TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 1038.canada@1:2320/105 2d3d28cd   
   REPLY: 1032.canada@1:2320/105 2d3bf5f0   
   PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   BBSID: CAPCITY2   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   FORMAT: flowed   
   > MP>They actually sort of do.  The type of service in question relies on   
   >   >geo-stationary satellites.  So the 4 or so in question are in place   
   >   >specifically for the UK, Ireland, and (if I understood correctly) West   
   >   >Africa.  While the number of people served is still in the millions, it   
   >   >might not be enough to make it cost-effective to launch replacements when   
   >   >the time comes.   
      
   > Okay, I hadn't thought of it that way. You usually think of the   
   > satellites as passing off their signals to the next in line all   
   > around the earth but I suppose it makes sense that not all users   
   > want or need access to other parts of the world.   
      
   > I was thinking more like as with satellite phones you can call   
   > from anywhere on earth if you have line of sight to the chain   
   > of satellites over the equator.   
      
   It is difficult for me to get my head around geo-stationary, too.  I think   
   of the Earth spinning and of satellites moving.  Somehow, they get them   
   moving at the same rate of the Earth's spin, and sometimes makes small   
   corrections with thrusters, so they stay in the same relative area.   
      
   Mike   
      
    * SLMR 2.1a * Go ahead, back up to the RAM disk.  I dare you!   
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