ABOUT SATELLITE

What's a VSAT?

A VSAT or Very Small Aperture Terminal is a communication technology, which lets fixed satellite antennas send and receive signals to an orbiting satellite.

Where is the satellite positioned?

The Eurobird satellite, used by BT Business Satellite, is positioned at 28.5 deg east. That means 28.5 deg east of GMT (0 deg latitude). It is in a geo-synchronous orbit over the equator.

Is BT Business Satellite affected by rain?

BT Business Satellite will be up and running over 99.5% of the time. However, like satellite television services, your service may be affected by very heavy rain.

Will BT Business Satellite be affected if the satellite dish is accidentally knocked out of alignment?

Yes, your service will be affected. An improperly aligned dish may cause significant interference with other satellite transmissions, resulting in reduced performance for you. It is possible that you may not notice a change in performance, but it may cause significant interference for other customers. Your satellite dish can be knocked out of alignment by, for example, high winds or people moving the dish by accident. If this happens, just call the BT Business team and we'll arrange for an engineer to revisit your premises.

What can affect reception of the Satellite signal?

This equipment requires two-way radio communication with a satellite located above the equator. If the path between the dish and the satellite is blocked after installation, service will be interrupted. Possible causes of blockage after the equipment has been installed are:

• Growth of trees or hedges between the dish and the satellite
  
• Construction of buildings between the dish and the satellite
  
• Heavy rain
  
• Vehicle parked in front, and close to, a ground-mounted dish
  
• Movement of dish due to severe weather or accidental disturbance
  
• Additionally, twice each year at the equinoxes in March and October, the Sun will pass behind the satellite at around 11:30am. During this time the Service will be unavailable for a few minutes.
  
  

Can a company have more than one Satellite connection, for redundancy/uptime?

Customers can have two VSAT terminals, however BT Business expect that most problems will be caused locally to the end user (like heavy rain) which will affect all VSATs in the area. We therefore do not suggest having an additional satellite line for redundancy/uptime. The BT Business Satellite includes Pay-as-you-go dial access so you can always configure a land line backup connection (at reduced bandwidth) independent of satellite reception.

What is meant by 'line of sight' required for the installation?

The satellite dish must have an unobstructed view of the satellite in order to work. This means that no buildings, trees or other permanent obstruction should block the path between your dish and the satellite.

What must be considered in positioning the Indoor and Outdoor Units?

The installer will discuss options for positioning the Outdoor Unit (satellite dish) and Indoor Unit with you. The Indoor Unit must be within two metres of a mains socket. As a rough guide, the dish must have an unobstructed view of the sky between south and south-east and must be at least three times as far away from any tree or building in that direction as the tree or building is tall. The dish can be placed on a wall, roof, or free-standing on a base on the ground. The Indoor and Outdoor units can be a maximum of 60m apart (length of the cable), although this can be increased to 100m by using a thicker cable and possibly still more with an in-line amplifier. This is done at extra cost. There are more details to be considered when positioning the dish, but the installer will go through all of this when they contact you.

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ABOUT THE SERVICE

What is BT Business Satellite?

The BT Business Satellite is a high speed broadband Internet access service that brings the benefits of broadband technology to businesses beyond the range of ADSL-enabled telephone exchanges.

There are two package options available:

• For single PC access/home office use: Business Satellite 500/1 - supports 1 PC
  
• For multiple computer access/small to medium-sized business: Business Satellite 500/4 - supports 4 computers
  
  

The technology behind the service comes from Gilat Satellite Networks, a leading global satellite service provider.

What are the key features/benefits of BT Business Satellite?

• Speed: Both products offer high speed, up to 500kbit/s download speed and up to 150kbit/s burst rate on the upstream (120kbit/s upstream bandwidth).
• 'Always on': 24 hours a day. You no longer have to waste valuable time dialling up to get a connection.
• Flexible: it does not use the telephone line, so you can make and receive telephone calls, or faxes, whilst you're online.
• Fixed prices: using BT Business Satellite does not incur call charges, you simply pay a fixed fee for as much access as you need day or night.
• Content: dedicated broadband enabled portal and content.
  
