<P> Satellite communications are affected by moisture and various forms of precipitation (such as rain or snow) in the signal path between end users or ground stations and the satellite being utilized . This interference with the signal is known as rain fade . The effects are less pronounced on the lower frequency' L' and' C' bands, but can become quite severe on the higher frequency' Ku' and' Ka' band . For satellite Internet services in tropical areas with heavy rain, use of the C band (4 / 6 GHz) with a circular polarisation satellite is popular . Satellite communications on the K band (19 / 29 GHz) can use special techniques such as large rain margins, adaptive uplink power control and reduced bit rates during precipitation . </P> <P> Rain margins are the extra communication link requirements needed to account for signal degradations due to moisture and precipitation, and are of acute importance on all systems operating at frequencies over 10 GHz . </P> <P> The amount of time during which service is lost can be reduced by increasing the size of the satellite communication dish so as to gather more of the satellite signal on the downlink and also to provide a stronger signal on the uplink . In other words, increasing antenna gain through the use of a larger parabolic reflector is one way of increasing the overall channel gain and, consequently, the signal - to - noise (S / N) ratio, which allows for greater signal loss due to rain fade without the S / N ratio dropping below its minimum threshold for successful communication . </P> <P> Modern consumer - grade dish antennas tend to be fairly small, which reduces the rain margin or increases the required satellite downlink power and cost . However, it is often more economical to build a more expensive satellite and smaller, less expensive consumer antennas than to increase the consumer antenna size to reduce the satellite cost . </P>

Satellite internet service is available in remote areas but suffers from high rates of