Key Elements of the Gilat to Home Internet Satellite Service

FROM

La Grange Satellite Systems 900 N 5th Street La Grange, Missouri 63448

573-655-2260  fax 573-655-2261   email LSC@NEMONET.COM

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Gilat-to-Home's High-Speed Residential Internet Access via Satellite

 

Internet Access

@  "Always on" Internet connection - No logon required

@  Internet access at speeds up to 10 times faster than standard phone modems

@ No phone line required - No local or long distance toll charges

@  This service will be provided at no charge through December 31,2000. After that time you may elect to continue with the service, at a yet-to-be announced monthly service fee and service terms, or you may discontinue the service at no penalty.

Hardware - GTH will provide and install at your residence:

@  A residential satellite communication system that includes a 36" x 24" antenna, antenna mount, outdoor electronics, and cabling into your house. This system is your link to the Internet service satellite. In addition, this same antenna assembly will be equipped to receive DISH 500 @ TV programming from two EchoStar satellites.

@ A new PC containing the satellite modem equipment  

Attachment 2 - Accommodating an Antenna

 Introduction

Even if you are interested in the GTH's Internet access service, there may be physical, legal, or other restrictions outside of your control that prevent your participation. The purpose of this attachment is to walk you through these restrictions to help you determine if any of them apply to you.

Local Restrictions

There may be restrictions imposed and approvals required by your landlord, homeowners association, or other entity that prohibit having a satellite dish installed where you live or that impose limitations (height, placement, etc). Please check to verify that no such restrictions apply, or that permission or waivers have been obtained if they do apply. You will be responsible and liable for failure to comply with any such restrictions. With regard to zoning restrictions, you should be aware that the FCC has taken actions to discourage local jurisdictions from placing restrictions on certain satellite-based communications equipment. It is GTH's opinion that most zoning restrictions would not apply to the GTH-provided equipment; however you are responsible to determine for yourself whether or not any such restrictions apply to your particular situation. If this is an issue where you live, you may find some helpful information at the following web site: http://www.fcc.gov/csb/facts/otard.html.

What is "Line-of-Site to Satellite?"

Satellite transmissions require a direct and unobstructed path between the satellite and the antenna. This means that no trees, buildings, or other objects can break this direct line-of-sight. The satellite is "parked" at 101@ West Longitude - 22,300 miles above the Equator.

This section (What is "Line-of-Site to Satellite?") and the next two sections will assist you in determining whether this satellite will be visible from a place on your house or property where the antenna could be installed. After following the instructions in that section, you should be able to give one of these three answers: 

         (1) Yes, the satellite will be visible from my property; 

         (2) I'm not sure; or 

         (3) No, I do not have line-of-sight to the satellite.

If your answer is (1) or (2), you should proceed through the rest of this package. If your answer is (3) then you will not be able to use the Gilat-to-home satellite internet service.

As you read the rest of this section, you need to have a basic understand of two words as they relate to locating the position of the satellite. These words are "Azimuth" and "Elevation". Azimuth is the reference point on the horizon, based on a 360 circle where 0 is North and as you turn in a clockwise direction, the number increases. Therefore, when you reach 90 you will be facing East, 180 will be South, 270 is West, and at 360 you have completed the full circle and will be pointing North again (the same point as 0).  If you know where "true North" is from your house, you should use the True North azimuth reading from the table. If you are using a compass, you should use the Magnetic North azimuth reading. Elevation means the angle, in degrees, above the horizon. If the  horizon is flat (no hills or mountains) and if you are pointing  directly at the horizon, the angle is 0 degrees. If you are  pointing straight up, the angle is 90. So a 45 elevation  angle would be halfway between 0 and 90, a 30 elevation  angle would be one-third of the distance above the horizon,  and so forth.

 Table 1 gives some reference points from a geographic sampling of cities in the lower 48 United States. Find the Zip Code and city nearest where you live and look up the elevation and azimuth coordinates for that location. The use of approximations for degrees of angles in determining azimuth and elevation is appropriate.

If you want to be more precise than Table 1 and want to know the exact elevation and True North references for your

own Zip Code, go the following web site:                  http://vader.castles.com/tomhyatt/azel.html

How to Determine the Azimuth Point

The satellite that you need to find is in a stationary (i.e., not moving relative to the earth) orbit over the Equator; therefore, you must point the dish somewhere to the south. On a compass, direct south (S) is displayed at 180 degrees, directly opposite the black (or marked) half of the needle which faces north (N). However, the satellite will likely not be directly south, but somewhere in the southern half of the horizon, anywhere from 91 degrees to 269 degrees. The azimuth (side-to-side) coordinate tells you exactly where in this range you must point the dish. To find the correct direction, hold the compass in the palm of your hand and turn so you are facing south, so the dark side of the needle is pointing toward you and the white side of the needle points away from you. Then match your azimuth coordinate from Table 1 (or from the web site) with its counterpart on the compass. That direction is where the dish must point relative to the horizon.