  

Are there any time limits or hourly restrictions on the BT Business Satellite?

There are no time restrictions on usage. Broadband access with BT Business Satellite is 'always on' at high speed, keeping you in touch. Because the satellite network is a shared resource, BT Business will monitor the use of the network and may take action if individual use (eg peer-to-peer applications) is deemed detrimental to the wider customer base.

Where and when can I get BT Business Satellite?

The Service is now available across the UK.

What do I do if I move to another location?

The equipment must be re-installed at the new location by an accredited BT Business Satellite Installer or Engineer.

Can my BT Business Satellite bill be included with my normal telephone bill?

No. For regulatory reasons your BT Business broadband bill will be separated from your normal telephone bill.

Do I still have to pay line rental on top of my subscription?

Yes. BT Business Satellite is independent of any telephone line that you may have. You have to pay BT (or any other supplier that you may use) for the rental of your telephone service and any call charges or other charges associated with it.

Is there a way of spreading the cost of purchase and installation, or a way of renting one of the products?

Yes there is and it's called BT Contract Rental. Please contact our sales team and they will be delighted to advise you of this cost effective option.

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SERVICE SPEED AND COMPARISONS

How does BT Business Satellite compare with other satellite-delivered Internet systems?

BT Business Satellite is an 'always on' Internet service that sends and receives Internet content via satellite at high speed. Unlike some satellite Internet operators, it does not require customers to use a separate phone line or a separate Internet Service Provider (ISP).

How does BT Business Satellite compare to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modem access?

BT Business Satellite, like DSL and cable modems, provides an 'always on' high speed connection to the Internet. This Service can be available virtually anywhere - even in remote areas - via satellite. It isn't phone line or cable dependent.

How does BT Business Satellite compare with standard dial-up Internet access?

BT Business Satellite provides an 'always on' Internet access service BT Business Satellite offers up to 500kbit/s download speed and up to 150kbit/s burst rate on the upstream (120kbit/s upstream bandwidth).

Given that data speeds are exponential (e.g. 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512) why do some sources quote 512/153Kbps but BT Business quotes 500/153?

Gilat Europe S.A, our network provider, states that their network will support up to 500Kbps downstream and up to 153Kbps upstream - we quote the same speeds.

Are the speeds, inbound and outbound, guaranteed?

No. BT Business Satellite will offer access speeds of up to 500Kbps downstream (depending on the product you have chosen) and up to 153Kbps upstream. The speeds quoted are maximum speeds, average speeds will be lower, particularly during busy periods - the satellite network is a shared resource so the performance will vary depending on the behaviour of others users sharing the network. These speeds are measured for FTP from the Hub Facility and do not account for Internet congestion.

Are there per-customer bandwidth limits?

The user-to-Internet direction (inbound) does have a physical limit of 120Kbps (153Kbps burst speed), however please see the Fair Share Policy for further information.

Does BT Business apply any policies to Internet traffic?

BT Business may need to apply certain traffic management policies to certain types of Internet traffic in order to preserve the integrity of the BT Business Satellite for the majority of its customers.

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WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE SERVICE?

What does the satellite equipment consist of?

• Indoor Unit
  
• Outdoor Unit (ODU: dish and outdoor electronics)
  
• RF Cable between Indoor Unit and Outdoor Unit
  
• BT Business software CD-ROM
  
• Gilat Driver CD-ROM
  
• Ethernet crossover or USB cable
  
  

Do I need any software for the installation?

All customers will receive a CD-ROM with their equipment upon installation.

What is the minimum PC specification for Satellite 500/1?

