satellite

Location

Satellite

Name

True

Azimuth

Magnetic

Azimuth

Elevation

Angle

Skew

Angle

Spacer

101

GE 4

149.3

133.4

39.0

113.0

129

Telestar 7

191.1

175.2

43.2

81.5

In a situation where you want the single StarBand dish to also receive DISH Network programming: The dish location would also need a line of sight path to DISH Network's current satellite locations at 119 and 110 degrees west longitude. A separate DISH Network dish may be required in situations where a single dish location can not accommodate all these look angles. Plus realize that some niche DISH Network programming (EG: SkyAngel, HDTV, and some foreign channels) may be located at 61.5 or 148 degrees and would require a separate dish.

You do not really need to worry about all these details - Once we know what services you want - our professional installers can outline the installation requirements.

Can You Network The StarBand Service? YES, but neither we nor StarBand support networking questions and issues, so if you want to try networking with the StarBand system, you do so at your own risk, and we recommend that you first make sure that you have access to technical support through other sources. You will be charged by StarBand for any maintenance / repair / support services provided by StarBand due to problems resulting from your networking activities. While we do not yet provide a "StarBand-approved" networking solution, we've done it, and other users have done it successfully. With that disclaimer, StarBand does offer a short guide to setting up a home LAN using software available over the Internet, here.

Hopefully we all know by now, that neither the nominal "speed" of a particular internet connection, nor it's individual performance to the backbone of the internet are a total fix to the WWW (world wide wait). There can be many many network components along the way in the internet itself, or the target's server, that cause less than desired performance. The 2 way satellite internet products are "last mile" solutions that get you on to the internet. Like a DSL line or other internet connection, they do not solve all the performance issues of the internet itself.

Latency: Another issue that we ought to mention is the fact that data you send is being transmitted from you to a satellite, to a ground station, to the destination. And data coming to you from its origin must get to the ground station, to the satellite, down to you. This 44,600 mile trip thru a satellite (on each data path) does add some Ping time (about 435ms). We doubt that most folks would ever notice this issue, and we would not expect it to impact the average internet user at all, but wanted to mention it.

Preliminary Information: This is our best preliminary information to help paint a picture of how the StarBand system has been introduced. Subject to change without notice. Only rely upon written information from the manufacturer and service provider.

See the StarBand web site for important information, including the StarBand Terms of Use.

Click Here- With your name, address, home phone number and daytime phone number, and we'll call you to schedule a StarBand installation (within our service area) --- OR CALL 800-870-8876 (Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 10-2) to schedule a StarBand Installation.

© 2000 StarBand Communications Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications and price subject to change without notice. StarBand and the StarBand family of marks are exclusive servicemarks and trademarks of StarBand Communications Inc.

We Service The Counties Of: Butte.....Colusa......Glenn.....Lake.....Mendocino.....Tehama.....Shasta.....Sutter.....Yuba.....