XPost: sci.space.moderated, sci.space.station, sci.space.tech   
   From: ken@home.nz.retro.com   
      
   "Marc 182"  wrote in message   
   news:MPG.1a3ef31d6d8ffaf9897c0@nnrp1.phx1.gblx.net...   
   > In article , dietz@dls.net says...   
   > > Marc 182 wrote:   
   > >   
   > > > Multi-jump communications would create unacceptable delay in a voice   
   > > > conversation due to the speed of light and the distance to the   
   > > > satellites. Even a single jump causes a noticeable and annoying delay.   
   > > > That's why trans-Atlantic/Pacific cables remain popular.   
   > >   
   > > Cables are popular because they're *cheaper* than satellites   
   > > (per unit of delivered bandwidth) what with the incredible advances   
   > > in fiber optics.   
   >   
   > Ok, true enough. But the issue of delay still remains. A single hop   
   > conversation is possible but annoying. A multi-hop conversation would be   
   > impossible to hold in a natural way.   
   >   
   > Marc   
      
   Not true. It is used in many of the Pacific islands, for one. A single hop,   
   with minimal extra delays due to compression and processing, is quite   
   acceptable. Two hops can be a nuisance, but it is actually still quite okay.   
   It sure beats the heck out of the alternative, which is usually a short-wave   
   radio-telephone conversation or a telegram!   
      
   Ken   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)