The Indoor Unit (satellite modem) will connect to your PC or laptop. It will be necessary to load software onto this computer, and the computer must meet the following minimum requirements:

Hardware:

• Pentium-class processor, 200Mhz
  
• 128MB of RAM (more highly recommended)
  
• 120MB available hard disk space
  
• CD-ROM drive
  
• 10BaseTX or 10/100 auto-sensing Ethernet port (500/1 or 500/4) OR a USB port
  

Operating System:

• Microsoft ® Windows ® 2000, or
  
• Microsoft ® Windows ® ME
  
  

* Not compatible with Macs or any other type of terminal device.

**Some content, e.g. video playback, may require a higher specification PC for optimum performance.

What is the minimum PC specification for Satellite 500/4?

It is not necessary to load operating software onto PCs connected to Business Satellite 500/4, since the Indoor Unit is both a satellite modem and a router. Generally, any computer, router or firewall with an Ethernet LAN port and IP software can be used with Business Satellite 500/4.

Can I install other software and peripherals on my PC?

Yes, you can install other software and peripherals. Be careful and make sure you use updated and compatible drivers to avoid potential problems.

Do the systems use USB or Ethernet?

The 500/4 only interfaces to your equipment via Ethernet. The 500/1 can use either USB or Ethernet - both ports are available on the one unit but there is a slider which covers whichever port is not in use.

Does BT Business Satellite require a dedicated telephone connection?

No. BT Business Satellite uses a 'two way' satellite connection, which means that all Internet content is sent and received via satellite. There's no connection to a phone line.

What is the effect of installing the Satellite service on my dial-up connection?

Satellite does not use or affect your telephone line. Any dial-up connection already working on your computer should continue to work as before, so you can work away from the office using a satellite configured laptop (roaming).

What is the effect of installing the Satellite service on my fax line?

Satellite does not use or affect your fax line. Your fax will continue to work as normal.

What is the effect of installing Satellite on my alarm line?

Satellite does not use or affect your alarm line.

What telephone service will I need to take the BT Business Satellite?

No telephone Service is required. You will need an analogue (PSTN) line to use dial-up access when roaming, or as a backup to the Satellite service.

Can I use the basic telephone connection at the same time?

Yes, you can use the Internet at the same time as the telephone. BT Business Satellite does not affect your normal telephone line in any way. You will continue to receive your normal bill for existing services, e.g., Friends & Family, BT Together, and all select services.

Can I run my BT Business Satellite and dial-up connection at the same time?

This is not recommended. Results may vary depending on your PC and Windows version but are not likely to be an improvement on Satellite alone. The BT Business team cannot support this configuration.

Can I keep my existing telephone number?

You will be able to keep your existing telephone number. BT Business Satellite does not affect your normal telephone line in any way, even if you use another telephone service provider.

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ABOUT THE INSTALLATION

Can I install the Service myself?

No. Installation by an accredited engineer is required. If you perform your own installation, or even a part of the installation, you will invalidate any applicable installation and service warranties.

Is the Satellite equipment user-installable?

This satellite equipment is a radio transmitter and operates under a master licence issued to BT Business by the Radiocommunications Agency. An accredited BT Business Satellite Installer or Engineer only may install it. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the equipment and it should not be modified in any way.

What's needed for the installation?

The installation process is very similar to the standard small-dish satellite television installation process, except that it involves a slightly larger antenna and two coaxial cables running from the dish to the computer. Also, because the service both sends and receives content via satellite, the dish pointing process requires greater precision than satellite television dishes. The installation will take approximately three hours. If you already have a dish on your house, you may require planning permission. We have an information pack to help you.

After installation, how is my service activated?

The installer will activate the service for you.

Will I be able to use the Service immediately after the Installer/Engineer has left?

Yes. The engineer will install the Gilat software on one of your PCs to test the installation before leaving. Satellite 500/4 users are advised to install the Gilat software on their other Windows computers after the engineer has left, in order to get the best Web browsing performance.

