es at different locations, the easiest way to get that footprint was by satellite. Because you can set up a VSAT system very quickly, VSATs offer valuable help in the event of a major disaster, when land-based facilities are disabled. Chapter 2 Traditional Transmission Media VSATs VSATs Hub Station Figure 2.7 A VSAT system VSATs are also useful in vehicle-tracking systems, to communicate with driv- ers, arrange for payload drop-offs and pickups, and handle standard messaging without disrupting drivers' transportation schedules. An emerging application for VSAT is broadband Internet access. Products such as Hughes DIRECWAY (www.hns.com) provide Internet downloads at up to 1Mbps. Similarly, intranets (i.e., site-to-site connections between company locations) can be based on VSATs. The following are the key advantages of VSATs: Easy access to remote locations-Where it would be difficult to facilitate a wireline arrangement, such as on an oil rig, a VSAT can easily be set up. Rapid deployment-A VSAT system can be installed in two to four hours (as long as you have already secured the license to operate within an allo- cated spectrum). Scalable-A VSAT system can grow to facilitate more bandwidth with the addition of more interfaces. Platform agnostic-A VSAT can support a variety of data networking protocols. Insensitive to distance-related transmission costs-The transmission cost is the same whether your locations are 100 miles (150 km) apart or 3,000 miles (5,000 km) apart. As long as the locations are within the footprint of Satellite the satellite, the costs are distance insensitive. (This does not necessarily translate to distance-insensitive pricing.) Cost reductions via shared-hub facilities-The more you share the system, the more your costs are reduced. Flexible network configuration-You can be flexible with your network configurations. As with a microwave system, you can pick it up and move it. Disadvantages of VSATs include the following: Transmission quality subject to weather conditions-Stormy weather can c