Now that you know the azimuth - or horizon - point for the antenna, let's determine the elevation - the angle above the point on the horizon.

How to Determine the Elevation A ngle 

Stand at the point where you intend to place your antenna, pointing at the azimuth reference point on the horizon. Now simply raise your arm up to the elevation angle stated in Table 1 (or from the web site) and you should be pointing in the general direction of the satellite. If there are no trees, buildings, or other obstructions in the general direction of where you are pointing, then the answer is "Yes", you can see the satellite. If your answer is "yes" or "maybe", then proceed to "Structural Requirements". If your answer is "no", try another location on your property. If you have any doubt, please proceed because when the GTH installer comes to your home, the first thing he/she will do is verify, with precise instrumentation, whether or not you have satellite line of sight.

 Structural Requirements

GTH installers will rely where possible on your recommendation and preference for the location of your antenna. The standard mounts are available, depending on your preference for the location (and, of course, depending on where the antenna will have an unobstructed view of the satellites). These mounts are:  

         @   Pole (penetrating ground) mount 

         @   Wall /roof mount

Note that the location of any antenna/mount must be such that no more than 75 feet of cable length is needed for the path between the antenna/mount and the PC inside the house. A pole around mount involves the digging of a hole in the ground 12 inches in diameter into which a 3 -inch pipe will be placed and cement poured around, providing a stable structure on which to mount the antenna. The portion of the pipe protruding above ground can be 3, 5, or 7 feet. A wall / roof mount may be the preferential option. The 3-leg tripod feature is used for both wall and roof applications. The main factor to consider for a wall mount version is that it requires a wall made of or including a layer of brick or cement. The same mount can be used on a roof except that there is no requirement for cement in this case. The following is an illustration of the wall mount version:  

                                           36"x24" Antenna System 

                                    Wall or Roof Mount Configuration 

Attachment 3 - Installation Procedures 

Introduction - The purpose of this attachment is to: (1) identify the responsibilities of the consumer that relate to the installation of the GTH equipment at his/her residence; (2) describe a "standard" installation; and (3) describe the procedures and prices for handling non-standard installation situations.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible to:

@   Obtain any permits, permissions, waivers, etc. that may be required (see "Local Restrictions" in Attachment 2).Be present at the agreed-upon installation time in order to ensure constant communication with the installer for issues and questions that may arise.

@  Be prepared to show the installer your preference for the location of the antenna and the PC, and to provide the installer with access to these locations.

@    If a pole mount installation is to be performed, assure that any underground electrical, telephone, cable, gas, etc.      lines have been properly identified and marked in accordance with local requirements (by Miss Utility, etc.) prior to the scheduled installation date.

@   If previously approved by yourself, pay for any special structural or other non-standard installation related charges.

In addition, you are strongly encouraged to provide AC power surge protection for the PC.

Note:  If you elect to subscribe to DISH 500 programming, you should handle this after the installation of your Internet service. You will need to obtain DISH video receiver box(es) from an authorized DISH retailer and activate your service directly with DISH at 1-800-333-DISH (1-800-333-3473).

GTH will be responsible to install all equipment in a courteous, professional, and workmanlike manner. "Standard" Installation

@ The following items and components constitute a "standard" installation, and are included in the fixed price quoted to you for installation:

@   A 24" by 36" gray parabolic antenna. (Note: For purposes of comparison with a circular antenna, this is considered to be a 0.75-meter antenna)

@   A pole ground or wall/roof antenna mount, identical or similar to the examples described and illustrated in Attachment 2. With regard to a roof mount, the roof must be flat and cannot have more than a 30 degree pitch (slope). If the pitch is greater than 30degree it will be deemed non-standard.

@  Up to four (4) cables run from the antenna to the house, up to a maximum of 75 combined feet of cable (exterior and interior) for each of the 4 cables.

@  One (1) or two (2) penetration points, or points of entry (POE), for cables from the outside to the interior of the house. At least one POE will be provided, at a point reasonably closest to the room where the PC will be located. 

     If you choose to have a second POE, it ideally should be located on an exterior wall closest to a room where a TV is located.

"  On the inside wall of each POE, a wall plate will be installed. Two of the cables (the Internet transmit and receive cables) will be run from the antenna, through the POE wall plate, and then as exposed cable to the location of the GTH PC. One of the video cables will be run from the antenna, through the second POE wall plate, and then as exposed cable to the location of the TV. The second video cable will be run from the antenna to a point that you designate on the exterior of the house where it will be coiled and left for a future / optional run to a TV. As stated above, each cable run can be up to 75 feet in length.

@  Antenna grounding in accordance with standard grounding code.

@   Set-up of the PC and initialization of the Internet access service. 

@Bus = Business hours - Mon - Fri, 8 am to 5 pm, local time, excluding banking holidays

@Eve = Evening hours - Mon - Fri, 5 pm to 8 pm, local time, excluding banking holidays

@Sat = Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm local time, excluding banking holidays

"''Other = All day on banking holidays and all other times

FOR OTHER NON-STANDARD CHARGES   CLICK HERE