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COMPUTER AND NETWORK

Can the BT Business team help solve problems with my computer?

No. The BT Business team can only help with problems relating specifically to the BT Business Broadband service and its dedicated hardware and software.

Can I run more than one PC on the Satellite 500/1 Service?

No. The Gilat SkyBlaster 360 customer premises equipment, a part of Business Satellite 500/1, is designed to work with a single PC only.

Can I run more than one PC on the Satellite 500/4 Service?

Yes. The router has one Ethernet port but you can connect up to four PCs to the Service. You will need to provide the additional equipment (hub and cables).

Does the Satellite 500/1 product support Windows 98 Internet connection sharing?

No. The Business Satellite 500/1 product is designed for use with a single PC.

Does the Satellite 500/4 product support Windows 98 internet connection sharing?

We offer a similar functionality to that provided by Windows 98 connection sharing as we allow up to four PCs to share a single VSAT terminal. The Windows 98 connection sharing capability is therefore unnecessary with this product. BT Business does not support Windows 98 connection sharing capability.

Does the Satellite 500/1 product provide a network solution?

No. The SkyBlaster 360 VSAT terminal provided with the Business Satellite 500/1 Service is designed to be used with a single PC.

Does the Satellite 500/4 product provide a network solution?

No. The SkyBlaster 360e VSAT terminal provided with the Business Satellite 500/4 Service provides a single Ethernet port and a crossover cable to allow you to get started with a single computer or a connection to your router or firewall. It does not provide a network solution between computers.

Which applications are compatible with Business Satellite 500 services?

These applications have been tested and will work with BT Business Satellite (Ethernet) broadband services: Telnet, SMTP, POP3, HTTP, HTTP/SSL, RealAudio, SSH (Secure Shell).

Why do some applications not work with BT Business Satellite services?

Because BT Business Satellite products use a satellite link, which has an associated delay of around 350ms each way due to the speed of light, there may be problems with some applications that require fast response times (e.g. games). See also How it works

How do I uninstall the drivers and BT Business software?

This is described in the Installation Instructions supplied on the BT Business and Gilat CDROMs.

Can I keep my non-BT email address?

Yes. Providing you maintain the necessary subscription. We advise customers to let all of their contacts know that they have changed their email address once they have BT Business Broadband installed, and then regularly check their old email for 2-3 months.

Can I have a personal domain name for my Web site?

Yes. As part of the BT Business Satellite you will obtain a personal domain of the form home.btconnect.com/yourname/

If you wish to own your own personal domain (e.g. www.yourname.com) you will need to register this in its own right, which will include paying any registration fees and rental fees to the relevant Internet authorities. This, of course, will be subject to availability and approval. BT Business do provide this as a chargeable Service to Business Satellite customers. For more information, go to the BT Business homepage at:

http://www.btconnect.com/members/your_site/domainnames.html

Can I use a personal domain name for my email address?

Yes. If you have registered a domain name with an agent who also provides email forwarding, then email can be delivered to your BT Business account.

What is Network Address Translation (NAT)?

NAT allows the same IP addresses to be re-used by multiple users, or a number of PCs, at one location to share these external IP addresses.

Does BT Business Satellite use NAT (Network Address Translation)?

No.

Will your products support a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) email feed?

Yes. All products support Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for sending email. Currently the BT Business Satellite cannot provide DNS MX records for inbound SMTP but if you are operating your own Domain Name server, or are using a third party DNS provider, incoming SMTP mail delivery is possible.

Will BT Business provide technical support for Web Hosting or SMTP mail?

Some applications that do not work well over a satellite link will not be supported by BT Business because better alternatives are being provided as a part of the standard service.

Will I be able to retrieve POP3 email through the system, as I can now?

Yes. But you will need to configure your email client accordingly. Further information can be found in our BT Business CD-ROM supplied with the equipment. Windows customers who install the BT Business software will have Outlook Express configured automatically to use this Service.

