Ping is round trip the minimum one way delay (end to end) to a geostationary satellite is 250ms, so 500ms round trip. Everything above that is processing delay, the TDMA modems and back end networks. For file downloads and video streaming applications the propagation delay is really not a factor, video takes a 400-500ms more to start buffering or for a file to start transferring. The major issue is jitter, keeping that low is essential otherwise video quality suffers. I have tested ViaSat’s Linkway modems extensively. Appears they are using similar technology and software in their consumer modems. The delay and jitter they are advertising is very similar. VoIP and video works very well over Linkway TDMA links, but TCP suffers without some type of WAN optimization device. Most WAN optimizers use the SCPS protocol; assume this is what ViaSat’s consumer modem is using with some type of proprietary compression algorithm.

Ka works if you concentrate power in narrow beam widths with spot beams, which is what ViaSat is doing. Believe they are running margins in excess of 15dB with very good receive G/T at the satellite. The other plus of spot beams is frequency reuse; this is how they are accomplishing 140Gbps of throughput.

A stronger signal level typically increases the overall quality (BER), unless the noise level is changing comparatively. That is unlikely unless there is interference, so the bars are a good indicator of overall reception and call quality.

In the Consumer Reports video the iPhone lost 20dB by just placing a finger across the two antennas in the lower left corner, no death grip required :) Its true any object, hand, wall, rain, etc will attenuate a signal, but that is not what is causing the iPhone problem, it's the bridging of the two antennas. Steve Jobs is playing on the ignorance of the masses. The iPhone has an engineering flaw. If the death grip was the true problem then the rubber bumper would have no effect.

I like my cell phone held this way

"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives" John Stuart Mill That about sums it up... Regardless if climate change is true or not, this is a major fucking waste of time by the Utah legislators. Passing a bill certainly does prove climate change is false, thank "God" we don't need scientists anymore. .

Wow, you're so 1400s.

The bigger question everyone fails to ask... Is all this crap we inject into the atmosphere good for us humans? Most likely not! So why not change for that reason alone, regardless if climate change is true or not.

Its illegal for the U.S. to export these items too. So its not just Chinese law being violated here U.S. law is as well. Sending your electronics to get "e-cycled" at a verified/certified company is no solution either. Many have been busted for exporting toxic electronics. Its all about making money...