How it Works

How it Works Demo | Speed Demo | Versus Dial-Up
Questions & Answers | Equipment | Get WildBlue

The WildBlue satellite links your computer to the Internet at a very high speed.
Your WildBlue equipment connects your home or small office at up to 30 times faster than a dial-up connection. One 26" satellite minidish and a small modem are all you need.

Below is a typical WildBlue customer set-up.

The Internet
Accessing the Internet at high-speeds opens up a WildBlue world full of information and entertainment. You will now be able to surf the Web at lightning-fast speeds, download music and movies, share photos with friends and family, and much, much more.

WildBlue Gateways
WildBlue has five gateways located throughout the U.S. and Canada that efficiently connect WildBlue’s satellite access network with the Internet. Each gateway consists of microwave, Internet, and other broadband equipment that quickly and efficiently route traffic from the customer’s PC to the Internet and back. WildBlue connects the gateways to the Internet via a state-of-the-art fiber backbone.

WildBlue Satellite
WildBlue has designed a state-of-the-art Ka-band communications system aboard Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite that covers the continental U.S. with 31 spot beams. Built by Boeing and launched by Arianespace, the Anik F2 satellite is one of the largest commercial satellites ever manufactured, and is in a geostationary orbit 22,500 miles above the equator at 111.1° West Longitude. WildBlue chose the 20/30 GHz Ka-band frequencies and a spot-beam architecture as the most efficient and effective technology platform to offer broadband via satellite. WildBlue’s advanced technology and low cost structure allows us to offer consumers and small office customers higher speeds and lower prices than other satellite broadband companies.

WildBlue’s satellite technology allows us to modify various parameters of the earth-to-space signals on an individual user basis so as to adapt in real time to each user’s situation, which may change due to weather and other factors.

WildBlue Minidish
WildBlue’s minidish (28” x 26”) both receives signals from the WildBlue satellite, and sends signals from the customer up to the satellite. Using the latest microwave receive and transmit technologies, WildBlue offers a small, efficient minidish which can be mounted on a roof, wall or via pole mount in the ground. WildBlue provides professional installation of the WildBlue equipment which will take approximately 2-3 hours.

WildBlue Satellite Modem
A WildBlue modem is required to connect one or more customer PCs to the WildBlue network. WildBlue uses standardized modem technology based on the DOCSIS cable modem standards to offer a low-cost, small satellite modem. WildBlue provides professional installation of the WildBlue equipment which will take 2-3 hours.

PC
Connected via Ethernet to the WildBlue modem, your PC will have WildBlue’s high-speed Internet access, whether in your home or in your small office. You may connect your PC directly to your WildBlue modem with an Ethernet cable, or you can attach a wireless hub or router to your WildBlue modem and connect wirelessly (using the popular 802.11 standards for example). Minimum PC requirements for Windows PCs include: 300+ MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP operating system, 100 MB of free hard drive space, and an Ethernet NIC card. Minimum requirements for Macs include: 300+ MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, OS9 or OS10.2+ operating system, 100 MB of free hard drive space, and an Ethernet NIC card. You are required to have an up-to-date anti-virus software on your PC.