What if I want more than the "allowed" number of POP3 Mailboxes?

Currently, we do not support more than the allocated number of mailboxes, which is 20 for Satellite 500/1 or 100 for Satellite 500/4. This is under evaluation.

What if I would like more than 20MB of Web space?

You can order more Web space from the Members Area at:

http://www.btconnect.com/admin/modify/web_space.html

Can I host a Web site on my own computer?

No. BT Business Satellite is not designed to support Web sites at the your premises. The asymmetric nature of the service and the satellite round trip delays will limit the performance of Web sites hosted at your premises compared with those hosted on BT Business servers. 20MB of Web space on BT Business servers is provided as standard, with logs and statistics available.

What is an Internet Protocol Accelerator

The satellite delay affects the performance of some Internet Protocols, effectively limiting throughput. An Internet Protocol Accelerator (IPA) is software that overcomes this problem.

Can I use other browsers or versions of Internet Explorer?

Yes, although you may not get the same levels of performance as with the IE5.5 SP1 supplied, which has been optimised for BT Business.
Note: the Gilat IPA (Internet Protocol Accelerator) software is only supported for use with Internet Explorer although most Netscape configurations will work.

Can I access my BT Business email remotely?

BT Business Satellite users can access their email account remotely through the BT Connect dial-up product. To use dial-up access you need to use the BT Connect dial-up number 0845 757 6111. There are no compatibility issues between the BT Connect Pay-as-you-go access and BT Business software. Installation instructions are already installed on the user’s PC under Program Files\BTconnect.

Note: this will require an appropriately configured dial-up modem. Call charges will apply.

Alternatively, access the Web page at: http://www.btconnect.com/webmail

Is there an upper limit on file sizes for email attachments and File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?

BT Business Satellite does not have any limits on the size of email attachments or FTP file sizes. However, there is an overall limit on the amount of Web space you are allowed (20MB).

Can I change my operating system to Linux or another OS?

The BT Business Satellite software does not support operating systems other than Windows 2000 or ME. Other operating systems may be used without the performance enhancements enabled by this software. Manual set up instructions are provided in the Troubleshooting guide.

Note: the BT Business team can't offer support other than for the recommended operating systems.

How many IP addresses do I get?

You get one IP address with BT Business Satellite 500/1.

You get a /29 subnet with five IP addresses with BT Business Satellite 500/4.

Are the IP addresses I get public or RFC1918 private?

The IP addresses are globally routable IP addresses and allocated via RIPE.

Does the Service use a transparent HTTP proxy?

No. There is no proxy or redirect device between BT Business Satellite 500/1 or 500/4 customers and the Internet.

Does the Service provide an opt-in HTTP proxy?

Yes. The service provides an HTTP proxy called the Internet Page Accelerator (IPA) that users of supported Windows operating systems may select to enhance web download performance. This is the default configuration for Windows end user PCs. This software is not presently available for non-Windows PCs.

Does the Service apply IP access lists or content filtering between the Internet and end users?

No. Access policies and protection are entirely the user's responsibility.

Is it permissible to connect a router or firewall between the 500/4 Service and end user PCs?

Yes. But BT Business can't provide support for the customer's LAN - the firewall or router reseller should do this.

Note: that BT Business Satellite is provided for a maximum of four end-user PCs. BT Business cannot guarantee the performance of the service if more than four PCs attempt to use the satellite link at the same time.

Can I use BT Business Teleworker (VPN Remote) with Satellite 500/4?

BT Business does not support BT Business Teleworker with Satellite 500/4.

What happens if I get a power cut?

The SkyStar Advantage equipment will automatically reconnect to the Service after power cuts of up to one day. If it is switched off for extended periods it will be necessary to call the BT Business team to request re-activation. The SkyBlaster 360e is rated at 25 Watts, 240-volt AC input. So even a small Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can maintain service through power cuts.


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